Cats deal on form
Geelong say age no factor in deciding older stars’ playing futures
GEELONG’S ageing stars have been reassured they will not be forcefully retired to clear salary cap space for a recruiting raid.
The Cats are increasingly confident they will secure Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield, who this week declined to reveal a decision on his future.
Steve Johnson, Andrew Mackie, Corey Enright and James Bartel are among nine Geelong players over 30 who are considering their futures.
Johnson wants to play on next year but has not been told if he is wanted, with talks in the next month to bring him clarity.
It has been made clear to those players they are not being shunted aside to clear salary cap space for Dangerfield, with West Coast’s Scott Selwood and Carlton’s Lachlan Henderson also targets.
A decision will be made based on their ability to play another year, not to clear salary cap space to freshen the list.
Bartel will play on, Jared Rivers says he is “90 per cent” likely to retire and James Kelly is likely in his final year.
Johnson’s manager Craig Kelly, whose ESP stable also represents Enright and Rivers, said the Cats had treated Johnson with the utmost respect.
Johnson said this week his form was improving by the week, as he today takes on the GWS side which offered him a five-year deal that would have transitioned into an assistant coaching role.
Speculation Johnson would consider playing on for another year with a rival team before becoming an assistant coach at the same club was denied yesterday.
“It has been clearly stated the club has indicated to a number of the boys they will over the coming four or five weeks working out what it looks like going from there,” Kelly said.
“We will work through that with the club and right here, right now, nothing has been decided on their futures.
“The club is treating each of those individuals really well and really respectfully.”