AFL 2024: Geelong begins bumper year of contract calls by closing in on a two-year deal for Oisin Mullin

The Cats have locked away one of their young guns, but he could only be the first, with a number of big names and veterans looking to be locked away for the future.

Irish recruit Oisin Mullin is closing in on a two-year extension as Geelong gets to work on a lengthy list of players out of contract at the end of next year.

A young star in his home country, Mullin won the Cats over in his first year in Australia in 2023, making his AFL debut in round 11, just his fourth official Australian rules match.

Mullin, 23, played six matches in his debut campaign, largely off half-back.

Oisin Mullin gets on the move. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos

He returned to Ireland to play Gaelic football during the off-season but continued to train with a Sherrin during the week to hone his skills and Geelong has been impressed with how quickly he got on top of the Australian game.

Mullin initially signed to join Geelong as a category-B rookie ahead of the 2022 season but remained home for an extra year, before flying out before the last pre-season.

He has recently returned to Australia and will be available for a full pre-season, with the Cats coaches intrigued by his potential as a powerful midfielder.

Jack Henry is one of a bunch of Cats searching for a new deal. Picture: Kelly Defina

Mullin’s signature would be the first in a long line of Cats to extend beyond 2024, with football manager Andrew Mackie facing plenty of work next year.

Included in the list of Cats out of contract are Jack Henry, Jake Kolodjashnij, Jed Bews, Max Holmes, Mitch Duncan, Ollie Henry and Zach Guthrie.

Superstars Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Hawkins will also be at the end of their contracts and All-Australian Tyson Stengle joins them as unrestricted free agents.

Star defender Tom Stewart is also coming to the end of his deal and this masthead reported the five time All-Australian is closing in on an extension.

The Cats hold pick No. 8 in this month’s draft, and top-10 selections in back-to-back years for the first time since 2002-03.

Geelong’s No. 8 pick from last year, Jhye Clark, is also yet to sign an extension but talks are likely to kick off in the new year.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong begins bumper year of contract calls by closing in on a two-year deal for Oisin Mullin