How should Geelong attack a mid-season trade and draft period if it was happening this year?
GEELONG is close to the best in the business when it comes to closing deals for rival players. But how would it go in a mid-season trade period? We take a look at the deals the Cats could make right now.
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THE countdown is on. Forget the ‘if’, it is now a matter of ‘when’ a mid-season trade period is introduced into the AFL season.
While it won’t be in 2018, there is no doubt clubs are already planning how they will wheel and deal their way through it.
In anticipation of what will be one of the biggest changes in recent AFL history, the SuperFooty team are jumping on the front foot to analyse how key clubs should attack a mid-season trade period if it was happening this year.
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From the deals that could catapult each club up the ladder to the players who could be shipped out, here is your guide for Geelong.
— WOULD THE CATS BE BUYERS OR SELLERS?
Geelong’s form may have been up and down this season but there is no doubt the Cats are in the premiership window.
They should be doing everything they can to improve their list.
Given the club’s history at the trade table, the Cats are the sort of club that would nail a mid-season trade period and should be one to look out for.
— WHAT DOES THE CLUB HAVE TO WORK WITH?
Plenty, but given they’re in contention they won’t want to deal on any of their A-graders. Recent history shows rival clubs are more than willing to deal with the Cats. Geelong is known to possess a strong culture — something that appeals — and the Cats are also happy to get deals done rather than play a long game of trying to strong-arm a rival. In terms of talent, Chris Scott is starting to gather a stack of small to mid-sized forwards (having them all fit has been an issue). There’s also a few midfielders who might be getting sick of waiting for a chance behind ‘the big three’.
— WHO COULD BE LOOKING FOR A FRESH START?
Like every club, there’s a few hard-luck stories at the Cattery. George Horlin-Smith is a club favourite with leadership ability, but earning a regular place in an all-star midfield has been an issue. Jackson Thurlow hasn’t been able to cement his place in the back six despite the club’s defensive stocks taking a hit. Jordan Murdoch is the classic utility who, while having played the bulk of 2018, might want to establish himself at another club. Wylie Buzza, the untried Ryan Gardner and injury-plagued Cory Gregson might also think they’re more of a chance elsewhere.
— WHAT WOULD THE CATS BE AFTER?
A ruckman. A bigger, more aggressive ruckman. No disrespect to Rhys Stanley or Zac Smith, but Geelong’s ruck and clearance woes this season have been well documented. It’s an area recruiting guru Stephen Wells will have identified — and the Cats will try to remedy the situation as soon as they get a chance. West Coast’s Scott Lycett might have some appeal.
— WHAT ARE THE OTHER RUCK OPTIONS?
If the Cats can’t land Lycett, there are a few other options out there.
How about looking out West to Fremantle Giant Aaron Sandilands?
When you’re this close to a flag, a mid-season trade is all about taking big swings. This would be pretty big.
He might play less than 10 games for the club but if one of those is on Grand Final day, he will have been worth it.
With the Dockers miles away from a flag, Sandilands could be willing to move.
— COULD THE CATS CALL THE DOGS?
In the spirit of making big deals, what would a Luke Dahlhaus/Jordan Roughead double cost the Cats.
Both are free agents at the end of the season but with neither signed up, the Dogs could be willing to listen to deals that would be higher than their compensation pick.
That would give the Cats an answer to their ruck problems and a quality forward to add to the mix.
— IS THERE A STATE LEAGUE GEM OUT THERE?
There is. In fact earlier this year legendary premiership coach Paul Roos went out of his way to point out Southport ruckman Fraser Thurlow. Were the Cats listening?
“The type of ruckman (Geelong) need is a banger, a big body,” Roos said on Fox Footy earlier this season before naming the one-time Essendon rookie. “They don’t need a ruckman that is going to run around and kick goals — other teams probably do.” After those strong words, we reckon most clubs might have put Thurlow firmly on their radar.
— WHAT DOES GEELONG DO WITH DAN MENZEL?
Play him ... and sign him up. Few players in today’s game can kick goals with the ease and regularity Menzel does. It’s been another injury-interrupted season, so it’ll be an interesting wait and see when it comes to talking turkey with the goalkicker and his management. Especially after Chris Scott said publicly earlier this season that Menzel, given his history, couldn’t expect longer-term deals. How the No. 10 finishes 2018 might determine just who comes knocking.
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Originally published as How should Geelong attack a mid-season trade and draft period if it was happening this year?
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