Geelong eyes move for South Australian ruck prospect Alex Dodson at national draft

Four years after trading up to draft best-and-fairest winner Max Holmes, Geelong is eyeing another big move with its eye on one of the most highly-rated athletes in the current draft pool.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 16: Alex Dodson of South Australia during the 2024 Marsh AFL Championships U18 Boys match between South Australia and Western Australia at Alberton Oval on June 16, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Geelong could try to move up the order to land the draft’s best ruck prospect, South Australian Alex Dodson.

The Cats are understood to be keen on the Sturt big man but their first pick is not until No. 45, well after he is expected to be chosen.

So Geelong, which holds all its 2025 selections, may attempt to package a future call to land the under-18 All-Australian next week.

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​Richmond has been widely tipped to swoop on Dodson as a potential ruck successor to Toby Nankervis.

The Tigers have a swag of picks (18, 20, 23, 24) at the end of the first and start of the second round where they may pounce, if they take them into the draft.

Indications suggest the Cats are also in the frame to add a ruckman given Rhys Stanley turns 34 next month, Toby Conway is promising but has battled foot stress fractures the past two seasons and Mitch Edwards is a project player set to enter his second campaign.

Geelong is believed to have looked closely at Dodson, 204cm GWS academy prospect Logan Smith and 199cm West Australian Kayle Gerreyn.

The Cats are interested in SA ruck prospect Alex Dodson.

Emerging big man Toby Conway has had injury issues.

Dodson, who stands 203cm, has been compared to two-time All-Australian Brodie Grundy because of his mobility and competitiveness.

Recruiters think the youngster has huge potential after sitting out from football last season to focus on basketball.

This year, he played hoops for Australia at under-18 level, only to turn down division one college scholarship offers and a development spot with Adelaide 36ers to pursue footy.

Dodson averaged 20.8 disposals, 24.9 hit-outs and 4.6 clearances from nine under-18 games for the Double Blues, as well as 17.3 disposals and 19.7 hit-outs for SA.

Dodson reaches highest to win a hitout during the Under-18 National Championships.

AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan told this masthead it was difficult to know how early top ruckmen would be taken in drafts, but he felt Dodson was a first-round choice.

“Given basketball occupied him a fair bit, he’s got so much development still in him, yet he was still fantastic this year,” Sheehan said.

“He’s competitive, mobile, a great size and can win the ball.

“He just needs time to develop physically to compete against the bigger bodies.”

If Geelong chose a ruckman next week, it would make it three in four national drafts.

The Cats selected Conway at pick 24 in 2021 and Edwards at No. 32 last November.

Geelong has taken a conservative approach with Conway, 21, because of his injury issues, which have restricted him to 23 games in all competitions in three seasons, including six at the top level.

He played five AFL matches this year.

Stanley featured in 14 games in 2024, including both of Geelong’s finals.

The Cats delisted category B rookie and ruckman Joe Furphy last month.

Originally published as Geelong eyes move for South Australian ruck prospect Alex Dodson at national draft