Geelong lock in their VFL and VFLW lists for 2024

Geelong has unveiled their VFL and VFLW lists, including the son of a Cats great, a Geelong & District League gun and plenty of Falcons. See the full lists here.

Patrick Hughes is among Geelong’s VFL list. Picture: Getty Images

Geelong has locked in their VFL an VFLW lists for 2024, featuring delisted AFL players, Geelong Falcons talents, local guns and a remarkable rise for a Geelong & District Football League talent.

Osca Riccardi, the son of Geelong great Peter, was cut at the end of 2023 after one year on Geelong’s AFL list but will remain with their VFL arm this season.

Delisted Tiger Kaelan Bradtke, who joined Richmond through the pre-season supplemental selection period in 2023, is also part of the Cats’ VFL squad and is among 15 additions.

Joint Morrish medallist Patrick Hughes and fellow Falcons graduates Joe Pike, Tobyn Murray, Tom Peirce and Ethan Borys have also earned list spots after strong seasons in the Coates Talent League last year.

Kaelan Bradtke spent a year at Richmond. Picture: Michael Klein

GWV Rebels export Jamieson Ballantyne, who came close to being drafted in 2021, has also joined the Cats after playing six VFL matches with Footscray over the past two seasons along with 10 games for Geelong West at Geelong Football Netball League level last year.

Same goes for Cats VFL recruit Darcy Edmends, who was right in the draft frame in 2022 after impressing for the Northern Knights and Vic Metro.

Intercept defender Bailey Van De Heuvel also returns after being overlooked in last year’s draft.

But the best story of the lot is undoubtedly 206cm ruckman Ajang Kuol Mun, a South Sudanese refugee who played his first season of football in a decade for Anakie last season.

Kuol mun was on the radar of VFL clubs midway through the year from his exploits in the GDFL despite the Roos’ poor on-field results and has earnt a VFL call-up after training with the Cats over the summer.

Ajang Kuol mun starred for Anakie..

“Honestly I’m enjoying it a lot, the opportunity is massive,” Kuol mun told this publication in January.

“It takes some people eight years of footy to make VFL, it takes a long time and it takes a lot of work. They would tell me for me to make it within my first year, it is massive.

“Literally it’s all up to me in terms of how hard and how far I want to go with it. My work ethic, the work I have put in behind the scenes and stuff. Because (coach Mark Corrigan) has given me the confidence by picking me and giving me the opportunity.”

Meanwhile, the Cats have added 15 players to their VFLW list uncluding overlooked AFLW draft prospect Jo Sunderland.

Originally published as Geelong lock in their VFL and VFLW lists for 2024