AFL 2024: Geelong positioned perfectly for more re-signings after Max Holmes deal
The Cats ticked off their most important re-signing this week and another key signature could be next. See the players on Geelong’s hit list and why they could go big-name hunting again.
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Andrew Mackie’s signing spree is showing no signs of slowing down, as Geelong continues to tick off its list management masterclass.
After inking key re-singing Max Holmes to a new four-year deal this week, free agent Jack Henry appears next in line, with discussions between him and Geelong progressing well.
Henry’s brother Ollie holds a contract for next season already.
Back in form, Tyson Stengle – who is also a free agent – will be the next priority for the Cats.
Unrestricted free agent Stengle has bounced back in a big way this season, rating elite among general forwards for goals, score assists, forward-50 ground balls and contested possessions.
The goalsneak is fresh off a perfect 10 coaches votes in last weekend’s upset win in Brisbane.
Defender and fellow free agent Jake Kolodjashnij is one of several other Cats to have an uptick in form this year and he is keen to land a new deal at Geelong.
Comeback midfielder Brandan Parfitt, who weighed up his options last year, is also out of contract.
He will continue to hold off on thinking about next year despite a stellar month of play to force himself back into Geelong’s side.
Parfitt will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season so can walk to any club he chooses but has been backed in consistently by the Cats despite wavering form over last year.
Skipper Patrick Dangerfield has not held any contract talks with the Cats yet but the skipper appears certain to carry on into an 18th season.
Dangerfield signed a bumper three-year extension in 2019 on top of his original Geelong contract and that is due to expire this year.
Fellow veteran Mitch Duncan will also finish up a four-year deal this season.
Holmes’ new contract will eat up some of the space created by the drop off from those two hefty deals but rivals expect the always shrewd Cats remain in strong position to go big-game hunting again at the end of this season.
Geelong will most likely target midfield star power, given Dangerfield’s age and the regular injury interruptions to Cam Guthrie – who holds a contract for 2025.
This masthead has reported the Cats were a potential suitor for Clayton Oliver if he fell out of Melbourne.
Football boss Mackie faced a mega slate of out-of-contract players at the end of last year but has began ticking them off, extending crucial defender Zach Guthrie (until 2025), youngster Jhye Clark (2026), Mark O’Connor (2026), Oisin Mullin (2025), as well as vice-captain Tom Stewart (2027) in December.
The Cats will likely wait to make a call on veterans such as Rhys Stanley and Zach Tuohy.
Premiership backman Jed Bews has been stuck in the VFL so far this year and is out-of-contract, while Gary Rohan is in the same boat and played his first game of the year in the VFL last weekend.
Spearhead Tom Hawkins has waited until after the season in the past two years to sign a new deal.
A new one-year deal would see Duncan – who has played 279 matches – within striking distance of 300 games.
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Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong positioned perfectly for more re-signings after Max Holmes deal
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