Geelong emerges as shock suitor for Jack Martin after being delisted by Carlton
Geelong has emerged as a surprise suitor for delisted Blues forward Jack Martin, who has also fielded interest from Western Australia and Queensland clubs.
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Geelong is exploring a move for delisted Carlton forward Jack Martin as part of plans to help keep the Cats in premiership contention next year.
Martin looks a certain to find a new home next season with the Cats set to join Fremantle in the race for the 29-year-old.
Geelong has specialised in its mature-age recruiting missions over the past two decades and are eyeing Martin as a talented forward who could immediately add to their forward mix.
But he will have to pass a medical assessment after struggling with injuries in his five-year stint at Carlton which yielded only three senior games this season.
Discussions about his future will ramp up over the next week as the Cats prepare for a preliminary final against Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
Martin would be a like-for-like replacement for Gary Rohan who could be delisted by the Cats at season’s end.
The Cats are unafraid to take risks on mature age players and boast one of the best medical and high-performance programs in the league led by Steve Saunders.
Martin believes he has several seasons of senior football in him despite struggling with a calf issue at times this year.
Jack Martin is so good to watch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/k2DPlotYxW
— Carlton Blues Fans (@CarltonFCBlues) August 7, 2023
While Fremantle’s interest in Martin remains strong, the Cats are considering the former Blue as part of a trade period double play next month.
Geelong will attempt to trade its first-round draft pick for Western Bulldogs’ midfielder Bailey Smith and can get Martin for nothing as a free agent.
The Cats could land him on a two-year deal on a modest wage in what would be a low-risk move.
In recent years the Cats have made similar moves for veteran ballwinners Shaun Higgins, Jack Steven and Cats’ legend Gary Ablett.
Martin played 54 AFL games in his five seasons at Carlton after six years at Gold Coast.
The Blues took him in the 2019 pre-season draft after a trade for him from the Suns fell through.
Originally published as Geelong emerges as shock suitor for Jack Martin after being delisted by Carlton
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