Four uncontracted Geelong Cats players still on edge as AFL deadline looms to finalise list

Four uncontracted Geelong players remain in limbo as the Cats prepare to trim their list size to 38 before Friday’s deadline.

Quinton Narkle is one Cat still without a contract for 2021. Picture: AAP Image/Scott Barbour

The future of five Cats, led by Quinton Narkle, will become clearer this week as Geelong finalises is playing list.

All clubs need to finish their respective lists by Friday and Narkle, Ben Jarvis, Zach Guthrie, Jake Tarca and Stefan Okunbor remain in limbo.

Geelong is confident Okunbor will remain at the club next year as a Category B rookie, while the others will be hoping to be given a second chance.

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Quinton Narkle in unsure of his future. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

And so is Zach Guthrie. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

No contracts or promises have been offered to Narkle, Jarvis, Guthrie or Tarca yet.

While offers have been made to Lachie Henderson, Darcy Fort and Sam Simpson, those Cats are yet to agree to terms with the club as Geelong focused on its trade period.

“We are still talking with all of those, no deals have been finalised yet,” Geelong list boss Stephen Wells said.

Youngster Brad Close has been told he will be back in the hoops next year but Geelong is still waiting on rulings over how many rookies it can have on the list before locking him away.

Wells left the door open to promoting a rookie such as Close instead of using the club’s two current picks – 51 and 96 – at next month’s draft.

Stefan Okunbor. Picture: Alison Wynd

Brad Close. Picture: Peter Ristevski

With the additions of Isaac Smith, Shaun Higgins and Jeremy Cameron alongside those who have been offered new deals and counting Okunbor and Close, 38 players are set to be with the club next season.

While the AFL is yet to officially make a ruling, reports last week indicated that list sizes would be between 37 and 44 for clubs next year, down from the 46 Geelong had on its books in 2020.

“As soon as that is finalised exactly what is happening with Category Bs, (Okunbor) has been told he will be asked to come back and offered a contract but that is still to be decided,” Wells said.

Without bringing in a contingent of fresh talent, Geelong’s ageing list won’t be dramatically refreshed but Wells said he was confident a strong draft hand – which was boosted by the addition of three extra picks during trade period – has the club primed for an assault on the draft in 2021.

Originally published as Four uncontracted Geelong Cats players still on edge as AFL deadline looms to finalise list