Nathan Vardy could look at trade options as rival clubs make inquiries

GEELONG’S big man squeeze could force Nathan Vardy to seek a trade at season’s end as rivals circle the out-of-favour forward.

Nathan Vardy at Geelong training. Picture: Peter Ristevski

GEELONG’S big man squeeze could force Nathan Vardy to seek a trade at season’s end as rivals circle the out-of-favour forward.

The 199cm ruck-forward turned down Essendon in last year’s trade period and has been frustrated by a lack of senior opportunities, playing only one senior game this season.

The Bombers wanted to snare Vardy, 25, from Geelong last year as an athletic co-pilot for spearhead Joe Daniher.

The Herald Sun understands Western Bulldogs, Greater Western Sydney and Brisbane have also made inquiries about the goal kicker.

The Gippsland product made a dazzling start to his career at Geelong, earning comparisons to Saints superstar Nick Riewoldt for his marking power.

But the mobile tall has resisted the Cats’ attempts to re-sign him so far this season and has fallen behind a string of recruits in the big man pecking order, led by Zac Smith, Rhys Stanley and Mitch Clark.

Vardy’s position may become clearer this week as coach Chris Scott considers recalling Clark for Friday night’s blockbuster against Sydney at Simonds Stadium.

But the prime marking target would be likely to consider offers elsewhere if he is unable to secure a senior berth over the remainder of the season, with the Cats pushing for an historic fourth premiership in 10 years.

Nathan Vardy has played nine games in the VFL this year. Picture: David Crosling

Essendon and Brisbane may also enter the frame with preseason draft selections.

While Geelong has made it clear to the injury-prone ruck/forward he is a required player, the big man’s form has wavered this year.

He gathered six possessions in his only AFL appearance against Gold Coast in Round 6 and has booted four goals from nine VFL games. He has been named among the VFL Cats’ best players once in 2016.

Taken with pick No. 42 in the 2009 national draft, Vardy has played only 25 games in his seven seasons amid a shocking run of injuries, including a career-threatening hip problem and a knee reconstruction.

But he has made a full recovery this season and is confident of rediscovering the form that made him one of Geelong’s prized young players before hip and knee surgery threatened to cut his career down.

Scott said of Vardy in 2011: “The marking, I can see the similarities (to Riewoldt).”

“For a second-year player to be doing those things at AFL level is very exciting … Nathan’s really agile and a good runner.

“We’re trying not to get carried away, but it’s hard.”

Vardy was also set back by a foot flare-up in March this year which curtailed his pre-season.

Fringe Geelong midfielders George Horlin-Smith, 23, and Billie Smedts, 24, also face uncertain futures at the club.

Horlin-Smith is contracted for two more years, while Smedts’ deal expires at the end of next season.