Tom Hawkins next on Geelong’s re-signing list after Mitch Duncan inks new deal until end of 2024
After agreeing a contract to make Mitch Duncan a Cat for life, Geelong’s next priority is agreeing a deal to keep key forward Tom Hawkins at the Cattery beyond 2020.
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Geelong will move onto a new contract for 2020 free agent Tom Hawkins after securing midfielder Mitch Duncan until the end of 2024.
Duncan signed a four-year contract extension as a consistent midfield star whose presence was badly missed in Geelong’s last two finals with a knee injury.
The Cats have also re-signed Gary Rohan, with Gary Ablett and Harry Taylor in the final seasons of their decorated careers.
It is understood there have been ongoing discussions with Hawkins management, with the Cats spearhead telling the Herald Sun in June he was keen to play well into his 30s.
He is still on holidays but is in career-best form, kicking 56 goals in 24 games last year before being suspended for the preliminary final.
Geelong has one eye on the future beyond Hawkins and is considering the key talls available in this year’s draft with its early selections.
He said in June: “I feel physically really good, mentally really good. “I have no reason in my mind why I can’t play for another two or three years. I know when you get to 30 it gets harder.”
The Cats younger players have returned to training, with Nakia Cockatoo in good shape to tackle his first full pre-season after several injury-interrupted seasons.
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He is one of a number of young midfielders who the Cats believe can step up in Tim Kelly’s absence.
Duncan’s re-signing means he will finish his career as a one-club premiership Cats player.
“The club is delighted to see Mitch commit,” football boss Simon Lloyd said.
“Mitch has been a mainstay of our team over 10 seasons, a dependable, intelligent teammate and a quality player.”
Duncan has been one of the unsung stars of Geelong’s prolific midfield in recent years and averaged 25 disposals, 7.5 marks and three tackles a game this year.
The on-baller and his wife Demi are expecting their second child and he has resisted the lure of WA to recommit long-term.
Duncan was set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next year.
He is understood to have rebuffed offers from the two WA clubs throughout his career.