Geelong quartet re-sign with the club as young gun Lawson Humphries rewarded

Four Cats have signed short-term contracts with the club, including a free agent. It means three ageing stars are the only uncontracted Geelong players at the club.

Jed Bews is among Geelong’s re-signings. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Breakout Geelong youngster Lawson Humphries and premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij headline four Cats re-signings as the club finalises its list ahead of its pursuit of Bailey Smith.

Humphries has signed a one-year extension, tying him to the club until the end of 2026, while reliable defender Kolodjashnij — who qualified as a free agent — has agreed to a fresh two-year deal.

Experienced stopper Jed Bews and three-game youngster Ted Clohesy have also signed one-year contracts.

The new deals leave ageing superstar Patrick Dangerfield, 33-year-old utility Mitch Duncan and veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley as the only Cats currently without deals for 2025.

Geelong cut seven players a fortnight ago ahead of a busy trade and free agency period including premiership players Gary Rohan and Brandan Parfitt, and VFL sensation Mitch Hardie.

Champion goalkicker Tom Hawkins and Irish VFL/AFL game’s record holder Zach Tuohy have also called time on their illustrious careers.

Cats football boss Andrew Mackie, who has wantaway speedster Smith in his sights, said he is pleased to see the quartet recommit to the club.

Lawson Humphries has signed a one-year extension. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“Jake continues to be a vital player to our backline structure and has enjoyed another consistent season. Jed is a great club person and was a key part of the team in the backend of the season. With their experience and the way they approach their footy, both players play an important role for our emerging group of young players,” Mackie said.

“Lawson has been extremely impressive in his short time at the Club. He has quickly established himself at AFL level with his disposal and ability to make good decisions. Ted has shown promising signs the last two years as he continues to develop his craft as an inside midfielder and as a forward, and we can’t wait to see both Lawson and Ted continue to grow and develop.”

Humphries, 21, was a revelation off halfback late in the season after debuting in round 16.

The Wickham product’s composure and elite kicking on both sides turned heads in his season at the Cats after being plucked as a mature-age gem with pick 63 in the 2023 national draft.

Kolodjashnij had said throughout the season that he saw his future at Geelong and his new contract will take him until the age of 31.

The Tasmanian’s deal finishes up a year before the Devils are slated to enter the AFL competition in 2028.

Kolodjashnij’s premiership teammate Bews had been on the outer of the Cats side until round 19.

But Bews, who turns 31 in December, performed some important shutdown jobs in the finals on dangerous forwards Willie Rioli and Charlie Cameron.

Clohesy, the brother of emerging Gold Coast talent Sam, was named in the VFL team of the year squad after an impressive season where he averaged 22 disposals, seven tackles, six inside 50s and 109 SuperCoach points.

The 20-year-old played back-to-back senior games as the substitute in round 19-20.

Originally published as Geelong quartet re-sign with the club as young gun Lawson Humphries rewarded