VFL scouting notes: Geelong forwards Jack Martin and Shaun Mannagh impress in cameos, ex-Anakie sensation Ajang Kuol mun turns heads
The Cats could get even better after two forwards produced cameos in the VFL. Plus, an athletic ruckman is making an early mid-season draft case. See how every Cat fared and the local standouts.
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Geelong forwards Shaun Mannagh and Jack Martin put in impressive first-half cameos in the Cats’ VFL practice win over Port Melbourne on Saturday as a local sensation wowed onlookers against his former side.
Mannagh and Martin both played a half at Deakin University Waurn Ponds, as Mannagh finished with a goal in his first game back from a foot stress fracture and Martin had an influence as an inside midfielder.
The pair moved well but Martin in particular will not be rushed into the Geelong side that thumped Fremantle by 78 points on Saturday afternoon, with the Cats carefully building the injury-hit recruit after he managed just three AFL games for Carlton last season.
Mannagh and Martin can make Geelong’s forward half that put Fremantle to the sword even better.
Cats coach Chris Scott said after the win that he expected Martin to be part of their senior side in the coming weeks.
“The feedback that I got from the early game was the guys in and around the team played well. We’ve been really conservative with Jack Martin and will continue to be over the next week or two, but when we think he is fully fit I would be surprised if he doesn’t slot into our team,” Scott said.
Geelong veteran Mitch Duncan was solid off halfback in three quarters of gametime against the Borough and 34-year-old ruckman Rhys Stanley was rested.
Meanwhile, it was former Anakie and Geelong VFL ruckman Ajang Kuol mun who was the star of the show as he pushed his early case for the mid-season draft.
See how every AFL listed Cat fared and the local talents who impressed for both sides.
GEELONG AFL PLAYERS
#2 Jay Polkinghorne, 18, 190cm
Geelong’s first pick of the 2024 draft looks destined to take a mark of the year contender one day, and it wouldn’t surprise to see him crack into Geelong’s side this year. The draftee forward flew got hands to what would have been a miraculous leaping pack mark in the third term and showed his strong overhead marking with a contested grab in the first quarter, with the set shot hitting the post. He had a goal soon after a sizzling pass from Shaun Mannagh. But in perhaps his best moment, the South Australian gathered, turned his opponent inside out and hit Paddy De Grandi with a pass close to goal.
Shaun Mannagh and Jack Martin completing run throughs at HT and look to to be done for the day.
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) March 15, 2025
Martin won plenty of the footy and used it well, while Mannagh had some good moments up forward. Kicked a clever snap goal on the left. @geelongaddypic.twitter.com/0jVctJqM48
#7 Shaun Mannagh, 27, 178cm
Mannagh looks as fit as a fiddle despite being out of action for a fair chunk of the pre-season with a foot stress fracture, and he certainly had some eye-catching moments in a half of footy in his return from injury. One of his first touches of the footy set up Polkinghorne for a goal with a searing kick. He gave up a goal himself though, with an unlucky 50m penalty after he tackled a player who looked to have played on from a mark. There was a sign of rust when he slipped over when the ball was paddled to him close to goal, but that was quickly followed by a couple of eye-catching moments. Mannagh had little space to move at a forward 50 stoppage but somehow managed to get free and snap it on the boot on his non-preferred left for a goal. The 27-year-old then took a great overhead in mark at full tilt with his opponent breathing down his neck. Even his run throughs at halftime were at 100 per cent intensity. One thing is for sure, he won’t be in the VFL for long.
#15 George Stevens, 19, 189cm
Had some good moments in tight as an inside midfielder and slotted a second half goal from a set shot. A smart switch kick in the first quarter found Mitch Duncan to set up a scoring opportunity.
#19 Jack Martin, 30, 188cm
Before Bailey Smith’s best-on-ground performance in his Cats debut, forgotten recruit Martin produced an encouraging cameo in the VFL. It was a surprise to see the free agency signing start at the first centre bounce, and after a quiet start, he got busy around the ground in a half of gametime in the role. Martin helped set up a goal in the first quarter after diving for a hard ball and dishing out a handball, but most of the former Blue and Sun’s highlights came on the outside. The 30-year-old’s precise kicking led to several scores after getting the ball from Cats teammates at the source. He worked back into defence more in the second term and shrugged off a tackle elusively before finding Duncan by hand. Whether the midfield switch was just to get run into the legs of the injury-prone playmaker remains to be seen, but he looks like he can add plenty to the Cats’ AFL side – even after their big win on Saturday, Chris Scott said he would be surprised if he doesn’t break in.
#21 Oli Wiltshire, 22, 180cm
Wiltshire started his game with a beautiful set shot from 50 metres on a difficult angle and had another in the second term with a clever crumbing snap. The small forward drafted straight out of the Bellarine Football League looks dangerous whenever the ball is in his area with his evasiveness and goal sense. And he showed he has a big right boot with a long, penetrating kick inside 50. Was doing run throughs at three-quarter-time and sat out the final term. After a first season hampered by injury, all signs are pointing to a strong VFL campaign for Wiltshire in 2025.
Fair slot from uncapped Geelong forward Oli Wiltshire from the pocket. Jack Martin has started their VFL practice match against Port Melbourne as a centre bounce midfielder. @geelongaddypic.twitter.com/9Xr7shfv0Q
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) March 14, 2025
#22 Mitch Duncan, 33, 188cm
Chris Scott had said the dual premiership was only playing a half, but he was on until three-quarter-time in a halfback role. Duncan read the play nicely, winning several intercepts – including a gutsy mark in front of an oncoming Port Melbourne forward – but his kicking left a bit to be desired at times. Scott said last week that he and Rhys Stanley were “certain” to play games this season, however, he might have to bide his time in the VFL early on after a strong showing from Geelong’s back six against Fremantle.
#27 Patrick Retschko, 19, 186cm
Retschko was the most impressive of Geelong’s youngsters as he showed that an AFL call-up isn’t beyond him this year. The running machine took out the 2km time trial at the state combine and his workrate was there for all to see, linking up regularly along the wing and pushing forward to provide an option. Retschko was rewarded for his efforts with two set shot goals, one from 30 metres on a tight angle and another from close to the 50 metre arc. The Oakleigh Chargers product has the frame and running capacity to push for spots this season and if this sort of form continues, he will give the Cats selection committee plenty to think about.
#31 Keighton Matofai-Forbes, 19, 188cm
The draftee forward named but didn’t play and had a compression garment on his upper leg.
#37 Joe Pike, 19, 203cm
Pike was unable to match opposition ruckman Ajang Kuol mun in the hitout stakes with his less height and vertical leap. The Barwon Heads export put on a good spoil in a marking contest at one stage and clever tap out the back put George Stevens into space.
GEELONG VFL STANDOUTS
#51 Charlie McCartin, Lorne, 26, 194cm
McCartin’s intercepting feats for Lorne saw him burst onto the draft radar, and his overhead marking and reading of the play was impressive against the Borough. The 26-year-old took at least four intercept marks, two of those contested straight into his sticky dukes. He also put on a good spoil over the top of a marking contest on the wing. Recruiters are sure to be tracking the brother of Paddy and Tom McCartin again this season with a key defensive shortage across the AFL.
#59 Kye Annand, Ocean Grove, 21, 200cm
Annand managed one VFL game last season after he was sent to hospital with a lacerated kidney suffered during a game for Ocean Grove. But the Grubbers big man looks set for more state league opportunity in 2025 after a promising showing. Annand was used up forward and in the ruck on Saturday and he moved very well around the ground for a 200cm tall and followed up nicely at stoppages. Got into the game with a holding the ball free kick and he took a chest mark on the lead running at full pelt.
#60 Paddy De Grandi, St Joseph’s 24, 193cm
After turning heads on GMHBA Stadium with three goals last month to earn himself a spot on their list, De Grandi was quieter on this occasion. He hit the post from 15 metres out in the opening term but kicked a goal from close range late in the piece.
#62 Marcus Herbert, 22, 183cm
Herbert was very busy early as he provided outside run, stepping past a would-be tackler with a silky sidestep on one occasion. Won himself a holding the ball free kick with a strong tackle.
#64 Patrick Hughes, Torquay, 20, 183cm
Hughes won a fair bit of the ball on the inside and bobbed up with a nice goal in congestion out the back in the second half.
#69 Nathan Kreuger, Grovedale, 25, 196cm
Returning to Geelong over the off-season after being delisted by Collingwood, Kreuger started his first practice game as a Cat with a contested mark back with the flight and converted the set shot. He didn’t have a great deal of influence from then on but created a contest in the air.
#72 Will Sheahan, Leopold, 22, 190cm
Like McCartin, Sheahan also was able to pick off Port Melbourne entries. The dual Leopold premiership player took a few intercept marks, showing his strong hands overhead. Playing just two games at VFL level last season, it will be interesting to see how often Leopold sees him in 2025.
PORT MELBOURNE
#1 Charlie Lazzaro, 22, 180cm
The Newtown & Chillwell product spent four seasons on North Melbourne’s list and is now at Port Melbourne. Lazzaro won enough of the footy and provided a blistering run up the middle in one exciting play, but his kicking let him down on a couple of occasions.
#27 Ajang Kuol mun, 21, 206cm
After an impressive showing at the standalone carnival, the Anakie sensation turned heads up against his former side in Geelong VFL as he builds a strong early case for the mid-season draft. Kuol mun does things that other ruckman can’t, with a handful of moments producing audible gasps from spectators. In one play in the second quarter, he won a follow-up in a ruck contest, threw off a tackler with strength and got the ball out to a teammate. In the third quarter he ran down a Geelong player like he was a small forward and was unlucky not to be rewarded. The South Sudanese prospect’s follow-up work around the ground and soaring leap – both at ruck contests and in the air – were eye-catching, positioning himself well to take several intercept marks behind the play. And there were a lot more contests where Kuol mun threatened to bring down a big contested mark but just couldn’t quite take it. Kuol mun has clearly improved since he came onto the mid-season draft radar last season for Geelong VFL, but his wayward set shot that didn’t make the distance from 30 metres – after another strong grab – underlined that he remains raw. Still, his upside is there for all to see and he will get more opportunity to show off his exciting traits to AFL recruiters as a No.1 ruck at Port Melbourne - and a few clubs are tracking his progress.
#36 Michael Rudd, 19, 192cm
The St Mary’s youngster moved from Carlton VFL to the Borough after he managed one game last season. Rudd was used up forward and worked hard up the ground. He got on the scoreboard with a set shot goal.
Originally published as VFL scouting notes: Geelong forwards Jack Martin and Shaun Mannagh impress in cameos, ex-Anakie sensation Ajang Kuol mun turns heads
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