Geelong Cats: Esava Ratugolea trade request and free agent ruck available

Geelong is set to push for a high-end selection from Port Adelaide as key defender Esava Ratugolea looks to make a move to the contending side.

MELBOURNE - APRIL 10: Esava Ratugolea of the Cats marks the ball during the 2023 AFL Round 04 match between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 10, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Geelong is set to push for a high-end selection from Port Adelaide as key defender Esava Ratugolea looks to make a move to the contending side.

The 25 year old utility informed Geelong of his decision to run down his contract at the Cats and request a trade to the Power, having failed to make the move at the end of last season.

It is reported that Geelong will ask Port Adelaide for its future first round selection to be included in any deal involving Ratugolea.

The Cats shot down trade talks last year surrounding Ratugolea after Port Adelaide only offered a future third-round selection, but now the defender is out of contract he could theoretically walk to the pre-season draft.

Ratugolea is not the only player to have requested a trade to Port Adelaide, with Essendon defender Brendan Zerk-Thatcher and Western Bulldogs ruck Jordan Sweet both recently making it clear they wanted a move.

The Power have reportedly backed out of trade talks involving Brodie Grundy, who is now set for a move to Sydney, in an effort to complete the other deals.

Esava Ratugolea. Picture: Brad Fleet

But Port Adelaide’s first rounder for 2023 belongs to North Melbourne after the Jason Horne-Francis trade, while their second and third round picks were sent to West Coast for Willie Rioli.

It means Port Adelaide will enter the draft with pick 37, 43 and 72, with those selections sure to move through finals implications, free agency and father/son and academy bidding.

Geelong only owns picks 7 and 81 in the 2023 draft, meaning the Cats may have to include future selections as well in order to secure Port Adelaide’s future first round pick.

With Port Adelaide a popular landing place for trade targets this off-season, veteran ruck Scott Lycett may be on the move, with a heavily-reduced contract in front of him for 2024.

With Sweet likely to come into the frame for selection at the Power, the soon-to-be 31 year old could be a part of the Ratugolea trade in an effort to bolster Geelong’s ruck depth.

Geelong has rumoured interest in veteran Port Adelaide ruck Scott Lycett. Picture: James Elsby

After Jon Ceglar’s retirement, the Cats’ list was left with just veteran Rhys Stanley, round 24 debutant Toby Conway, youngster Shannon Neale, and utility Mark Blicavs, who is a preferred midfielder by coach Chris Scott.

Lycett is an unrestricted free agent, so could move without being a part of the trade, giving Port Adelaide a late selection as compensation.

It would be unlikely that Geelong get Port Adelaide’s 2024 first-round selection for Ratugolea without other pieces being involved, with Geelong likely having to throw in its future second round or third round pick to satisfy the Power.

But with the rumoured contract in front of the key defender in the range of $2.5m over five years, a first-round pick is not out of the question.

Originally published as Geelong Cats: Esava Ratugolea trade request and free agent ruck available