Geelong cut seven players including Gary Rohan, Brandon Parfitt

Geelong has moved quickly to shape its list for next season, making seven changes, with two premiership heroes not being offered new deals.

Geelong premiership players Gary Rohan and Brandan Parfitt have been informed that they won’t be offered contracts as the Cats cut seven players in a brutal list cull.

Rohan suffered a fractured skull in his final VFL game in their qualifying final loss – his second concussion in the space of three months - while Parfitt has been on the fringe of selection since the first half of the season.

Former Hawthorn tall Emerson Jeka, mature-age draftee Mitch Hardie and uncapped youngsters James Willis, Phoenix Foster and Oscar Murdoch have also been delisted.

The delistings of Rohan, Parfitt and Hardie in particular are a sign of the strong and even upcoming draft crop.

It comes as defender Jed Bews, 30, has a one-year contract in front of him after breaking into the side late in the season.

Gary Rohan after undergoing surgery Picture: Michael Klein

Picture: Michael Klein

“This time of year is always difficult and to farewell seven great teammates is never easy,” Cats football boss Andrew Mackie said.

“Both members of our 2022 Premiership team, Brandan and Gary have had a profound on-field impact in the Hoops, but it can’t be overstated the influence they both have had on their teammates and the Club more broadly. They have both been incredible for our football program and the wider Geelong community.

“We thank Phoenix, James, Oscar, Mitch and Emerson for their contribution to our football program, we wish them all the best in their next chapter.”

Rohan, 33, played 204 games across his career for Sydney and Geelong – 98 of those for Geelong - but due to injury and form managed 12 appearances in 2024, kicking nine goals.

Parfitt reportedly has interest from rival clubs after a strong VFL campaign, showing good signs early on in the season in the senior side when he was thrown into the Cats midfield following Patrick Dangerfield’s injury.

He was the substitute in Geelong’s 2022 premiership and played 130 games for the Cats in total.

Hardie is the most unlucky of the uncapped Cats, finishing fourth in the Liston Trophy with 19 votes and earning a spot in the VFL team of the year.

The 27-year-old averaged 28 disposals — ranked fifth in the VFL — and kicked 18 goals across the season, also rating elite for score involvements.

Mitch Hardie hasn’t been offered a new deal. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

His dominant state league campaign had a growing chorus of Cats fans calling for him to debut throughout the season.

Key forward Phoenix Foster outshone champion Tom Hawkins in Geelong VFL’s final game against Southport, taking some strong marks and hitting the scoreboard with 2.2.

But he averaged just 45 SuperCoach points in his second VFL season, kicking 19 goals and averaging seven touches across 17 games.

Meanwhile, Bews was back to his stopping best after being stuck in the reserves until round 20 of the AFL season.

He performed some important jobs in the finals series, restricting Brisbane goalsneak Charlie to one goal and 10 touches in the 85 minutes they were matched up in the preliminary final, after holding Willie Rioli to eight touches and a goal in 96 minutes in their qualifying final win.

Veterans Rhys Stanley and Mitch Duncan remain without deals for next year, while captain Patrick Dangerfield is tipped to sign a two-year contract.

Originally published as Geelong cut seven players including Gary Rohan, Brandon Parfitt