Geelong are poised to be major players in the upcoming trade period, armed with significant salary cap space to pursue top talent. According to 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, the Cats have room to add two more stars over the next few years, despite recent big-money deals for Bailey Smith and Jeremy Cameron.
Cleary revealed that Geelong CEO Steven Hocking informed attendees at a Pivots Coterie function that the club has capacity in their salary cap for two additional high-profile players. The Cats are reportedly targeting Harley Reid and Zak Butters, among others, as they look to bolster their roster.
Geelong coach Chris Scott acknowledged the speculation on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters, noting that the club's experienced list means some high salaries are winding down. “It would make sense when we lose Patrick (Dangerfield) at some point, Jeremy Cameron, that there’d be a bit of room there,” Scott said, though he admitted he lacks full visibility on the cap situation.
The Cats have a history of attracting talent through lifestyle advantages and a winning culture, with many players accepting below-market contracts. They also excel at developing overlooked players, as evidenced by rookies like Mark Blicavs, Zach Guthrie, and Brad Close, who have become key contributors.
Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes defended Geelong's recruiting, pointing out that many of their stars were available to all clubs. “Tyson Stengle - delisted free agent, there’s rookies, there’s bargain picks late in the drafts, and they turn them into stars,” Cornes said, urging other clubs not to complain about Geelong's success.
