Jordan Ridley has played 26 games in three years, and Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie admits that's a risk. "There's not exact science to that. There is a bit of a punt on it." He's betting a fresh start helps Ridley's body, with extra strength work already bringing gains.
Geelong tried to get a future pick back from St Kilda in the Rowan Marshall deal, but it was too compelling to hold out, list boss Andrew Mackie said. With Marshall and Mark Blicavs in the ruck, "it probably allows Shannon Neale to just stay at home more as a forward."
Toby Greene's move to Geelong started early, with Simon Murphy calling his manager, Paul Connors. The Cats didn't speak to Greene himself until a couple of weeks after his season ended. Andrew Mackie: "Jeremy Cameron playing at our club helps with a Toby Greene discussion."
Matt Rowell is a 2027 free agency target for Geelong, Andrew Mackie said – "one of a few." How the Rowan Marshall and Jordan Ridley deals were done leaves the Cats "well positioned" for free agents, he said. Marshall, on a three-year deal, may have "6 or 7 years of footy left."
Gryan Miers stays at Geelong. List boss Andrew Mackie said the Cats didn't shut down West Coast's interest at once, out of respect to Miers; Essendon talk "didn't even get to that stage". Another club asked about Sam De Koning: "he's too good to not be in our team."
Toby Greene was the easy one of three. Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie said the Cats had all three targets locked in before the trade period: "Obviously, Toby was easier being the unrestricted free agent." As a free agent, he cost no trade.
Nick Blakey and Geelong barely got started. Cats list boss Andrew Mackie said talks with Blakey were "pretty short... we spoke to Robbie and Nick briefly, but it sort of quickly morphed into the Kangaroos deal was pretty significant."
Gryan Miers was "not very close" to a Bulldogs trade, Geelong's Andrew Mackie said, despite "some interest". He's contracted for a couple of years. Contract and draft-pick terms, not Nick Blakey's past, ended the Cats' interest once North Melbourne moved fast, Mackie said.
Toby Conway has "had a bit of injuries the last couple of years," Geelong's Andrew Mackie said, and the club would love him to get a good run. Mackie backed Rowan Marshall and 21-year-old Mitchell Edwards as a two-ruck pairing: "5 on the bench really helps that."
Geelong wanted to keep pick 14 but gave it up to land Rowan Marshall, leaving no early pick. "Out of respect to him, we just wanted to get him in," Andrew Mackie said. He called it a great thing for the club that Toby Greene, Jordan Ridley and Marshall "want to come."
Rowan Marshall's trade from St Kilda to Geelong is done. He said he's been "pretty banged up" the last couple of years and wants a strong pre-season to be fit for round 1. He asked for a trade last year and called the move "a fresh start, both for me and for the club."
No knee surgery for Gryan Miers before 2027: Geelong's Andrew Mackie called the medical feedback "really positive" and said Miers worked through the mental side too. Harley Barker, drafted last year, is through a knee reconstruction; Mackie is "really confident" in him.