Geelong fans can look forward to a new contract for captain Patrick Dangerfield soon after the trade period wraps up, with negotiations expected to be “a pretty quick thing.”
Dangerfield, the last remaining restricted free agent for 2024, has yet to commit to his 18th AFL season and 10th with the Cats. However, both he and Geelong’s football boss, Andrew Mackie, haven’t focused too much on the deal, with a recent brief phone call indicating minimal time spent on discussions.
“They’re good. I must admit, it hasn’t taken up too much time out of mine, or Pat’s or the Connors group,” Mackie said. “I called Pat over the weekend, and he said, ‘You’ve spent one second too much on it.’ It’s not going to take much longer.”
While the Cats are concentrating on a busy trade window, with potential discussions for Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith, Mackie has downplayed rumors regarding Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver but hasn’t entirely dismissed the possibility.
One confirmed addition is delisted Carlton forward Jack Martin, who has chosen to join the Cats for the 2025 season, rejecting offers from Western Australia and Queensland. Despite struggling with injuries that limited him to just three games in 2024, Mackie is optimistic about Martin’s potential impact if he can regain his fitness.
“We’re aware of the injury concerns, but we’re really excited about the possibilities if we get that right,” Mackie said. “It’ll be a work in progress, but we’re looking forward to putting him on our list on November 1 and seeing what can happen.”
Geelong currently holds Picks 17, 38, 56, and 74 for this year’s AFL Draft, with their top selection likely to be part of a trade for Smith.