Cats great offers clarity on future as contract call looms

If Mitch Duncan isn’t offered a contract by Geelong later this year, the veteran Cat says he will almost certainly hang up the boots for good.

The 32-year-old, who will be 33 next month, doesn’t have any contract certainty beyond next year after 15 seasons at Kardinia Park.

Moved more to an outside role in 2024, Duncan continues to average over 20 disposals and six marks a game running between the arcs.

And while his experience could be an attractive quality to rival clubs if the Western Australian doesn’t remain at the Cats, the man himself can’t picture wearing new colours.

“Probably not, to be honest,” Duncan replied on SEN Breakfast when asked if he could be enticed into a Luke Hodge-style move to a new club.

“I think I’ve had the opportunity to leave Geelong a couple of times and head back to Perth but I can’t see myself playing for another side.

“If it was to be the end, then I think that would be the end and I’d move onto the next chapter of my life. We’ll deal with that when it comes to the latter part of the year and see where we end up.”

He added: “I’ve never even got to contemplate it (moving clubs). In that aspect, I’ve never been out of contract.”

Hodge departed Hawthorn at the age of 33 and played at Brisbane until he was 35, retiring back in 2019. Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis completed similar moves under the instruction of coach Alastair Clarkson.

A two-time premiership player and 10th all-time for games played for Geelong, Duncan’s name has been synonymous with the footy club across the last decade.

When asked about his aspirations to move into coaching after his playing career, Duncan indicated his likely path.

“Yeah, it is of interest,” he said.

“I feel like I’ve been a professional in footy since I finished school and I kind of haven’t done a hell of a lot else.

“I feel like it would only be natural for me to continue on down that path. Whether it’s coaching, I have a real interest in the list management space and helping develop younger players is a passion of mine as well.

“I think it does lean that way…”

Magpies great Scott Pendlebury is amongst the current-day players most keen to move into coaching in the coming years, breaking the trend of stars of the game heading into the media.

Duncan and the Cats are out to break a three-game losing streak when they take on GWS at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday in a match that will see Tom Hawkins break the games record for Geelong.

With Duncan on 282 games, the 300 milestone is now out of reach in 2024, even if the Cats reach a second Grand Final in three years.