Geelong’s list fallout: Decisions on veterans, delisted Blue’s interest “very real” & Smith’s impending arrival

Geelong’s list management plans for 2025 and beyond are in immediate effect in the wake of the club’s Preliminary Final loss on the weekend.

The Cats went down to the Brisbane Lions by 10 points at the MCG on Saturday night, denying them a spot in a third Grand Final in five seasons.

Now they’ll start putting their list together for next season after losing retiring veterans Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy.

SEN regular and Channel 9’s Tom Morris said there are still some decisions to be made on the likes of Gary Rohan, Rhys Stanley and Mitch Duncan.

“No one is brave enough now to say the Cats are going to fall off a cliff,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.

“They’ve got 11 30-plus-year-olds this year. If Gary Rohan plays next year they’ll have nine 30-plus-year-olds as they’ll lose Tuohy and Hawkins.

“We expect Mitch Duncan to play on on a one-year deal. Just the finer details of that contract being worked through. Similar with Rhys Stanley.

“Gary Rohan is very much up in the air, Jed Bews should re-sign as well, so their list is going to be largely the same.”

The Cats, however, are expected to sign Bailey Smith from the Western Bulldogs and there is believed to be “very real” interest both ways in delisted Carlton forward Jack Martin.

“They will bring in Bailey Smith. That could become more formal today or tomorrow. What they give up for him remains to be seen but I think it will be a first-round pick,” he added.

“Their interest in Jack Martin is very real. I can tell you this morning that Jack Martin’s interest in Geelong is very real.

“He’s a delisted free agent so he can just get there if he wants to. He doesn’t want to leave Victoria.”

Additionally, captain Patrick Dangerfield will likely put pen to a two-year extension as the Cats prepare to reload after narrowly missing out on another Grand Final appearance under Chris Scott.

“Dangerfield’s two-year deal is just a formality now as well which will keep him at the Cats until the end of 2026,” Morris said further.

“So the Cats will go again. They’re a list that keeps on giving. Even if they lose some of those experienced players they’ll continue to try to be at the very top.”

Listen to Morris on SEN Breakfast below: