Danger is staying, but here’s why some of the Cats’ biggest names aren’t their highest priorities

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Geelong won’t beryllium spooked by the imaginable of rival clubs attempting to lure their seasoned premiership escaped agents to assistance their database builds by teaching their youngsters the mode to play.

Adelaide whitethorn person lightheartedly thrown the bait astatine keen fisherman Patrick Dangerfield to spot his reaction, but the Geelong skipper was adamant astir his aboriginal a fortnight agone erstwhile helium declared: “I’m not going anywhere.”

That cognition has helped the Cats arsenic they proceed to neither unreserved into extending the contracts, nor constitute disconnected prematurely the careers of the seemingly never-ending enactment of champions that person played good into their 30s.

And they volition instrumentality the aforesaid attack this twelvemonth arsenic six escaped agents successful their 30s, who played successful the 2022 premiership, proceed to ply their trade, alert that immoderate decisions connected their aboriginal volition hold until a realistic determination tin beryllium made.

That doesn’t mean the players are taken for granted, but they are good alert of the mode Geelong does business.

It’s been the Cats’ signifier for respective seasons now, with the nine prepared to backmost successful that their situation volition beryllium 1 that veterans privation to stay successful if their signifier demands different contract.

Patrick Dangerfield has had an injury-interrupted commencement to the play but his signifier has been beardown erstwhile helium has played.Credit: AFL Photos

The players recognize what lies ahead, having watched their teammates spell done akin experiences each season.

Since Harry Taylor and Gary Ablett jnr retired aft the 2020 expansive final, they person seen Lachie Henderson (end of 2021), Joel Selwood, Luke Dahlhaus and Shaun Higgins (2022), and Isaac Smith (2023) each depart without languishing successful the VFL.

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This play Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Zach Tuohy, Tom Hawkins and Rhys Stanley person each been playing regular elder shot arsenic out-of-contract escaped agents. Only Jed Bews has not played a elder crippled this play but the father-son premiership subordinate has shown helium is keen to instrumentality to the AFL team.

The cognition has allowed the nine to prioritise cardinal re-signings, with Tom Stewart’s starting the enactment of database manager Andrew Mackie arsenic helium ticks disconnected cardinal players, with Max Holmes besides re-signing a fortnight ago.

Now Jack Henry and Tyson Stengle are taking up astir of Mackie’s clip earlier helium looks to determination connected to different unrestricted escaped agents Jake Kolodjashnij and Brandan Parfitt, who person some made bully cases to support going beyond 2024 with their aboriginal play form.

The blistery marketplace for escaped agents is being driven by cashed-up clubs consenting to walk wealth connected disposable talent, but besides by predictions among recruiters that November’s nationalist draught volition transportation prime prospects beyond the archetypal round.

Brisbane prima Hugh McCluggage has been astatine his champion since Gather Round.Credit: AFL Photos

No packing of luggage for McCluggage

Brisbane Lions onballer Hugh McCluggage has declared his tendency to stay astatine the nine arsenic negotiations proceed implicit a semipermanent woody that would spot him locked successful their midfield until 2030.

The restricted escaped cause remains the astir charismatic subordinate connected the database of escaped agents yet to motion with his club, but Lions fans tin respire casual aft a pugnacious week connected the wounded front.

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“We some cognize wherever I sit. I emotion it here. I truly bask playing footy with this radical and surviving successful Queensland. We some privation to get thing done, but it is taking its clip and that is OK. It is simmering distant successful the background, and I americium focused connected playing arsenic good arsenic I can,” McCluggage said.

Looking guardant astatine the Bulldogs

The re-signing of cardinal guardant Jamarra Ugle-Hagan for the adjacent 2 seasons is simply a boost for the Bulldogs arsenic they negociate a pugnacious commencement to the twelvemonth that has them sitting successful 11th spot.

Now they tin absorption their energies connected determining what terms they are prepared to wage for ruckman Tim English, who is keen to stay successful Victoria if the close woody tin beryllium struck.

The Bulldogs person a plethora of talls astatine their disposal, but English remains a prime subordinate who could easy re-ignite the involvement of different clubs if a woody can’t beryllium struck.

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