CHRIS Scott is confident that any players who nominate Geelong as their preferred destination during the trade and free agency period will find their way to the club.

The Cats have been linked to a host of out-of-contract stars, including Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson, Scott Selwood and Zac Smith.

“The most important step is the players nominating Geelong as their club of choice and then, generally, the two clubs need to do a deal,” Scott said at Simonds Stadium on Tuesday.

“But if recent history’s any guide, the deals are still done.

“Some of the things we’re looking at have been well documented this year,” he said.

“Hopefully, we’ll be in a position in a couple of weeks to give everyone some clarity.

“We haven’t got perfect clarity ourselves, but there is an opportunity to improve our list, no question.”

Dangerfield and Henderson, who both came through the Geelong Falcons TAC Cup program, have indicated a desire to return ‘home’.

“But we’re very conscious that players don’t want to come here just because we’re an outstanding club,” Scott said.

“I think that sounds a little bit arrogant.

“We’re in the fortunate position that we are a regional club, and there’s some players who have grown up in the area and expressed a desire to come back closer to home.

“On one level, we take pride in the fact that the club’s been well run over a long period of time.

“But, we’re also right place, right time to an extent.”

The Cats will celebrate the retirements of premiership heroes Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Mathew Stokes at Thursday night’s best and fairest function at Melbourne’s Crown Casino.