Tom Ruggles has been elevated from Geelong's rookie list to the club's senior list.
The 23-year-old (he turns 24 on Anzac Day) is now a strong chance to make his AFL debut when the Cats take on the Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium on Sunday evening.
"We've upgraded him to give ourselves that option," Cats coach Chris Scott told a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
"Obviously if we didn't upgrade him we can't pick him.
"He's close enough to the mark now that we'd like to have that option available to us."
A mid-sized defender who has ability to shut down opponents but also set up attacks, Ruggles has lived his entire life in the Greater Geelong region.
He played junior footy for Bellarine league club Drysdale, had a stint in the TAC Cup with the Geelong Falcons, then spent some time playing in the Geelong league with Leopold.
WATCH: Tom Ruggles' Cats Media interview after the NAB Challenge game against Essendon
Ruggles came to prominence when he won Geelong's VFL best and fairest as a top-up player last season.
He was then selected by the Cats in last November's rookie draft.
"He's not the first to come through that pathway," Scott said.
"We really value our relationships with local clubs, we really value our VFL system and the way our guys develop players.
"Hopefully if Ruggs does go on and play AFL footy it will be a good message to the young guys coming through our program that you don't always need to come through the traditional pathway."
READ: All on the telephone line for Ruggles
Ruggles pressed his case to be elevated to the senior list by performing strongly in the NAB Challenge matches against Essendon and Fremantle.
In recent weeks he has been an outstanding performer in the Cats' VFL practice matches against North Ballarat and Collingwood.
He tallied 29 disposals in the win over the Roosters, then racked up a team-high 25 touches in the loss to the Magpies.
"He's had a really good preparation [to play in the AFL] and a good pre-season," Scott said.
Tom Ruggles in action when the Cats braved the wet weather for a light training run on Wednesday morning
