The Cats will install a revamped and better-resourced list management department in the coming years, according to chief executive Brian Cook.

The recruiting space has undergone significant changes in recent seasons, with free agency and increased player movement adding extra pressure to those tasked with some of the hardest decisions in football.

Across the past two years alone, Geelong has acquired the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Selwood, Lachie Henderson, Zac Smith, Aaron Black and Zach Tuohy via trade and/or free agency.

It has been a mountain of work for recruiting and list manager Stephen Wells and his team, but help is on the horizon.

“Most clubs run with five or six [fulltime recruiters], we’ve been running with three,” Cook told the Geelong Advertiser.

“That’s been an issue for us. Wellsy’s done an outstanding job, but the recruiting area is just becoming very demanding and very sophisticated.”

“It’s very analytical now. There’s trade, free agency, all those things have meant we’ve had to boost up in that area.”

“Even now we’re one or two short and we’re planning to increase the resources over the next couple of years.”

The Cats recently appointed Troy Selwood to the role of talent identification manager, after the 32-year-old oversaw a Geelong VFL program which produced draftees Tom Ruggles, Tom Stewart, Timm House and Ryan Abbott.