GEELONG is ready to welcome a crop of young talent into the club with a strong hand of selections at November’s AFL National Draft.
New Cats CEO Steve Hocking says Geelong has made small adjustments to prioritise the club’s future as well as the present.
“We have got work ahead of us. We acknowledge we do need to evolve,” Hocking told SEN Breakfast.
“I think we’ve got a little bit planted in the ‘now’ and we do need to just shift our eyes to the future whilst maintaining the level the club has.
“I value talent … you need to make sure that you’re certainly challenging now, but you need to have an eye on the future as well.”
The Cats’ first opportunity to welcome young talent could arrive in the form of talented 23-year-old small forward Tyson Stengle, who the club has confirmed its interest in.
Stengle will be officially delisted by Adelaide on October 31.
Geelong will then head to the National Draft as one of just two clubs with four draft selections inside pick 35.
“We’ve got Picks 22, 30, 32, 34 and 50,” Hocking says.
“There’s a fair bit of interest around 30, 32 and 34 from other clubs as to whether we can get higher into the draft.
“Clearly we’re going to be bringing in some young talent.”
The next part of Hocking’s plan for Geelong’s young talent will centre on creating an environment for them to thrive.
Carlton and Adelaide legend Eddie Betts has already been appointed to a development coaching role.
“We’ve got one senior appointment to make around development,” Hocking says.
“So that’s an opportunity with the new CEO and new coaches as well. That resetting of the football program will be really healthy.
“The program had been very set for quite a while… it’s good to start the pre-season and actually have some different voices and different influences and ideas.
“We’re going to make sure that the players we draft out of the upcoming draft have the right support and right programs so they can realise their talent.
“I’m a big believer in having an environment where young people can be the best they should be.”
