The good news continues at Geelong with 2022 Premiership player Brad Close and youngster Ollie Dempsey both re-signing with the Club for a further two years, remaining in the Hoops until at least 2025.
The 24-year-old Close joined the Cats as a mature aged recruit, with the Club selecting him at Pick 14 in the 2019 Rookie Draft. Debuting for the Club in Round 8, 2020, Close played eight games in his first season at the Cats.
After a strong preseason, the former North Gambier and Glenelg product was one of Geelong’s success stories in 2021, playing 22 of a possible 25 games, kicking 15 goals and finishing seventh in the Club’s best and fairest.
Close enjoyed a stellar 2022, playing all 25 games on his way to winning his first Premiership kicking 26 goals for the season, including two in the Grand Final.
Now having played 63 games, Close has started 2023 having played all eight games and sits third for goal assists across the league, only behind teammates Patrick Dangerfield and Gryan Miers.
“Brad has put in the hard work throughout his career, he is a great all-round player who is crucial to our forward mix and also brings a great defensive mindset to his game,” Geelong Head of List Management Andrew Mackie said.
“Brad’s such a valuable player to our system, he is a great teammate and will only continue to improve further.”
Recruited with Pick 15 in the 2021 Rookie Draft, Dempsey made his debut for the Cats against North Melbourne in Round 6 last season, collecting 15 disposals and kicking a goal.
Coming into the game in the third quarter of Saturday’s game against the Crows for his first senior appearance in 2023, Dempsey has shown promising signs in the VFL this season, kicking five goals in his four games.
“It was great to see Ollie come into the senior side on the weekend, he has great skills for a player who came to footy late, he has the versatility to play in a number of positions and continues to show great ability,” Mackie said.
“We are thrilled to have both Brad and Ollie re-commit for two years and look forward to them continuing to evolve and develop as players.”
