Externally, the AFL Draft may seem like a 72-hour window full of chaotic action, a frenzy of picks and trades combined with some brilliant reactions as the next generation of AFL dreams are realised.

But internally, it is a far different story. 

Each draft is the culmination of hours upon hours of hard work, numerous interstate scouting trips and extended periods of studying vision for Geelong's recruiting team. 

For the masterminds behind each of the Cats newest selections, it is the biggest week on their calendar and all their dedication to the job is rewarded, with a number of new faces arriving at the Cattery.

Even with all their research and planning, there are still a number of variables that recruiters like Stephen Wells, Simon Murphy, Ross Hill and Tom Lonergan have to account for as the nights progress.

"The list really gets defined and we make up our mind about who we are going to draft on the night," Geelong Recruiting Manager, Stephen Wells told Cats Media. 

"For me it works that way, I work backwards from the deadline of the draft taking into account all available information. Whether that be from coaches and managers, schools, watching the players perform, certainly taking into account the strong opinions of our recruiting team, to finally come up with a decision that hopefully is in our best interest."

Geelong opened the doors and provided access into their 2025 Draft process, allowing Cats fans a behind the scenes look into the work that goes into each pick. 

While it is a long process to narrow down their options, the Cats refine their list not only based on what players can produce on the field, but also their characters off it.

"In any one situation, it might be eight to 12 or possibly more, 14 to 15 times we have watched them play, whether it be live or on vision," Cats Recruiting Officer, Ross Hill said. 

"It might be interstate, so it could be time that is devoted there. The home visits are really important because it gives us a really good sense of not only the player and what drives them on the field, but it gives us a really good indication of their off field goings on.

"It all culminates in the information that we gather, to make a sound decision going forward."

One big addition to Geelong's recruiting team this year was the return of premiership player Tom Lonergan, who has joined the club as an Assistant Recruiting Manager. 

Lonergan explained how he was able to draw on his own draft experience, to help him understand what this year's crop of players go through in the lead up to the draft.

"Wellsy drafted me to this club 23 years ago," Lonergan said.

"Him and 'Bomber' Thompson come to my house a week before the draft, had a similar interview to the ones I have been involved in the last couple of weeks, with some of the players who we might be thinking about bringing in.

"It will be awesome to be able to spend a bit of time with Wellsy and work underneath him, to learn how he goes about things."

Another big part of the draft process is the first interactions with Geelong's new players, which includes Head of Player Development and Wellbeing, Mark Worthington and Player Development Manager, Shannon Byrnes.

The pair are often mentioned by Cats players throughout the year, in regards to the biggest influences on development and personal growth, but they are also typically the first ones through the door to meet Geelong's new draftees. 

"For our department, in the player development and wellbeing team, we have got Shannon Byrnes who will play a really vital role in inducting our draftees," Worthington told Cats Media.

"Shannon, myself and our psychologist play a real part in regards to getting an understanding of who the people are that we will bring in, where they are from, their family make-ups, what school they have been to.

"Then we really try to ascertain how we can best induct them into our club, and make them fit into Geelong straight away." 

Worthington provided some insight into how the draft night unfolds for his team, as they prepare to welcome Geelong's fresh faces to the club for their first pre-season.

"We will be in the draft room, so we don't sit in the draft box, and we wait there and almost have a bit of a checklist ourselves that Stephen Wells and the recruiting team have provided us," Worthington said. 

"We start ticking off names and we have a bit of an eye on where the interstate players are from, and where the local players are from. There is no one size fits all, it is truly around supporting the unique individual.

"Anyone that gets their name called out over the few days has a unique and exciting opportunity, to really craft out an AFL career.

"It is really exciting and a privileged position I must say, to be able to support young people and their families on that journey." 

It ultimately led to Geelong selecting four new players; Harley Barker (pick 24) and Hunter Holmes (pick 33) at the National Draft, Nick Driscoll in the rookie draft and Jesse Mellor as a Category B Rookie. 

Stephen Wells explained the rationale behind the Cats strategy over the three-day draft period.

"The main thing we are trying to achieve with the draft is to bring in players that complement the group that we have already got," Wells said.

"Fortunately we think our group is well balanced, not only age wise but experience wise, and also positionally.

"We are confident that we can go to the draft and see who is left and available at our picks, and pick players that we think are going to complement the whole group."