Geelong welcomed four fresh faces to their list during the 2025 AFL Draft period. As they navigate their way through their first year in the AFL system, Geelong’s Rookie Journal series will help you get to know the new Cats and the stories that led to them becoming AFL footballers.   

Jesse Mellor was the next player to sit down with Cats Media this year, providing insight into his fascinating journey that led him to the Geelong Football Club. 

When I first started to find a love for the game, I remember it was when I got held back a year going into Under 9s. I played my first game in that age bracket, that was when I started developing the love for football and got a taste of it. 

I was always surrounded by football growing up.

My Dad was heavily involved in football with Richmond and West Adelaide, then at Geelong West and he finished up last year. It has always been around my family, my Uncle played AFL and that has probably contributed to it.

Then obviously I found the love for the game, I love the competitive side of it. 

My junior career was huge, and having huge mentors along the way has been super helpful.

For me, my Dad was a huge role model, but people like Chris Lynch and Paul Corrigan down at the Falcons, they were huge along the way for me. Also my Geelong West junior coaches, they were all really important. 

I have always wanted to be an AFL player and to get drafted, I always really wanted it to happen but I wasn't sure if it was going to.

I just wanted to get a trial for Vic Country and ended up getting one, then I probably played my best game and that was when the dream started to spark alive.

That is when I started to think that I could get there. 

The first person to reach out to me from the Geelong was Paul Hood.

I was in Year 9, he was my teacher for R.E and I was joking around with a couple of mates. One of my Sudanese mates, his name was Joseph Leone and he was part Geelong's Next Generation Academy. He had a lot of fun with his footy, but he was teasing me about being born in Bangkok and Paul Hood was the head of the NGA at that point.

He asked if I was actually born there and he helped me get into the NGA, that was how it started and it ended up being so helpful, I probably wouldn't be here without it. 

I had always been in contact with the recruiters through the NGA program, but my first proper interview came just before trials for Vic Country and after my first few games for the Falcons. 

They pulled me in for a little chat, they didn't really say much but 'Wellsy' just said that they thought I was going alright but no promises, just keep it up and we will see what happens.

Then from there on I kept in contact with them just walking through the hallways, but I didn't really speak to them until the week before the draft. They came over to my house and said that if I got through the rookie draft, they would take me. 

I have got a super, super close group of mates. Half of them have all been mates from prep in primary school, all growing up around Geelong West and playing for the Geelong West Football Club. We are all just like brothers.

I was a chance for the National Draft, I told them that I didn't think I was going to go, but they were super keen so they watched it at my other mates house down the street.

I didn't get picked up in the National and I was a bit flat, but then Simon Murphy gave me a call and said well done.

Then it dawned on me that I am going to the Cats, I was over the moon but I didn't know if it was supposed to be kept under wraps or not. I said to 'Murph' that all my mates were around the corner, and asked if I could tell them so that was how the celebrations come about.

We had a bit of a party over the Thursday and Friday nights which was so good, my family and friends just mean the world to me so that was unreal. 

Coming into the club, it was probably a bit different because I had been in the facilities before but it was still nerve wracking properly meeting everyone.

It was so good, everyone was so welcoming and I couldn't believe the support that you get. It was just so great and it has been such an easy transition to the Cats, all the other draftees have loved it as well. 

It will just be amazing getting to pull on the Hoops for the first time.

Geelong is a huge club, but it is also more than that. It is the whole culture of all of Geelong and it is everyone's dream. For me, it is like a family here and I just couldn't think of anything better.

I am keen to give my all to this club.