Even before the 2026 AFL trade period commenced on Monday, there was plenty for Cats fans to get excited about heading into a new campaign next year. 

In their last game of the season, the Semi-Final against Fremantle, Geelong had 12 players aged 26 or younger which was more than half their team, with plenty of young talent emerging and getting valuable experience under their belt. 

Several young guns were not in that side and helped to lead the Cats' VFL team to a Grand Final, while a number of established stars also immediately set about recovering from injuries once the season concluded. 

Geelong also added star forward Toby Greene as a free agent, while their top selection from last year's draft, Harley Barker, might be the most enthralling prospect after spending the entire 2026 season recovering from an injury and laying the foundation to attack 2027. 

As the club prepares to engage in the trade period, Geelong's Executive General Manager of Football, Andrew Mackie, spoke about the health of Geelong's list and what the Cats are hoping to achieve in the player movement period. 

"Well we are hopeful that is not needed. We feel like we have got plenty there," Mackie told media when asked whether the Cats would need to trade a player.  

"Like I said, the pick 14 is of real value to us, just given what is going to transpire in the competition.

"We drafted a young fella, Harley Barker last year who has just got through a knee reconstruction. We are feeling really confident about what he is going to be and with our core group of guys that are at the right age, obviously we added Toby Greene too which is really exciting for us as a footy club.

"I feel like we have got enough that we can get the trades done, but as I said, when you have got contracted players that want to come to your club, it doesn't make it easy on us or any club.

"That is real, we will work through it, there is 10 days to go with those guys and we will see what happens."

The trade period is an enthralling time of year where clubs engage in numerous conversations, with the potential to secure some of the game's best players and highest draft picks for the new campaign. 

Geelong has already secured the services of Toby Greene, with a number of players linked to moves to the Cattery, but as Mackie said, "there is work to do."

In exchange for the services of some key players, the Cats will potentially need to give back players and one name that was enquired about was star defender, Lawson Humphries. 

But Geelong fans can rest easy after Mackie ensured that Humphries will not be going anywhere in 2027 and beyond. 

"No, but like I said, we are a club that understands the player movement period and the transactions involved," Mackie said. 

"But Lawson, we love what he does for us and he won't be going anywhere.

"Once again, it is a credit to the player that there is interest in him. We understand it, he is a quality guy.

"We drafted him, he is understanding our system, he seems like he is about to enter his prime in terms of what he is about to be.

"I understand the interest, but we are loving what he is doing for us. He has got another couple of years to run on the contract."