The current love affair that the Geelong Cats have with the township of Colac shows no sign of letting up with the VFL Cats announcing the signing of highly touted Colac midfielder James Linton.
Linton was considered by many to be a contender for the recent AFL drafts after an impressive 2013 season where he was named best on ground for the GFL interleague side, represented the VCFL representative side and was selected to play in the AFL Victoria ‘Young Guns’ game.
Linton finished fourth in the 2013 GFL Mathieson Medal and was named in the 2013 GFL Team of the Year in the centre.
Linton has been joined at the Bendigo Bank Cats by a familiar face in Colac teammate and two-time best and fairest winner Kane Leersen. Former Geelong Falcon Leersen 23, finished equal 3rd in the Mathieson Medal and was named at half forward in the 2013 GFL Team of the Year.
The signings come on the back of the Cats selecting Colac local product Darcy Lang at pick number 16 in the AFL national draft and announcing their 2014 AFL Community Camp in the Colac region.
In other news for the VFL Cats, former North Ballarat Roosters & Geelong Falcons midfielder Chris Lynch has agreed to terms for the upcoming season. Lynch returned to his home club of Bell Park in 2013 after 20 VFL games with the Roosters in 3 injury riddled seasons.
The new signings come on the back of a number of 2013 VFL listed players recommitting to the Bendigo Bank Cats for 2014. Jack Hollmer, Andrew Banjanin, Mitch Herbison, Tom Maas, Daniel Gibbs, Daniel Measures, Zak Sherman and 2013 VFL Team of the Year members Matthew Sully and Ben Raidme will all return next year, while 2013 VFL state captain and VFL life member Dominic Gleeson has also signed on to play in his 12th season at VFL level.
Reigning VFL best and fairest winner Mark ‘Harry’ Corrigan has also signed on but will increase his coaching duties in 2014 as the VFL midfield coach. As a result ‘Harry’ will spend more time with the headphones on and will only play with the Cats on an occasional basis.
The career change of Corrigan is part of a ‘changing of the guard’ within the VFL program with a number of long serving VFL listed players heading in different directions.
2012 VFL premiership captain Troy Selwood has retired, while Jaxson Barham (overseas), Robert Condy (coaching – St Mary’s GFL), Piers Flanagan (work/study commitments), Mitch Fisher (injured), Jai Sheahan and Ryley Hall are all confirmed as outgoing players for the 2014 season.
The Cats are training every Monday and Thursday night at Simonds Stadium until the 19th of December. The group will then recommence on the 13th of January.
James Linton
Kane Leerson
Chris Lynch
