Inside cashed-up Cats’ plot to land big-name stars as AFL war chest revealed — Trade Whispers

Geelong reportedly has “enough room in the salary cap over the next couple of years to go after two more stars” and this is why.

Plus, a fringe Giant catches the eye of rival clubs as he weighs up his future.

Stay up to date with the latest player movement developments in AFL Trade Whispers!

CATS WAR CHEST DETAILS REVEALED

Geelong’s list management strategy is one of the best throughout the AFL competition.

Not only do they find ways to attract rival players to the club, they also retain their own star talent.

As reported by Mitch Cleary earlier this month, Geelong - who are already a premiership contender - “have enough room in the salary cap over the next couple of years to go after two more stars”.

Given Geelong’s activity on the player movement front in recent times, that suggestion raised eyebrows amongst football fans.

Cleary provided some more insight on the Tradies podcast this week, dissecting Geelong’s playing list.

“There’s this notion in footy that the Cats are rigging the books. So, I went through and looked at how they can actually do this and how there is still room in the Cats’ cap for what they believe is two stars to fit in over the next couple of years,” Cleary began.

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Dangerfield: "LOVE being a older player" | 04:57

Lawson Humphries, Shaun Mannagh and Connor O’Sullivan are all best 23 players who are still on their initial draft contracts.

“They’re on a capped set of money between $150,000 and $200,000. They’ve got six players on the senior list that are yet to debut that you’ve never heard of,” Cleary said.

“That gives them around more than $550,000 per player to spend on the rest of their list.”

Ollie Dempsey, who has become one of the competition’s best wingers in 2025, is believed to be on “unders” in his current deal, which Cleary believes would be less than $550,000.

Ruck Rhys Stanley is “playing as the cheapest number one ruck in the competition”, while ex-Blue Jack Martin “came for tenure not cash”.

Cleary noted that the fact that “they’ve got locals who stay less than the market rate” was also a key factor in their list build. That group he believes includes Jack and Ollie Henry, Tom Atkins and Jed Bews.

But there’s a lack of high-paid talent that means Geelong are primed to pounce.

Dangerfield getting better ahead of 350 | 05:08

“Last year there were 63 players in the competition on $800,000. I hazard a guess and look at this year that there’d be 70 to 75 players across the competition on $800,000. Geelong would have no more than four.”

Jeremy Cameron, Max Holmes, Bailey Smith and Tom Stewart are A-grade talent and are paid accordingly. Veteran Patrick Dangerfield and small forward Tyson Stengle are stars, but Cleary believes they’d be on just under $800,000.

“People think, ‘How are they smashing the salary cap?’ I don’t think it’s as bad as what people suggest.”

Geelong has previously been linked to both Zak Butters and Harley Reid, as a club who could lure that calibre of star talent.

Hinkley plays down Gawn run-in | 01:23

FRINGE GIANT CATCHES EYE OF RIVALS

Versatile Giant Jacob Wehr has attracted the interest of rival clubs with the prospect of luring him as an unrestricted free agent.

According to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey, Wehr has a one-year offer to remain at the Giants, but club’s are monitoring his VFL form as he weighs up his future.

Wehr qualifies as an unrestricted free agent given he has previously been delisted by the Giants.

In other Giants contract news, a two-year offer is on the table for fringe defender Leek Aleer to remain at the club, but he has strong interest elsewhere, including from St Kilda. His decision is likely to happen later in the year.

Untried tall Wade Derksen is likely to request a trade again, with Melbourne among the potential suitors for his services. Xavier O’Halloran is another who faces a call on his future, after being held to his contract last season despite strong interest from the Western Bulldogs.

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