GEELONG came into the 2022 AFL Draft fresh off a flag and fruitful trade period, wielding pick seven and committing to a couple of club-tied talents. In the end, there was a true local feel about the six fresh faces to land at the Cattery. We recap and review the Cats’ haul, analysing what each player may offer to their new club.

NATIONAL DRAFT

#8 Jhye Clark (Inside Midfielder, Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
#52 Phoenix Foster (Ruck/Forward, Norwood/South Australia)

ROOKIE DRAFT

NGA: Ted Clohesy (Inside Midfielder/Forward, Geelong Falcons/Victoria)
INT: Oisin Mullin (Ireland)
#18 Oscar Murdoch (Tall Defender, Geelong Falcons/Victoria)
#32 Osca Riccardi (Small Utility, Geelong Falcons/Victoria)

Though Geelong only made two selections at the National Draft, one was highly anticipated as it landed within the top 10. As was expected when the Cats first acquired pick seven, which moved down to eight, local talent Jhye Clark was their man. The Vic Country and Geelong Falcons skipper produced an outstanding top-age season, and looms as a direct replacement for retiring champion, Joel Selwood.

Competitiveness and contested ball winning acumen are among his top traits, but Clark does most things well and simply has few flaws. He will likely face stiff opposition to crack the Cats’ midfield early in year one, especially after the coups of Jack Bowes and Tanner Bruhn, but has the talent and work ethic to do so.

Geelong had to wait until the end of round three to make its second and final selection, opting for South Australian ruck-forward Phoenix Foster. The Norwood bigman burst onto the scene this year after being a late replacement in his state’s Under 18 side, but took each opportunity with both hands to press his claims as a developable long-term tall prospect.

The Cats had already committed to a pair of club-tied players from the Geelong Falcons as rookies, and duly pre-listed them once they slipped past the National Draft. Hard-running small utility Osca Riccardi and hard-nosed midfielder-forward Ted Clohesy became the second and third Falcons to land at the Cattery, before tall defender Oscar Murdoch also had his name called out in the Rookie Draft.

Irishman Oisin Mullin rounds out the Cats’ crop, which otherwise has a strong local feel to it. Each new player has been lauded in one way or another for their competitiveness and work rate, so will only add to the strong culture and standards set by Geelong’s formidable premiership team.