As the future of their veterans remain clouded, Geelong continue to act to sure up the state of their list for 2016 and beyond, with the Cats believed to be offering ruckman Nathan Vardy a new two-year deal.
The news comes after star midfielder Steven Motlop said publicly that he will "likely" stay at Simonds Stadium as well.
Vardy, 24, returned in round 21 for his first AFL game in nearly two years. While his comeback has been overshadowed by the astonishing success of Daniel Menzel's return game, Vardy too has come through solidly.
It's understood that discussions between Vardy's management and the Cats has started, with Geelong keen to secure Vardy's services until the end of 2017.
The injury-prone big man has been restricted to just 23 games since his debut in 2011, but has been reasonable in his two games back, with 14 disposals, 20 hitouts and two goals against St Kilda followed up by a quieter 10-disposal and 10 hitout showing against Collingwood in the Cats' 48-point loss on Friday night. He was included in the senior side following four games in the VFL, his first competitive action since a serious knee injury at training in the 2014 pre-season.
Vardy spoke prior to the Saints game of his intent to remain at Geelong after enduring a lengthy catalogue of knee and hip issues during his fledgling career. He also claimed that merely "getting back and playing football, and just staying on the park," was all he would be expected to do to remain at Geelong.
Motlop, 24, had been in the sights of several clubs, particularly North Melbourne and Richmond. But the lively goalkicker followed Cats football manager Steve Hocking in flagging Motlop's signature soon.
"Yeah definitely," Motlop told Channel Nine in a pre-recorded Saturday doorstop interview, which aired on Saturday night. "My manager and that are all going through it now, so I'm pretty happy at Geelong."
Motlop was quiet in the Cats' loss to Collingwood on Friday night which ended Geelong's run of eight straight finals berths, but has enjoyed a strong run of form in recent weeks, averaging nearly 26 disposals and better than a goal per game since round 16. Hocking had told K-Rock on Friday night that "Motlop definitely wants to stay at Geelong".
"It's just really his manager and the club just getting the right deal and agreeing to what I think is fair enough on his front, and … he's a restricted free agent in 12 months' time, so how do you contract through that?," Hocking said. "I think that's a very reasonable question to be asking."
Hocking had also confirmed that tall utility Mark Blicavs would sign any day.
Menzel, too, seems certain to stay after his four-goal haul against the Pies in what was his first senior game since late 2011.
While what happens to Geelong's 30-and-over brigade and their stars dominates the headlines, there remain a bevy of lower-profile players whose fates have yet to be revealed by the Cats.
Tall forwards Josh Walker and Shane Kersten, ruckman Dawson Simpson, unlucky midfielder Josh Cowan, former Melbourne speedster Sam Blease and untested West Australian Jarrad Jansen are also all out of contract at the end of the year. Walker, who has been linked with Carlton, has been a senior regular in the second half of the season, but most of the others have been on the outer at selection.
Troubled South Australian Brad Hartman also walked away from the club earlier in the season. Geelong also have former North Melbourne defender Cameron Delaney on their rookie list, with no word yet on whether he will be retained after making his way back to the VFL from a debilitating foot problem.
The Cats remain the favourites to land Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield, West Coast midfielder Scott Selwood and former Carlton tall Lachie Henderson, further clouding the landscape.
