There’s a reason the Geelong Cats have been the AFL’s most consistent contender for the better part of two decades. While other clubs ride the rollercoaster of rebuilds and boom-bust cycles, Geelong just keeps winning. They’ve made the AFL Finals Series in 16 of the last 18 seasons. They’ve won three AFL Premierships since 2007. And they’ve done it without ever bottoming out for a priority pick.
The secret? A recruitment strategy that’s equal parts science, art, and old-fashioned club culture. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t make headlines like a blockbuster trade. But it works. Year after year after year.
Let me walk you through exactly how the Cats do it—and why every other club in the AFL competition is trying to copy their playbook.
The Core Philosophy: Win Now, Win Later
At its heart, the Geelong Cats recruitment strategy operates on a simple premise: never waste a year of Joel Selwood’s prime. Even though the former captain has retired, that mindset endures. The club refuses to sacrifice the present for a hypothetical future.
This isn't a rebuild. It's a reload.
While other teams tear things down to the studs, Geelong keeps the foundations strong and just swaps out a few windows. They identify needs, fill them surgically, and keep the core together. That means they’re rarely in the top five of the AFL Draft. They’re usually picking in the late teens or early twenties—and they’re fine with that.
What Makes This Possible?
Three things:
- Elite player development – turning late picks into stars
- Smart trading – bringing in ready-made talent without overpaying
- Unshakeable culture – players want to come to Geelong, often taking less money to do so
Player Development: The Draft Day Alchemy
You’ve heard the phrase “drafting is a lottery.” The Cats treat it more like a science experiment with a very specific hypothesis: character matters more than highlight reels.
The Late-Round Goldmine
Look at the numbers. Since 2010, Geelong has drafted more All-Australians per pick than any other club. They’ve found gems in places other teams don’t even bother looking.
| Player | Draft Pick | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Hawkins | Pick 41 (2006) | 4x All-Australian, 3x Premiership player |
| Mark Blicavs | Rookie (2012) | 2x All-Australian, Brownlow Medal votes |
| Tom Stewart | Pick 40 (2016) | 5x All-Australian, best defender in the game |
Tom Hawkins came from pick 41. Tom Stewart from pick 40. Mark Blicavs was a rookie who’d never played Australian rules football before—he was a steeplechaser. That’s not luck. That’s a system.
What They Look For
The Cats’ recruiting team, led by Stephen Wells (who’s been at the club since 1998), prioritises:
- Footy IQ – Can this player read the game?
- Competitiveness – Do they hate losing more than they love winning?
- Versatility – Can they play multiple positions?
- Character – Will they fit the Kardinia Park culture?
The VFL Pathway
The Geelong VFL team isn’t just a development squad—it’s a tryout system. Players who dominate at VFL level get opportunities. Think of it as the Cats’ farm system, but with a direct pipeline to the senior side.
When you see a name like Ollie Dempsey or Mitch Knevitt pop up in the AFL team, there’s a good chance they spent time honing their craft in the VFL first. The reserves program is tightly integrated with the senior team’s game plan, so when a player gets the call-up, they know exactly what’s expected.
Trading: The Art of the Steal
If the draft is about finding value, trading is about creating it. The Cats have a reputation as one of the AFL’s shrewdest negotiators. They rarely overpay, and they almost always get the player they want.
The Patrick Dangerfield Trade (2015)
This is the textbook example. When Patrick Dangerfield wanted to return to Geelong, the Cats didn’t panic. Adelaide wanted the world. Geelong offered a fair deal—pick 9 and a future second-rounder. It was seen as a bargain at the time. In hindsight, it was one of the greatest trades in AFL history.
Dangerfield won a Brownlow Medal in 2016 and became the face of the club for a decade. The Cats gave up a pick that became... nobody special. Adelaide used it on Wayne Milera, who played 100 games but never reached star status.
The Jeremy Cameron Trade (2020)
When the Cats landed Jeremy Cameron, the reigning Coleman Medalist, they gave up two first-round picks and a player. On paper, that’s a lot. But Cameron was 27, in his prime, and exactly what Geelong needed: a dominant key forward to take pressure off Tom Hawkins.
Two years later, Cameron kicked four goals in the AFL Grand Final victory. The Cats don’t win the 2022 AFL Premiership without him. That’s the trade-off—you pay a premium for a proven star, but you get a flag in return.
The "Geelong Discount"
There’s a phenomenon in AFL circles called the “Geelong discount.” Players take less money to play for the Cats. Why? Because they want to win, and they know Geelong gives them the best chance.
- Patrick Dangerfield reportedly turned down more money from Adelaide
- Jeremy Cameron could have earned more elsewhere
- Isaac Smith left Hawthorn for less cash but more opportunity
The Role of Chris Scott and the Coaching Staff
You can’t talk about recruitment without talking about Chris Scott. The Geelong coach has been at the helm since 2011, and his stability is a massive advantage.
Why Stability Matters
When a coach changes every three or four years, the recruitment philosophy changes too. One coach wants big-bodied mids. The next wants speed. The next wants intercept defenders. The list becomes a Frankenstein’s monster of mismatched talent.
Under Chris Scott, the Cats have had one consistent vision for 14 seasons. They know exactly what type of player fits the system. They don’t chase flavour-of-the-month prospects. They stick to the blueprint.
Scott’s Influence on Recruitment
Coach Scott isn’t in the draft room making picks, but his fingerprints are all over the strategy. He wants:
- Players who can execute under pressure
- Multi-positional athletes who can adapt mid-game
- High-footy-IQ types who make those around them better
The Kardinia Park Advantage
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the stadium.
Kardinia Park (now known as GMHBA Stadium) is a unique venue. It’s smaller than the MCG. It’s narrower. It has a distinct atmosphere that visiting teams often struggle with.
The Cats have built their recruitment strategy around this advantage. They target players who:
- Can handle the tight, contested style that Kardinia Park demands
- Thrive in front of a passionate, parochial crowd
- Embrace the “country club” feel of Geelong as a city
The Kardinia Park Redevelopment
The Kardinia Park Redevelopment has been a game-changer. The stadium has gone from a quaint suburban ground to a state-of-the-art facility. New stands, improved training facilities, better corporate spaces.
This isn’t just about comfort. It’s about recruitment. When the Cats pitch a player on moving to Geelong, they can now show them a $100 million facility that rivals anything in Melbourne. The redevelopment has made Geelong a destination, not a compromise.
The "Geelong Way" vs. The AFL Trend
The AFL has been trending toward “tanking for picks.” Clubs deliberately lose games to secure high draft positions. It’s ugly, but it works—sometimes.
Geelong refuses to participate.
The Data Doesn’t Lie
Since 2007, the Cats have had only two top-10 draft picks:
- Mitch Duncan (pick 10, 2009)
- Nakia Cockatoo (pick 10, 2014)
The Cats’ approach proves that sustained success doesn’t require high picks. It requires:
- Hitting on your late picks
- Developing players properly
- Trading smart
- Maintaining culture
The 2025 AFL Season Outlook
As we look ahead to the 2025 AFL Season, the recruitment strategy remains unchanged. The Cats have a blend of veteran stars (Tom Hawkins, Patrick Dangerfield) and emerging talent (Max Holmes, Tanner Bruhn). They’ll again aim to add one or two experienced players through trade while developing their young guns.
The goal? Stay competitive. Stay in the AFL Finals Series. And give themselves a shot at another AFL Premiership.
Practical Tips for Understanding the Strategy
If you’re a fan trying to follow the Cats’ recruitment moves, here’s what to watch for:
What to Look for in Draft Day
- Late picks with high production – The Cats love players who dominate at lower levels, even if they lack elite athleticism
- State league stars – VFL, SANFL, WAFL players who’ve been overlooked
- Versatile athletes – Can they play forward and back? Mid and wing?
What to Look for in Trade Period
- Disgruntled stars from other clubs – The Cats love a player who wants out
- Players with a connection to Geelong – Did they grow up a Cats fan? Do they have family in the area?
- Value deals – The Cats rarely pay overs. If a trade seems expensive, there’s usually a reason
What to Look for in Free Agency
- Veterans chasing a flag – The Cats are the go-to destination for players in their late 20s who want one last shot
- Players willing to take less money – The “Geelong discount” is real
The Future: What’s Next for the Cats?
The big question: Can the strategy survive the retirements of Tom Hawkins and Patrick Dangerfield?
The Next Generation
The Cats have already started planning. Max Holmes is a future star. Tanner Bruhn was a high draft pick from GWS. Ollie Henry came from Collingwood and looks like a 200-game player.
The VFL team is stocked with developing talent. The draft picks are accumulating. The culture is intact.
The Challenge
The challenge is that the AFL is getting smarter. Other clubs are copying the Geelong model. The “Geelong discount” might shrink as more players realise they can win elsewhere.
But the Cats have one thing no one can copy: 22 years of sustained success. That institutional knowledge, that winning habit, that expectation of excellence—it’s baked into the club’s DNA.
Conclusion: Why This Strategy Matters to You
As a Geelong Cats fan, you’re witnessing something rare in modern sport. A club that refuses to accept mediocrity. A club that doesn’t need to bottom out to bounce back. A club that wins year after year because it’s built a system that works.
The recruitment strategy isn’t just about picking players. It’s about building a culture. It’s about sustaining excellence. It’s about proving that you don’t need to tear everything down to build something great.
And that’s why you should pay attention. Every trade, every draft pick, every VFL signing—it’s all part of the plan. The plan that keeps the Cats in contention. The plan that delivers flags.
So next time you hear someone say “Geelong is too old” or “they can’t keep it going,” remember the strategy. Remember the system. Remember that this club has been proving people wrong for two decades.
The Geelong Cats recruitment strategy works because it’s built on foundations, not gimmicks. And foundations don’t crack.
Want to dive deeper? Check out our key stories for more analysis on the Cats’ biggest moments. Or get ready for the action with our 2025 AFL Season Preview. And if you’re curious about the next generation, don’t miss our feature on the young guns who’ll carry the flag forward.
Go Cats.
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