The Geelong Cats have strengthened its playing list, welcoming seven new players across the three days of the 2023 AFL draft.
Murray Bushrangers/Allies product Connor O’Sullivan joined on the first night of the Draft with Pick 11, before welcoming Peel Thunder/Western Australia player Mitch Edwards with Pick 32, Werribee VFL player Shaun Mannagh at Pick 36 as well as Warrnambool/GWV Rebel George Stevens (Pick 58), Barwon Heads Football Club forward Oliver Wiltshire (Pick 61) and Lawson Humphries (Pick 63) from Swan Districts. Emerson Jeka (Pick 7) from the Box Hill Hawks was added on Wednesday.
Geelong Cats Recruiting Manager Stephen Wells said the Cats were very happy with the mix of players selected across both nights.
“We are really pleased to welcome Connor to the Club with our first selection, he is a versatile player with high potential,” Wells said.
“He has had a remarkable 12 months for the Bushrangers, his aerial ability, composure, ability to intercept mark and endurance at only 18 years of age is something we are really excited about.”
Night Two also presented the chance to draft a lot of really good players at every selection, allowing the Club to take a strong mix of players, including ready-made option Shaun Mannagh.
"Shaun has deserved a chance to be on an AFL list," Wells said.
"It became evident to us that we wanted him on our list, and we think he can make an impact straight away. At the end of the year when he played in the VFL Grand Final, it became a bit of a priority for us.
"When Mitch was available at Pick 32 we jumped at the chance at selecting him, he is a developing young ruckman that we think is going to really add to our list of developing talls over the coming years.
“George is a big-bodied midfielder who can find plenty of the footy in the contest and is also a more than capable defender, he also had the chance to play two games for our VFL team last season, so Geelong is a familiar environment for him.
"Ollie had an opportunity at the Geelong Falcons a couple of years ago, we think his skill and football brain on display at Barwon Heads over the past couple of years has been outstanding and he deserves his chance.
“At 20 years of age, Lawson is a great young person who is proficient on both sides of his body and like all our draftees we can’t wait to welcome them all down the Club in the next week.”
On Wednesday, the Cats picked verstatile tall Emerson Jeka, who at 198cm, joins the club after 33 games across three season with Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate Box Hill.
