The Bendigo Bank Cats have announced their final squad of 24 players, plus a development squad of 11 players, ahead of season 2016.

In addition to 16 signings and re-signings announced over recent months, the VFL Cats have rounded out their 2016 VFL playing list by acquiring players from the local talent pools of AFL Barwon and the Western District.

The Cats squad highlights the strength of the Geelong Football League, Bellarine Football League and the Hampden Football League respectively.

The Geelong VFL program enables talented local footballers to showcase their ability at state level and develop their respective games in a professional environment.

Former Leopold defender Tom Ruggles made his way from local football to the Geelong Rookie List after one season with the VFL Cats in 2015 - highlighting the profound impact of success at VFL level.

A host of new faces will look to achieve similar success for the Bendigo Bank Cats this season.

The VFL Cats’ often-depleted ruck stocks will be given a significant boost this season with the addition of Grovedale Tigers ruckman, Ryan Abbott, who joins the Cats following a breakout season in the Geelong Football League in 2015.

The 24-year-old was arguably the most improved player in the GFL last season, earning himself the accolades of Grovedale Best & Fairest, GFL Interleague Ruckman and selection in GFL Team of the Year.

Abbott will play with Grovedale when not representing the VFL Cats, as will small forward Jay Moody, who also joins the Cats for season 2016.

Moody is a powerful small forward who hails from Portland in the Hampden Football League. He kicked 50 goals from 18 games for the Tigers in 2015 and qualifies as a 23^rd player for the Cats.

Moody finished fourth in the Hampden League Goal Kicking last year, with the overall winner Sam Dobson also signing with the VFL Cats.

Dobson earned Team of the Year honours in 2015 following 65 goals from just 12 games for HDFL premiers Koroit, including a bag of five in the Grand Final.

Dobson’s older brother Ben has earned a place on Essendon’s VFL list in 2016, and the brothers will play for GFL club St. Mary’s when not required at VFL level.

Colac junior Sam McLachlan, who also spent the last few years playing in the Hampden Football League joins the Cats list for season 2016, qualifying as a 23^rd player.

McLachlan won the North Warnambool Best & Fairest Award in 2015, the former club of Billie Smedts and ex-Cat David Haynes.

Another Colac local joining the Cats is GFL stalwart Kane Leersen, bringing experience and leadership to Geelong’s midfield and defensive lines.

Leersen has won premierships in both the GFL, with Colac in 2014, and the NTFL, with St. Mary’s in the same year, and boasts best on ground honours for his performance in the NTFL Grand Final in 2014.

Also strengthening Geelong’s backline is South Barwon defender Tom Stewart, who joins the VFL ranks following another successful campaign in 2015.

Stewart earned a place in the GFL interleague side last season for the second successive year and also played in South Barwon’s 2012 & 2013 premiership sides.

2015 GFL Grand Finalist Newtown & Chilwell will also be represented at VFL level by developing key position player Timm House, who was instrumental in their strong campaign last season.

House is capable of playing key position at either end of the ground and qualifies as a 23^rd player for the Cats.

The Cats have also dipped into the talent pool of the Bellarine Football League, signing the versatile Billy Barnes from the Dom Gleeson coached Torquay Tigers.

Barnes has the ability to play tall and small and showed great leadership attributes in the Tigers run to the 2015 BFL Grand Final.

The Geelong VFL Development Squad will consist of young talent, all of whom have a bright future ahead of them.

The three players last season’s squad have been retained in Ryley Stuhldreier (interchange club South Barwon), Marcus Thompson (Leopold) and Josh Guthrie (Sunbury), who is the younger brother of AFL midfielder Cameron Guthrie.

Eight new faces will also join the development squad in Luke Delahey (Darley), Leigh Spiteri (Darley), Matt Inglis (Darley), Billy Laurie (Newtown), Doug Bond (St. Mary’s), Cameron O’Leary (Barwon Heads), Jye Cross (Leopold) and Brock Thompson (Queenscliff).

The VFL Cats will kick off their 2016 campaign this Saturday 12 March with their first practice match against Essendon’s VFL side at the True Value Solar Centre, Tullamarine. The practice match begins at 12pm and is free entry for all spectators. Specific match details will follow later this week.

2016 Geelong VFL List:

50. Ryan Williams – St Joseph’s

51. James Tsistas – Grovedale

52. Alex Hickey – St Joseph’s

53. Matthew Farrelly – Modewarre

54. Cameron Tudor – St Joseph’s

55. Simon Close – Leopold

56. Kieren Paliouras – St Joseph’s

57. Billy Barnes – Torquay

58. Ryan Abbott – Grovedale

59. Jay Moody – Grovedale

60. Sandy Robinson – Newtown & Chilwell

61. Ben Raidme – South Barwon

62. Kane Leersen – Colac

63. Sam Dobson – St Mary’s

64. Tom Atkins – St Joseph’s

65. Sam McLachlan – Colac

66. Jake Edwards – Darley

67. Tom Stewart – South Barwon

68. Harry Kol – St Mary’s

69. Will Sexton – South Barwon

70. Brenton Rees – St Joseph’s

71. Brant Haintz – St Joseph’s

72. Paul Burchell – St Albans

73. Timm House – Newtown & Chilwell

2016 Geelong VFL Development Squad:

Marcus Thompson – Leopold

Ryley Stuhldreier – South Barwon

Josh Guthrie – Sunbury

Luke Delahey – Darley

Leigh Spiteri – Darley

Matt Inglis – Darley

Billy Laurie – Newtown & Chilwell

Doug Bond – St Mary’s

Cam O’Leary – Barwon Heads

Jye Cross – Leopold

Brock Thompson - Queenscliff