Geelong’s VFL side has finalised their 2017 pre-season squad with a host of new names featuring in the 60-man squad.
Following last week’s announcement of Collingwood VFL vice-captain Ben Moloney signing with the Cats, there are numerous new faces set to join him for Monday’s pre-season training.
Moloney will be joined by another former Collingwood VFL player with Newtown & Chilwell captain Rob Condy included in the squad.
Condy was a previous member of Geelong’s VFL side in 2012 and 2013, and finds himself back in the blue and white following a strong season at GFL level which included a spot in the 2016 GFL Team of the Year.
Condy is not the only GFL captain joining the squad with Leopold skipper Jai Thompson making his way onto the list after leading the Lions to the 2016 GFL Premiership.
Thompson is a physical midfielder who uses the ball well and can go forward to kick goals.
He was named in the 2015 & 2016 GFL Team of the Year and has played pivotal roles in recent GFL interleague campaigns.
Thompson is joined by six Leopold teammates in the 2017 squad with his brother Marcus, Sam Scott, Simon Close, Jye Cross, Jack Berry and Mitch Patten all joining following the Lions’ impressive 2016 campaign.
The GFL is well represented in the preseason squad with a host of local talent set to fight for a spot on the VFL list in 2017.
The addition of Luke Davis (South Barwon), Charlie Farrell (Bell Park), Hayden Smith (Newtown & Chilwell), Kody Spokes (Colac), Nick Connors (St Mary’s) and Luke Williams (St. Albans) highlights the deep talent pool of the Geelong region.
The local talent is also evident through the addition of eight Geelong Falcons youngsters who will look to showcase their skills and strengths throughout the preseason.
Two of those young stars, Max Augerinos and Baden Remmos both made their returns to football in 2016 after being struck down with respective ACL injuries the previous season.
Jack Blood, Joel Bennett and Pat Dowling also join the squad following impressive 2016 campaigns, whilst Jonathan Arcoraci, Mitch Diamond, and Lockey McCartney will also be strong inclusions in the squad.
Not only representing the Falcons in 2016, Arcoraci, Diamond, Dowling and Blood also played significant roles in St. Joseph’s College Herald Sun Shield win in 2016.
Whilst the list of local talent is as impressive as it is extensive, there are also numerous new faces from other regions, which will help strengthen the Cats in 2016.
“The 2017 VFL recruiting process has been a work in progress over the past twelve months,” VFL Manager Troy Selwood said.
“We have identified a number of ‘needs’ via state league and TAC Cup programs along with the deep local talent pool within the AFL Barwon and AFL South West regions.”
Daniel Caprion has previous VFL experience following 30 games with the Frankston Dolphins whilst Trent McMullan (Murray Bushrangers) and James Gow (North Ballarat) join the squad after strong seasons at TAC Cup level.
The Cats have identified talent in the Central Highlands Football League with Jack Duke joining from Beaufort and the Ovens & Murray Football League with Logan Morey joining from Yarrawonga after winning their Best & Fairest.
Also training with the VFL Cats is Echuca’s Ben Reid, the younger brother of Sam Reid (GWS), after a successful year in 2016 where he represented the VCFL at senior level.
Despite plenty of new names on the 2017 list, there will be familiar faces, with numerous key players returning from the 2016 season that saw the Bankers make the VFL finals.
“The 2016 VFL was an extremely positive one in regards to the development and improvement of our VFL listed players. We have invested a lot of time and resources into these players, and look forward to helping them continue to take their football to the next level.” Selwood said.
“There are 28 players from our 2016 VFL List and Development List returning for the 2017 pre season which is fantastic.”
Reigning VFL Best & Fairest winner Tom Atkins will once again pull on the hoops and the defensive unit will remain strong in 2017 with Jake Edwards and Tom Stewart set to return, along with Will Sexton, Alex Hickey and James Tsitas.
The likes of Timm House, Ryan Abbott and Sam McLachlan will also return to the Bankers following strong 2016 campaigns.
With the extensive list of new and returning players, numerous players have also left the Bankers for season 2017.
VFL Stalwarts Ben Raidme and Sandy Robinson are among the notable outs in the 2017 squad and are joined by Kane Leersen, Paul Burchell, Kieren Paliouras, Cameron Tudor and Ryan Williams.
The Geelong Football Club would like to thank these players for their hard work during their time at the club and wish them luck in the future.
The squad will be cut down to 24 players with the addition of a development squad before the 2017 VFL season.
2017 VFL Pre Season Squad
Returning Players: Ryan Abbott (Grovedale), Tom Atkins (St Josephs), Doug Bond (St Marys), Simon Close (Leopold), Jye Cross (Leopold), Luke Delahey (Darley), Sam Dobson (St Marys), Jake Edwards (Darley), Matthew Farrelly (Moddewarre), Campbell Floyd (Colac), Josh Guthrie (Sunbury), Brant Haintz (St Josephs), Alex Hickey (St Josephs), Timm House (Newtown-Chilwell), Matt Inglis (Darley), Harry Kol (St Marys), Billy Laurie (Newtown-Chilwell), Sam McLachlan (Colac), Cameron O’Leary (Barwon Heads), Brenton Rees (St Jospehs), Will Sexton (South Barwon), Leigh Spiteri (Darley), Tom Stewart (South Barwon), Marcus Thompson (Leopold), James Tsitas (Grovedale)
New Invitees: Jonno Arcoraci (Falcons/North Shore), Max Augerinos (Falcons/St Marys), Mitch Banner (Darley), Joel Bennett (Falcons/Geelong West), Jack Berry (Leopold), Jack Blood (Falcons/St Marys), Daniel Capiron (Frankston VFL), Dan Colbert (Redan), Rob Condy (Newtown-Chilwell), Nick Connors (St Marys), Luke Davis (South Barwon), Mitch Diamond (Falcons/Newtown), Pat Dowling (Falcons/St Marys), Jack Duke (Beaufort), Charlie Farrell (Bell Park), James Gow (Rebels/Koroit), Tom Lang (St Marys), Luke MacLeod (Warrnambool), Lockey McCartney (Falcons/Newtown), Trent McMullan (Murray Bushrangers), Callum Mitchell (Clarence), Ben Moloney (Collingwood VFL), Logan Morey (Yarrawonga), Mitch Patten (Leopold), Ben Reid (Echuca), Baden Remmos (Falcons/Bell Park), Sam Scott (Leopold), Hayden Smith (Newtown-Chilwell), Kody Spokes (Colac), Jai Thompson (Leopold), Luke Webb (Glenorchy), Luke Williams (St Albans)
