GEELONG CEO Brian Cook has confirmed the Cats have spoken to the management of Melbourne's unrestricted free agent James Frawley.

Speaking on Fairfax Radio before the Cats' clash against Essendon on Friday night, Cook said the club was considering recruiting the 26-year-old defender, who is out of contract.

AFL.com.au revealed last week that Geelong had entered the race for Frawley, who has not played in a final in eight seasons with the Demons.

"Our club has spoken to James Frawley's agent as several other clubs will, and I'd be surprised if clubs don't," Cook told 3AW.

"I think there is probably a dozen in the mix there. We're one of them."

Frawley has indicated to the Demons that he does not want to negotiate a new contract until the end of the season, and he has attracted interest from several clubs who are likely to be premiership contenders in the near future.

He has played under seven coaches in those eight seasons, and Cook indicated that Geelong was just one of a number of clubs who would be interested in the All-Australian defender.

Frawley is understood to be enjoying playing under Paul Roos, but the senior coach will not be in that role beyond the end of 2016 at most, and the Demons are yet to appoint his successor.  

The Demons would expect reasonable compensation if it lost the unrestricted Frawley.