Geelong’s VFL side has retained four first-pick VFL-listed players for 2008 despite lucrative incentives from rival and interstate clubs.

In a strong display of loyalty, Jay Cheep, Matthew Firman, Jack Hollmer and Christ Urie all signaled their commitment to the Cats for 2008 by knocking back healthy offers from clubs across the country.

VFL football operations manager Ben Waller said the club was never overly concerned about the prospect of losing the players to rival clubs.

“A number of our VFL listed players got lucrative offers from other clubs, particularly Cheep and Firman who played in the 2007 VFL premiership side, but I don’t think they have ever really wanted to leave Geelong.” Waller said.

“These guys have been pretty loyal to us. I know that they all love playing for Geelong and really enjoy the AFL club atmosphere, so it was going to be very hard to get them away from here.”

Buoyed by the meteoric rise of teammates Scott Thompson and Shane Mumford, the four young stars look set to further sharpen their credentials as potential AFL players this season.

Waller said the players still harboured ambitions of breaking into AFL ranks, adding that Geelong’s VFL set up, which is now a proven AFL breeding ground, was a strong lure for the players.

“The guys are still young enough. Matt Firman has already been a rookie at Essendon and he would feel that his opportunity hasn’t closed yet – he’s got a lot of talent and was a very important player in the VFL premiership side. “Chris Urie and Jack Hollmer both had really good first year seasons in the VFL and are both still under the rookie list age limit” he said.

“I think a lot of the boys would look at Shane Mumford and Scott Thompson from last year and Jason Davenport and Matthew Egan from past years and get a lot of confidence from seeing those guys make the transition from VFL listed to players to being drafted’.

“VFL players at Geelong believe that have a chance of being recruited while they play under the eyes of AFL coaches.”

The re-signings douse speculation the Cats’ VFL ranks were to be depleted this season by a mass exodus of players chasing big bucks in interstate competitions.