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List Mgmt. Atkins Signs On - till 2027

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109 tackles to start the season, 23 more than the next best player and now we get to see the Axe Man for another 2 years minimum. By the time he's next out of contact her will be pushing 200 games - not bad for a guy who took the non-traditional way to becoming a premiership player & fan favourite

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Geelong Cats have locked away Premiership midfielder Tom Atkins until at least the end of the 2027 season, with the 29-year-old signing a two-year contract extension.

Atkins, who was set to become a free agent at the end of the year, has been pivotal to the Cats start to season 2025.

Having played all 11 games so far this season, Atkins is averaging career-high numbers in contested possessions (11.45) and clearances (5.55), while also leading the competition in tackles, averaging 9.9 per game.

Originally joining Geelong via the non-traditional pathway, Atkins was selected in the 2019 AFL Rookie Draft after spending several years in the Cats’ VFL program, where he captained the team in 2018. Atkins made his AFL debut in Round 1 2019 and has played 138 games across seven seasons, including Geelong’s 2022 Premiership.

Off-field, Atkins has been awarded the Tom Harley Award for Best Clubman three times, an award voted on by his teammates. In 2025, he will also take on a coaching role with Geelong’s AFLW program working with the midfield group.

Geelong Executive General Manager of Football, Andrew Mackie, praised Atkins’ impact on and off the field.

“Tom is a player that is strong in the contest and who can play a variety of different roles for us.

“Tom is a quality Geelong person, he is a great leader within our program and we love how he goes about it.”

Atkins is the latest Cat to recommit to Geelong, joining teammates Mark Blicavs and Gryan Miers who have also re-signed with the Cats recently.



 
And like we've seen from a few before him in Tom Stewart, Aaron Black & Gary Rohan, Atkins is the latest of our AFL players to join the ranks as an assistant coach with our AFLW team

Wonder if this may be a hint as to what we could see from him in future years post playing career

 

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Beast really.... underated.. and like Miers is a barometer for us.

When Axe lifts. it aint often we lose.

Well earned extension.

GO Catters
 
The following is from a "puff" piece that was printed after Atkins first AFL and I've always remembered Dangerfield's comment regarding his new teammate. Atkins was 23 when he was drafted and this shows that the path to being an AFL footballer isn't the same for all

“He plays hard, he’s got a killer instinct and he’s a guy that will do anything for the club,” Selwood says.

“He’ll play his role and he’ll do even more. He is a genuine AFL footballer now, from a kid that was just here to have a kick around and get the best out of himself, he’s taken it to the next level and that’s what we ask of all our young guys.”

Atkins’ rise has coincided with the transformation of his body from that of a part-time footballer to a professional athlete, something not lost on Dangerfield.

“When Tommy first arrived at the club, he was obviously in our VFL program for a while which is different to an AFL one because it’s a full-time gig in the AFL, he had an accountant’s body and now I think he has a footballer’s body,” Dangerfield says.

“It’s nothing against accountants,” he continues with a smirk.

 
Remarkable player. I saw him mentioned as a potential captain a few years ago and thought wtf! Now I’m seeing him as genuine captain material. He pulls Bailey’s head in occasionally and seems to be one of the few able to do it. Brings the Selwood attributes. Post Danger, it’s a toss up between Stewart and Atkinson (reckon Stewart needs to focus on his body from here).
 

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