Five more pledge future to Cats

[BigCat1]

News Just in:

Five more pledge future to Cats
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Five more Geelong players have pledged their futures to the club, with Darren Milburn, Charlie Gardiner, Brent Moloney, Matthew McCarthy and Henry Playfair all agreeing to new contracts. The quintet join eight teammates that resigned with the club last month.

"Darren Milburn is an experienced player who is only 26, while
Gardiner, Playfair and McCarthy have demonstrated their ability over the two years that they have been with the club," Geelong's football operations manager Garry Davidson said.

"Brent Moloney has been an exciting addition to our club as he has shown since joining the midfield group.

"Gardiner, McCarthy and Playfair all have the ability to hold down roles in the forward line. Importantly they will continue to improve."

Milburn debuted for the Cats in the opening round of 1997 and has now played 117 AFL games. Milburn has played 18 of the Cats 19 games this season and has proved to be one of the club's most reliable and consistent defenders.

McCarthy (69th overall pick), Playfair (41st) and Gardiner(23rd) were all draft selections in 2001. Gardiner played three games in his debut season and has added six in this year, while both McCarthy and Playfair debuted this season. All three stand over 190 cm and are natural forwards. The trio helped the Cats to the 2002 VFL premiership.

Moloney has been the surprise packet of the season. Overlooked in the national draft by all clubs, Geelong used the fourth pick in the last pre-season draft to add him to the senior list. He was handed the number 32 jumper and has impressed in his six senior games since debuting against Port Adelaide in round 14.

As per club policy terms of the contracts will not be disclosed.

Geelong announced in July that Paul Chapman, Cameron Ling, James Kelly, Corey Enright, Joel Corey, James Rahilly, David Johnson and Steve Johnson had all re-signed with the club. The club will continue to negotiate with its players coming out of contract at season's end.

 

[ScouseCat]

This is really good news, although I can't help but notice the one name missing from that list is James Bartel.

 

[Catman]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
This is really good news, although I can't help but notice the one name missing from that list is James Bartel.

That's because he will be our trade bait come the off-season.

 

[you_idiot]

Originally posted by Catman
That's because he will be our trade bait come the off-season.

I like your line of thinking, Catman.

But as much as I'd like to see Geelong hold onto Bartel and would hate to see him beat us while wearing another club's colours, he may well be our most trade-able player in order to get a key forward or a KPP.

Also, FWIW, this morning's Herald-Sun reported that Bartel has opted to wait until the offseason to start talking about a new deal with Geelong.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,6926910%5E19766,00.html

Bartel talks with Cats put on hold
12 August 2003 AFL
By MICHAEL STEVENS

GEELONG young gun James Bartel has opted to wait until the end of the season to begin contract negotiations.

Bartel, 19, is one of three players, including veteran Peter Riccardi and midfielder David Clarke yet to re-sign.

Football manager Garry Davidson said last night the club was talking to Bartel's manager.

"They've opted to wait until the end of the year, which is their prerogative," Davidson said.

"I'm quietly confident that one's going to be tidied up once the season finishes."

Riccardi, 30, who has played 238 games, will play on next season, a fact confirmed by coach Mark Thompson last Friday night.

The Cats announced yesterday they had signed five players to new deals.

They include experienced backman Darren Milburn, second-year player Charlie Gardiner and first-year performers Matthew McCarthy, Brent Moloney and Henry Playfair.

While McCarthy, Playfair and Gardiner are being groomed as potential key forwards, the Cats have made no secret of their ambition to poach an experienced tall goalkicker in the trading period ahead of the draft.

"Gardiner, McCarthy and Playfair all have the ability to hold down roles in the forward line, and importantly, they will continue to improve," Davidson said.

McCarthy, Playfair and Moloney had been regulars in recent weeks as the Cats went into 2004 preparation mode, while Gardiner was given seven games earlier in the season.

Last month, Geelong secured new deals with Paul Chapman, Cameron Ling, James Kelly, Corey Enright, Joel Corey, James Rahilly, David Johnson and Steve Johnson.