News Rookies Move On

[Son_Of_God29]

Jack Weston and Benjohnson leave the club

http://www.geelongcats.com.au/geelongnews/newsarticle/tabid/3933/newsid/125714/default.aspx


Geelong has delisted rookies Ben Johnson and Jack Weston.
The pair spent the past two season on the club’s rookie list, playing in the VFL. Johnson also played in the NAB Cup this year, appearing in three games and kicking one goal.

Overall he played 36 games and has kicked 58 goals for the Cats at VFL level.

Weston battled injury, playing only four VFL games in 2011. In his two years he played 22 times in the VFL and kicked 10 goals.
“Would like to thank the Geelong Football Club for the opportunity and support over the past two years. Didn't end up the way I would of liked,” Weston tweeted.

“But I'll look back at my time and be proud of being a part of such a great club. I wish the Club all the best!”

With the retirements of Cameron Ling, Darren Milburn, Cameron Mooney, Brad Ottens, Mark Blake and Marcus Drum, the Cats did not need to delist any senior listed players to reach minimum list levels for the draft.

The Cats only addition to the list so far is father son pick Jed Bews who will officially become a Cat at the November 24 draft.

The official draft order won't be known until the second list lodgement on November 16 but the Cats currently have picks 32, 34, 48, 66, 84 and 102 (to be used for Jed Bews).

 

[jim boy]

Not a great surprise, but would like to thank both of them for their efforts. Will Johnson be retained in the VFL squad?

 

[Selective Retention]

He's a handy top up if he wants to stay on. He could probably cash in at local footy level though.

Presumably that's it for the year? The club must see something in Stringer to persist for a third year?

 

[Boxhead_31]

I'm a bit lost does that make it 6 senior list and 2 Rookie list spot's we have open now?

 

[FoxC]

I'm disappointed but not surprised Weston is gone given the injuries and limited game time he had this year. Good luck Jack.

Has a rookie ever been re-rookied?

 

[FoxC]

I'm a bit lost does that make it 6 senior list and 2 Rookie list spot's we have open now?

Sounds about right CA.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Johnson would be a terrific pickup for any other VFL squad, he averaged just under 2 goals a game and rarely was able to get going due to niggling injuries along his journey. Not as if our VFL squad was dominant either.

 

[hbk_aus]

Maybe this will end the Weston love affair that seems to exist on here... Was never consistent or dominant enough to get a spot on our list, but good luck to him. Anyway from looking at his twitter account he has been holidaying with Bianca Chatfield from the Vixens so he is tracking ok in my view...

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Retired:

Marcus Drum
Cameron Mooney
Darren Milburn
Brad Ottens
Cameron Ling
Mark Blake

Rookies de-Listed

Ben Johnson
Jack Weston

Wow....that must be some serious salary cap space out the door!!! 8 newbies as well.....for a premiership side, that is staggering! Not sure we are going to get much value at all out of the draft, but can see now why we traded for extra picks during trade week. Maybe we will pull a couple of suprises with VFL/WAFL/SANFL in the pre-season draft. Going to be interesting.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Free agency starts this coming season the cats could poach a fish if needed.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Retired:

Marcus Drum
Cameron Mooney
Darren Milburn
Brad Ottens
Cameron Ling
Mark Blake

Rookies de-Listed

Ben Johnson
Jack Weston

Wow....that must be some serious salary cap space out the door!!! 8 newbies as well.....for a premiership side, that is staggering! Not sure we are going to get much value at all out of the draft, but can see now why we traded for extra picks during trade week. Maybe we will pull a couple of suprises with VFL/WAFL/SANFL in the pre-season draft. Going to be interesting.

Perhaps we are making room for a potential big name signing?

Geelong will challenge for another premiership in 2012 no doubts about it and am sure there would be a few champions players around who feel as though a change is needed and to walk into a club that is already in a very good position to potentially lift silverware along with a healthy paycheck could be worthwhile decision.

Am sure players realize that GWS & Suns will be under pressure in 3 to 4 years once those youngsters then demand more cash as the free agency starts to even out gradually.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

or maybe they are just saving money so they can continue the redevelopment of Kardinia park

 

[The rabbi]

Maybe this will end the Weston love affair that seems to exist on here... Was never consistent or dominant enough to get a spot on our list, but good luck to him. Anyway from looking at his twitter account he has been holidaying with Bianca Chatfield from the Vixens so he is tracking ok in my view...

He had groin problems the very year we rookied him and never got on the field until later in the season. He had surgery this year and suffered much the same fate.

Some could see that when he was up and going that he showed a bit. he was quick, a good height and could possibly play both ends. You have to be able to present yourself fit if you are rookied. History shows that Geelong do not have a whole lot of time for rookies with LTI's.

 

[CF]

Bad luck to those boys but such is the cut and thrust of footy. Good luck for the future.

 

[Exhale You]

I'll be shocked if Ben Johnson does anything other than returning to play with his mates at the Dragons.
He gave up on the dream of playing AFL footy in 2006 and it was only some perseverance from both the club and his mates that convinced him to have a second crack at it.

Unless his view on life has changed drastically in the last six months i can't see him having a third crack.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Perhaps we are making room for a potential big name signing?

Geelong will challenge for another premiership in 2012 no doubts about it and am sure there would be a few champions players around who feel as though a change is needed and to walk into a club that is already in a very good position to potentially lift silverware along with a healthy paycheck could be worthwhile decision.

Am sure players realize that GWS & Suns will be under pressure in 3 to 4 years once those youngsters then demand more cash as the free agency starts to even out gradually.

I'm loving the position we are in at the moment....reigning premiers and a bucket load of young stars coming through. We have a well established core group who have seamlessly taken over from the older guard...we have effected something that a modern day club has yet to master!

With some big retirments this year, and most likely more next year and the year after, we are going to have an abundance of cap room. I hope we don't burn cash on anyone ridiculous, but rather select a player who wants to come and contribute to the club alla Brad Ottens! I can't see us not being competitive next year and for that matter the year after, by which stage, hopefully, the likes of Mitch Brown, Nathan Vardy, Christensen, Menzel, Duncan, West, Simpson, Cowan, Schroder, Guthrie, Smedts and Taylor Hunt will be dominating the competition!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Makes sense on Johnson, didn't have a good enough year this year to be retained given he's 25.

Weston is unlucky to be injured all this year as he played some very good footy last year. If he can get his body right I think he might be some chance to get picked up somewhere else. I hoped he would be retained but given he couldn't get on the park much this year this was a likely outcome.

Surprised Stringer has been retained for a third year on the rookie list, I was expecting he might have gone as well.

Not making any more changes to the rookie list is probably right given we've got several late picks in the national draft to use anyway. Means we'll be getting in 2 new rookies through the rookie draft.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'm disappointed but not surprised Weston is gone given the injuries and limited game time he had this year. Good luck Jack.

Has a rookie ever been re-rookied?

It's possible to do although it's unlikely we would in this case, given the AFL changed the rules for this expansion period to allow you to keep rookies for a third year, if we wanted to keep him we would have.

I'm a bit lost does that make it 6 senior list and 2 Rookie list spot's we have open now?

Yes, although only 5 of the senior list spots are 'live' because the last pick will be used on Bews.

 

[FoxC]

It's possible to do although it's unlikely we would in this case, given the AFL changed the rules for this expansion period to allow you to keep rookies for a third year, if we wanted to keep him we would have.

Cheers PO.

 

[dazbroncos]

Perhaps we are making room for a potential big name signing?

Geelong will challenge for another premiership in 2012 no doubts about it and am sure there would be a few champions players around who feel as though a change is needed and to walk into a club that is already in a very good position to potentially lift silverware along with a healthy paycheck could be worthwhile decision.

Am sure players realize that GWS & Suns will be under pressure in 3 to 4 years once those youngsters then demand more cash as the free agency starts to even out gradually.

I have been predisposed to not buying too much into the Danger and Boak rumours due to the fact that the $$ should go to incumbent players..

But man have we cleared some cash lately. With Ottens, Ling, Mooney, and Dash gone, adding in Blake's and Drums' efforts, and the fact that at least 1/2 of an active player can go to the Vet Roster for salary cap purposes.... just saying this could be very interesting and most likely to piss Demetrio right off the deep end....

If we were to retain all our current list, spread the wealth a little, get a player in a trade or at least be able to vie for one. Not saying Danger or Boak are the right ones but perhaps even a few GC delists that come with 2012....

And with the sub 50 game player talent level coming through.... the future looks very very good.....

Go Catters...

 

[Pure_Ownage]

For sure we've cleared a lot of cap space this year Daz and are likely to have more retirements next year and the year after clearing even more space. While no doubt key players like Selwood and the up and coming kids will get a lot more, we'll be well positioned with cap room for free agency should a suitable target arise.

 

[My5t3r10u5]

If we were to retain all our current list, spread the wealth a little, get a player in a trade or at least be able to vie for one. Not saying Danger or Boak are the right ones but perhaps even a few GC delists that come with 2012....

It is always exciting talking of getting a player in a trade but the problem is you have to give something to get something. To get a player of the quality of Boak or Dangerfield we would almost certainly have to give up draft picks and/or players that we don't want to give up. As good as those players are, we have shown that we have thrived on good drafting and I am happy to continue on that path.

Don't forget that when we drafted Menzel it cost us pick 17, when we drafted Duncan is cost us pick 28, when we drafted Christensen it cost us pick 40 - those players would be worth significantly more now if they were traded. For me Menzel is at least as good as Boak or Dangerfield, yet Boak or Dangerfield would cost us much more than a pick 17. Rather than get Boak or Dangerfield for double that (or more) let's get the next Boak or Dangerfield in the draft for half that (or less) . You know Wells can do it!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It is always exciting talking of getting a player in a trade but the problem is you have to give something to get something. To get a player of the quality of Boak or Dangerfield we would almost certainly have to give up draft picks and/or players that we don't want to give up. As good as those players are, we have shown that we have thrived on good drafting and I am happy to continue on that path.

Don't forget that when we drafted Menzel it cost us pick 17, when we drafted Duncan is cost us pick 28, when we drafted Christensen it cost us pick 40 - those players would be worth significantly more now if they were traded. For me Menzel is at least as good as Boak or Dangerfield, yet Boak or Dangerfield would cost us much more than a pick 17. Rather than get Boak or Dangerfield for double that (or more) let's get the next Boak or Dangerfield in the draft for half that (or less) . You know Wells can do it!

That's where free agency becomes very useful for us in the future if we have cap room.

 

[dazbroncos]

That's where free agency becomes very useful for us in the future if we have cap room.

The more I look at it the more it really is amazing. With the FA coming in, the ability with cap space to pay current players closer to FA rates or at a least counter some other potential FA offers to our FA listed players, , a list of new players that would compare favourably to say NM list (roughly for point of analogy only) , Wells and Co ability to pick winners...

WOW.... who says you need to tank to get priority picks...

Did I mention all this on the back of 3 Premierships in 5 years....

In terms of the trading option, I agree that getting the Bundy / Menzel types in the draft is much cheaper as the value increases once they are established. I was more trying to illustrate that before the retirements etc it was impossible financially to even consider it....

Now it is a realistic possibility to consider if the right trade came along at the right price.... or perhaps more importantly counter another's offer

Go Catters...

 

[you pick one]

With the list lodgment's in 6 retirements for us, does that mean every one else on our list is contracted to end 2012 minimum or are there still players out of contract end of 2011 being negotiated?