Cats rookies start their pre-season

GEELONG Football Club’s interstate rookie selections for 2024 are embracing life in Geelong as they begin pre-season training.

The Cats’ West Australian-draftees Mitchell Edwards and Lawson Humphries, as well as Category B rookie Joe Furphy, fronted the media last week to talk about their first few days in the hoops.

Edwards, selected at Pick 32 in the national draft, grew up a Cats fan and is now living out a dream come true.

The emerging ruck prospect is not sure why he first decided to follow Geelong.

“I don’t really know how that happened, to be honest, my family didn’t really support them, they do now obviously, but yeah I just picked a good team,” he said.

“I had a couple meetings with the club at one of the combines, so they showed a bit of interest.

“I knew I was a bit of a chance on night one of the draft, so I watched that, then the 24 hours leading up to night two was a bit stressful, but I just enjoyed it with my family, and it was great.”

Humphries, taken by Geelong at pick 63, is a mature-aged prospect with a knack for class around goals.

As a potential later pick in the draft, Humphries attended his club training at Swan Districts to go through the motions.

“It just got told around the boys, which was pretty sick; to find out around all the people that got me was good,” he said.

“It was a good day, for sure, and with several Cats at the club from West Australia, I’m confident knowing I have the right support around me to be the best player I can be at the Cats.”

Furphy has known fro months longer than the other rookies he would be on Geelong’s list in 2024, with conversations dating back to as early as May.

The basketballer-turned footballer said he remained committed to the Cats since they first reached out and hoped his age and growth can expedite his pathway to senior squad.

Furphy signed as Category B rookie in September and ist 203cm tall.

“Coming in at 24 and having those couple years of gym work and strength might help me break in early, but that’s something I can have as a baseline, then my footy fundamentals are something I can really get to work on and hopefully that can get me in earlier than most.”