Geelong rounds out 2024 AFL roster

THE Geelong Football Club has locked in its senior playing group for 2024 with the side’s eight new players receiving their numbers.

The Cats selected eight rookies – Connor O’Sullivan, Mitch Edwards, Shaun Mannagh, George Stevens, Oli Wiltshire, Lawson Humphries, Joe Furphy and Emerson Jeka – and promoted Ollie Dempsey to the primary list.

Dempsey was originally selected as a rookie in 2021, before making his AFL debut in 2022 and playing five AFL games in 2023.

The Cats have 38 primary-listed players listed for 2024 and four rookie-listed players: Oscar Murdoch, Mitch Hardie, Ted Clohesy and Emerson Jeka.

Furphy and Oisin Mullin are the club’s Category B Rookies.

Geelong general manager of football Andrew Mackie said the Cats were excited for the 2024 season.

“We are pleased to finalise our playing list for 2024 and we are excited to see what this group can do under the guidance of the coaching group.

“Selecting seven players across the draft period was a key outcome for us this offseason.

“With a strong mix of players on our list, we are excited to see our experienced players not just continue to impact on-field but also instil their leadership and professionalism off-field to continue the growth and development of our younger players and wider football program.”

O’Sullivan will honour a Cats legend by wearing the number 14, worn 355 times by premiership captain Joel Selwood.

Mannagh will start his career in the number 7, last worn by 2022 Norm Smith Medallist Isaac Smith.

Edwards will take on number 11, Stevens will pull on number 15, Humphries will take on number 17, Wiltshire number 21, Furphy number 37 and Jeka will don number 43.

The Cats open their season against St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium on March 16 at 7.30pm.

Tom Hawkins is only three matches away from the 350-game milestone, while Cameron Guthrie, Jeremy Cameron, and Mark Blicavs are all on track to play their 250th games.