The Geelong Cats have been the kings of the trade period for some time now, seemingly in the conversation for every out-of-contract star. The club has secured the rights to several big fish up for grabs in the last decade, most notably Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron and Bailey Smith.
While the list build at Geelong has been a strong one, there are still areas of concern that need to be addressed. The ruck situation at Kardinia Park has long been scrutinised, and it remains the weakest element of their roster.
With several key figures in the twilight years of their stellar careers in the likes of Mitch Duncan, Dangerfield and Mark Blicavs, the Cats' stocks across the ground will need some retooling. While the development of young stars such as Shannon Neale and Ollie Dempsey will help this cause, it's not a be-all-end-all solution.
So, here are five trade and free agency targets for Geelong to consider this year.
2Reilly O'Brien
While Rhys Stanley has been serviceable for the Cats, an upgrade in the ruck department would be a huge difference-maker for Geelong.
One ruck that looks set to hit the market is Adelaide's Reilly O'Brien. As the Crows loom as a potential destination for out-of-contract Bomber Sam Draper, the Cats could offer the 29-year-old a home with guaranteed playing time.
Amongst rucks this season, O'Brien has the third-highest ruck contest win percentage (49.3%) and converts those wins to advantage 27% of the time (10th in the AFL). It's exciting to think how he could strengthen Geelong's stoppage game, ranking second in hitouts with 38.3 per game, which is 11 more than what Rhys Stanley averages in 2025 (27.2).
While O'Brien doesn't offer much more than that, kicking just two goals this season and taking 2.7 marks per game, that won't be necessary considering the depth of Geelong's athletic forward line.
Growing up in Victoria, the lure of a return home may appeal to the ruckman too.
