Geelong list manager and head of recruitment Stephen Wells has stepped down from his duties with the club as he looks to take time away from the club.
According to AFL Media's Mitch Cleary, Wells could leave the Cats this year as he considers the next phase of his life.
Geelong would hope to retain their list guru, who could also opt for a smaller role at Kardinia Park in the near future as the workload is understood to be wearing down the veteran recruiter, amongst many other list managers.
The 61-year-old has played a major role in the club's success throughout the 21st century and is seen as one of the competition's best recruiters.
Bloody hell, this is big news. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Geelong owes a huge chunk of their success to Stephen Wells. Has kept the club competing at the highest level for 15 years. https://t.co/fLTfpc1PpL
— Rudi (@RudiEdsall) April 15, 2021
Wells' impact on Geelong's list saw the club end their 44-year premiership drought in 2007 under coach Mark Thompson, before going on to win two more flags across the following four seasons.
The Cats have finished in the top-eight in 12 of their past 13 seasons and have been one of the more dominant sides this century.
Renowned names such as Steve Johnson (pick 24), Tim Kelly (24), Paul Chapman (31), Cameron Ling (38), Tom Stewart (40), Corey Enright (47), Mark Blicavs (54), Matthew Stokes (61) and Sam Menegola (66) are just some of the astonishing draft hauls under Wells' tenure.
Speaking on the To The Final Bell podcast in 2018, Wells listed captaincy trio Tom Harley (traded from Port Adelaide), Ling and Joel Selwood (Pick 7) as the three 'best hits' of his career.
