Zak Butters' decision to choose Western Bulldogs to continue his career with enables Geelong to go chips-in on other trade targets.
The Butters news surfacing the day after a cruel semi final loss in an epic match against Fremantle was a dagger for Cats fans but the footy world moves quickly and Geelong will immediately get to work on other potential acquisitions.
While an AFL superstar would have been an unbelievable acquisition, Geelong's midfield is more than good enough to brush up and go again, with Bailey Smith and Max Holmes among the game's best one-two punches.
As well as those who played in Friday night's semi final, the Cats also have James Worpel as more than handy midfield depth who has a contract until 2029.
Though despite the names, Geelong coach Chris Scott conceded post game the Cats need to be better at centre clearance after Fremantle largely had it on their terms in there - and a ruck could be the missing piece.
The Cats have all of their natural draft selections across the next two seasons in their possession with Rowan Marshall and Toby Greene the key targets the club will hope to secure.
Marshall has stated his desire to move to the Cattery for a second consecutive season despite having a contract until next year.
Sam De Koning has been discussed as a trade option and he was left out of the finals team. If they used a draft pick to get him, a first rounder would likely need to be coughed up.
Geelong will have to weigh up the merit of bringing in a competitive ruck such as Marshall.
Scott has never had a star ruck and has had Mitch Edwards at his disposal this year.
Edwards played 20 games in a breakthrough season and looks the ruck of the future. Would Marshall's arrival either impede his development or risk him seeking opportunity elsewhere?
Those questions need to be balanced against the fact that rucks don't mature fully until they are in their mid-to-late 20s and the Cats remain in contention now.
Notwithstanding the quality of his opponent, Edwards, for all his promise, was shown up considerably by Fremantle's Luke Jackson on Friday night.
“Mitch is 20, and I think he's going to be a super player,” Scott said post game.
“We couldn't have forecast at the start of the year that he was going to have the year he had.
“Jackson's such a rare player: he's got the physical attributes that are so admirable, but he's a smart footballer as well.
“Even the free kicks he drew, it's the craftiness."
Greene, meanwhile, is considering his contract decision, balancing the lure of finishing his career in Victoria with his devotion to the Giants.
It is also worth noting the Cats VFL side topped the table and is in a preliminary final, with medium forward Jesse Mellor, defender Lennox Hofmann among the next generation of players who will likely be pressing for AFL opportunities next year.
Throw on top of that a fully fit Holmes and Jeremy Cameron and there is every reason to expect
