Cats open to a move for Nick Blakey, but club’s board would have to ratify a trade

Any potential Geelong trade for Swan Nick Blakey would have to be ratified by the club’s board, while the Cats and Saints are once again at loggerheads over Rowan Marshall.

This masthead reported earlier this month that Blakey had indicated to associates he wants to be traded at the end of the season following a deterioration in his relationship with the Swans.

Three competition sources, not authorised to speak publicly, said Blakey and his club had become frustrated with each other since the events at the Pullman in East Melbourne.

The breakdown reached the point where Blakey wants to continue his career elsewhere in 2027, the sources said, although they acknowledge any trade attempt would be complicated.

Geelong remain open to a conversation regarding Blakey should an opportunity emerge during the trade period, but any trade offers for the star half-back will have to be ratified by the board, given he is still involved in an ongoing Victoria Police investigation into allegations of sexual assault. No charges have been laid and Blakey, along with four other Swans who served suspensions for breaching the club’s behavioural standards, has denied criminal wrongdoing.

Marshall, meanwhile, is for the second-straight year attempting to make his way to Geelong, and for the second-straight year the Cats and Saints have vastly different views on what it should cost.

The Cats have tabled pick No.32 as the basis of a deal, with later selections also expected to form part of their offer.

St Kilda, however, want considerably more and, according to sources with knowledge of the situation speaking on condition of anonymity, have told the Cats their first-round selection – currently No.14 – must be involved for a deal to be seriously considered.

The Cats were confident a deal could be reached for Marshall last year and upped their offer late in the trade period – pick No.19 and a future second-round pick – but the Saints dug their heels in and refused to play ball.

Geelong would argue that a pick in the early 30s and an exchange of other picks represents fair value for a 30-year-old who is no longer the Saints’ first-choice ruckman, given they paid $1.7 million per year to land Tom De Koning from Carlton.

But the Saints believe they hold the whip hand in these negotiations and would say Geelong’s pursuit of another premiership is largely tied to whether they can land an established ruckman.

It sets up another trade-period arm wrestle between the clubs after Marshall’s attempted move to Geelong failed to materialise 12 months ago.

Marshall remains determined to get to the Cats, leaving the two clubs to find a compromise or risk history repeating itself.

Geelong are again shaping as one of the busiest clubs of the player-movement period.

The Cats missed out on Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters, who instead nominated the Western Bulldogs, but will secure GWS captain Toby Greene as a free agent – forming an ominous forward-50 partnership with close mate Jeremy Cameron.
– Sam McClure

Bobby Hill launches an AFL comeback bid

Hannah Kennelly

Former Collingwood star and Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill has launched an AFL comeback bid, admitting he lost “a bit of love for the game”, but feels ready to play at the highest level again.

Speaking to Channel Nine, Hill, who did not play an AFL game in 2026, said he wanted to return to the AFL landscape.

“Hopefully if clubs out there want me … hopefully I can get back on there. I’m pretty confident I can show what I can do, if not even better and win games for teams,” he said.

“I grew up knowing just footy, footy, footy,” he added.

“That was my Plan A, so you know, not having plan B and C … [I] just think [I] just lost the love of the game, and now I’m back, I want to get back in to it.

“I do miss it, so I can’t wait.”

In January this year, Collingwood announced the 2023 Norm Smith medallist was taking a leave of absence from the club as he dealt with personal issues.

However in July, the Magpies announced the club and Hill had mutually agreed to part ways.

The decision ended a more than $700,000-a-year contract that was to take him until 2030.

The dynamic Indigenous forward is now a delisted free agent, opening up possibilities for rival clubs to pick him up.

Jake Kolodjashnij retires after Cats concussion scandal

Hannah Kennelly

Geelong premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij, who was at the centre of a secret concussion deal with the club, has been medically retired from AFL football.

In August, Kolodjashnij identified himself as the player at the centre of the deal with Geelong that waived his legal responsibility for future on-field head trauma.

The Cats were hit with a $140,000 fine after the AFL’s independent review by James Peters, KC, found the waiver constituted a variation of Kolodjashnij’s playing contract and should have been lodged so it could be scrutinised by the league and the AFL Players’ Association.

At the time, Kolodjashnij – who had suffered multiple concussions during his playing career – said he was disappointed that his private medical information had been leaked and said he “participated fully” in the AFL’s concussion panel process.

The 31-year-old key defender said he remained healthy and fit to play at the highest level. However, he has not played football at either AFL or VFL level since the news broke. He played 11 AFL games this season – the most recent of those in round 18 against the Giants – and retires after 209 top-flight games since he was drafted out of Tasmania with pick No.41 in 2013.

Geelong announced Kolodjashnij’s retirement on Tuesday afternoon, with the club’s football boss Andrew Mackie heralding the premiership’s player impact, both on and off the field.

“Jake built a reputation as one of the competition’s most reliable defenders – his coaches and teammates had complete confidence he would take on whatever role was required and get the job done,” he said.

“His career has been defined by consistency, resilience and selflessness. The determination and professionalism he displayed throughout his journey are qualities that made him such a valued teammate and person within our football club.

“Jake should be incredibly proud of everything he has achieved across his career, as we certainly are.”

In a statement, Kolodjashnij said was grateful for all the memories made at the Cats.

“Football has been such a significant part of my life. I feel lucky to have shared it with some of my closest friends, and to have had the on-field success that we had during my time at the club,” he said.

In an interview with this masthead in 2024, Kolodjashnij said he’d taken the issue of concussion seriously enough to weigh up his own future.

“There were definitely some tough conversations in pre-season, but I am thankful that I chose to keep going and push through, and it has paid off,” Kolodjashnij said at the time.

“I never really got close to giving it away.

“It was more [about] trying to get through. I was trying to narrow my focus and take it sort of week by week [with] how I was feeling. I got through all those processes, and I was feeling in a good space to be able to play on and felt great physically.”

Scans confirm Achilles tear for Fremantle skipper

Hannah Kennelly

Scans have confirmed Fremantle captain Alex Pearce suffered a partial tear of his right Achilles tendon, along with a calf strain, in Saturday’s heartbreaking AFL grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions.

The injuries occurred as Pearce gave chase during the third term, with the skipper falling and lying face down on the ground after the injury.

“Thankfully Alex has not had a complete rupture of his Achilles tendon, and he will not require surgery,” said football boss Joe Brierty.

“Scans have revealed a partial tear of his Achilles tendon and also a significant calf strain.

“Our performance health team will continue to consult specialist advice and assess the timeline for his rehabilitation program. As it stands, we expect Alex to return to training in pre-season.”

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