The Geelong Football Club has confirmed list changes to its AFL playing squad. Premiership players Brandan Parfitt and Gary Rohan have pulled on the Hoops for the final time, with the Club farewelling the 2022 Premiership players and five others.
Alongside Parfitt and Rohan, Phoenix Foster, Oscar Murdoch, James Willis, Mitch Hardie and Emerson Jeka won’t be offered contracts for 2025.
Parfitt departs Geelong having played 130 games for the Cats, including nine in 2024.
Joining the Club with the 26th selection in the 2016 National Draft, Parfitt debuted in Round 1 of the 2017 season, earning an AFL Rising Star nomination in just his third game.
Parfitt played in the 2020 AFL Grand Final, before tasting the ultimate success in 2022, becoming a Premiership player. He made an instant impact on the game, kicking a goal immediately after coming on as Geelong’s sub in the fourth quarter.
Rohan called GMHBA Stadium home for the last six seasons after joining Geelong from Sydney via a trade at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Originally selected with Pick 6 in the 2009 National Draft, Rohan played 19 or more games in his first three seasons, becoming a key cog in the Cats forward line, kicking 79 goals.
A Premiership player in 2022, Rohan was instrumental in that Finals series, including a heroic Qualifying Final effort against Collingwood, stepping up on the big stage to kick three goals, including the match winning mark and goal late in the fourth quarter.
Rohan kicked 120 goals in 98 Geelong games, and will be remembered for his blistering speed, forward pressure and being a deadeye in front of goal.
Foster, Murdoch and Willis played the last two seasons in the VFL after being drafted at the conclusion of 2022, alongside Hardie who joined the Cats via the Mid-Season Draft in 2023.
Foster played 30 VFL games for the Cats, playing predominately as a forward kicking 30 goals, while Murdoch and Willis played 29 and 26 VFL games respectively.
Hardie excelled in the VFL in 2024, recognised for his outstanding season finishing fourth in the JJ Liston Trophy and earning a spot in the Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year. He was a strong force in the Cats midfield, averaging 29 disposals, six clearances and five tackles per game. He also hit the scoreboard, kicking 14 goals.
Jeka departs after playing 19 VFL games this season having joined the Cats via the 2023 Rookie Draft.
Geelong Cats General Manager – Football Andrew Mackie thanked all players for their time at the Club.
“This time of year is always difficult and to farewell seven great teammates is never easy,” Mackie said.
“Both members of our 2022 Premiership team, Brandan and Gary have had a profound on-field impact in the Hoops, but it can’t be overstated the influence they both have had on their teammates and the Club more broadly. They have both been incredible for our football program and the wider Geelong community.
“We thank Phoenix, James, Oscar, Mitch and Emerson for their contribution to our football program, we wish them all the best in their next chapter.”
These list changes follow the retirement of Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy. The Club will acknowledge Hawkins, Tuohy and all departing players at the upcoming 2024 Carji Greeves Medal event on Thursday 3 October.
Geelong’s List Management in Focus: 2025 and Beyond
The Cats went down to the Brisbane Lions by 10 points at the MCG on Saturday night, denying them a spot in a third Grand Final in five seasons.
Now they’ll start putting their list together for next season after losing retiring veterans Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy.
SEN regular and Channel 9’s Tom Morris said there are still some decisions to be made on the likes of Gary Rohan, Rhys Stanley and Mitch Duncan.
“No one is brave enough now to say the Cats are going to fall off a cliff,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.
“They’ve got 11 30-plus-year-olds this year. If Gary Rohan plays next year they’ll have nine 30-plus-year-olds as they’ll lose Tuohy and Hawkins.
“We expect Mitch Duncan to play on on a one-year deal. Just the finer details of that contract being worked through. Similar with Rhys Stanley.
“Gary Rohan is very much up in the air, Jed Bews should re-sign as well, so their list is going to be largely the same.”
The Incoming Talent
The Cats, however, are expected to sign Bailey Smith from the Western Bulldogs and there is believed to be “very real” interest both ways in delisted Carlton forward Jack Martin.
“They will bring in Bailey Smith. That could become more formal today or tomorrow. What they give up for him remains to be seen but I think it will be a first-round pick,” he added.
“Their interest in Jack Martin is very real. I can tell you this morning that Jack Martin’s interest in Geelong is very real.
“He’s a delisted free agent so he can just get there if he wants to. He doesn’t want to leave Victoria.”
Additionally, captain Patrick Dangerfield will likely put pen to a two-year extension as the Cats prepare to reload after narrowly missing out on another Grand Final appearance under Chris Scott.
“Dangerfield’s two-year deal is just a formality now as well which will keep him at the Cats until the end of 2026,” Morris said further.
“So the Cats will go again. They’re a list that keeps on giving. Even if they lose some of those experienced players they’ll continue to try to be at the very top.”
Geelong’s CEO Weighs in on Bailey Smith
It comes as the Cats were raised as a left-field destination club who have interest in delisted Carlton forward Jack Martin.
And it seems the Cats, who are not afraid to take a risk with older or discarded players, are never far from key trade conversations.
As for 23-year-old Smith, who missed the entire 2024 season after suffering an ACL injury, the Cats aren't shying away from luring him down the highway.
Smith formally requested a trade out of Whitten Oval, but is yet to nominate a preferred club.
Hocking admits Geelong have all eyes on his camp, as they also turn their focus to Saturday afternoon's preliminary final clash against Brisbane at the MCG.
“Yes, we're interested in (Smith),” Hocking said on Wide World of Sports radio on Tuesday.
“He's an amazing player. I won't duck it too much. But we've got other things to do across this weekend, which is play against the Lions.”
Why Geelong is a Destination Club
Hocking says Geelong has become a destination club.
“A large part of it (the interest in joining Geelong) is the region,” Hocking said.
“It's seen as a place where people would like to settle their family into.
“Down here, the community embraces our football club in a different way to what it did once. It understands that we're just part of the community.
“That lands pretty well with our people. You can conduct a pretty normal lifestyle down here.”
The Cats, despite winning the flag in 2022 and having not many high draft picks, have still managed to lure Ollie Henry, Jack Bowes and Tanner Bruhn to the club, as well as blooding low-end and rookie draft picks like Ollie Dempsey and Lawson Humphries.
Hocking sends all the credit the way of coach Chris Scott, who has led the club to two of their four premierships in the 21st century.
“Chris (Scott) deserves a lot of credit, he just continues to evolve,” Hocking said.
“One of the things he always says at the start of each year is, 'we're back at it now, let's give ourselves the best chance possible'.”
Geelong will play in their 13th preliminary final in 18 years on Saturday evening at the MCG against Brisbane, with the winner advancing to a grand final.
Geelong’s Premiership Duo Say Goodbye
The pair join retired greats Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy in exiting the club this off-season.
Rohan was restricted to 12 games this season due to injury and form.
The 33-year-old was unavailable for last Saturday's thriller against the Brisbane Lions after suffering a fractured skull during the Cats' VFL semi-final defeat.
Rohan played 98 games for the Cats, including the 2022 grand final win, after crossing from Sydney at the end of 2018.
The dynamic forward made 106 appearances for the Swans, taking his career tally to 204.
Midfielder Parfitt leaves Geelong after 130 games since debuting in 2017, but played just 18 since being the sub in the 2022 grand final.
“This time of year is always difficult and to farewell seven great teammates is never easy,” Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said.
“Both members of our 2022 Premiership team, Brandan and Gary have had a profound on-field impact in the hoops, but it can't be overstated the influence they both have had on their teammates and the club more broadly.
“They have both been incredible for our football program and the wider Geelong community.”
A New Chapter for the Cats
The Geelong Cats are embarking on a new chapter, seeking to rebuild their list while retaining the core of their premiership-winning team. The departures of Rohan and Parfitt, coupled with the retirements of Hawkins and Tuohy, mark a significant shift in the club's dynamics. As the Cats navigate the trade period and prepare for the upcoming season, they aim to strike a balance between experience and youthful talent, ensuring their continued competitiveness in the AFL landscape. The Cats, with their established culture and strong community presence, will be hoping to attract the best players while nurturing their young talent, setting the stage for another era of success.
