Greene’s call reshapes two clubs. This is Geelong’s new ‘No. 1 priority’… and GWS’ next big call

The rich get richer in AFL free agency. And the Cats are doing the shopping.

Just a week after missing out on Zak Butters’ signature, the Cats have are set to secure Toby Greene — arguably the greatest ever Giant — in a major coup for the club, with the veteran to finish his career in Victoria.

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Crucially, as an unrestricted free agent, Greene can join Geelong without the Cats surrendering a draft pick or player.

Where he’ll reunite with Jeremy Cameron to supercharge what would’ve already been a chief flag contender for 2027.

They mightn’t be done there.

‘NO. 1 PRIORITY’: GEELONG’S NEXT MOVE

Geelong has again been linked to St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall as the ruckman seeks a move to the Cats a year after a deal fell through.

There might be greater urgency for Geelong after emerging ruckman Mitch Edwards was well beaten by Dockers superstar counterpart Luke Jackson in the semi-final.

Three-time premiership Cat Cameron Mooney believes Marshall, who turns 31 in November, should be the club’s “number one priority” to boost the ruck position while its flag window is wide open.

Mooney declared Marshall would be the Cats’ best ruckman since Brad Ottens and suggested not having a better ruck had cost the club “two or three more premierships” in what’s been a golden run under Chris Scott.

Sam De Koning, who finished the season outside Scott’s 23, has emerged as a player of interest for St Kilda to unite the De Koning brothers.

And while Mooney’s preference would be for Geelong to retain De Koning, he’d trade the 25-year old if it could get a Marshall deal done.

“As soon as the Butters deal (to the Bulldogs) went through, Marshall would’ve been my No. 1 priority,” Mooney told foxfooty.com.au.

“I think Edwards is going to be a really good player. He was very good in the first final and not so good in the second final. That’s OK, he’s still a young kid learning and their future.

“But Geelong is still a premiership contender, so imagine if you throw in Greene and an A-grade ruckman in Marshall? With all respect, Geelong hasn’t had one since the great Brad Ottens.

“We saw a big final against one of the best ruckmen in the comp (Jackson) and it didn’t work for them.

“With a superstar ruckman, they could’ve one, two or three more premierships. Because they’ve put themselves in that position so often, which is fantastic.

“But Marshall is a quality, A-grade ruckman that would be a huge get and really puts them back in contention.”

GIANTS TURNING THE PAGE

Not that Greene leaving was their call, but the Giants are clearly turning a page.

The departures of Greene, who turns 33 next week, Jesse Hogan (31) and Jake Stringer (32) continues a list transformation at GWS as it moves into a new era and hands the keys to its next wave of stars.

The Giants effectively chose Max Gruzewski and Nick Madden over Hogan and Kieren Briggs. Hogan is set to join Collingwood and Briggs is expected to land at the Tigers via free agency.

There are even rumblings that Lachie Whitfield and Harry Himmelberg could be on the trade block.

All this indicates the Giants believe they’ve maxed out with this group after several deep finals runs and now need to reset the list to set up their next flag push.

Losing quality players is nothing new for the expansion club, which has had the word ‘exodus’ attached to it more than just about any team.

Yet GWS has repeatedly defied the predictions that each departure would derail it.

Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto left for Richmond ahead of Adam Kingsley’s first year as coach in 2023. The Giants still made a preliminary final.

Jeremy Cameron moved to Geelong at the end of 2020. GWS won a final the following year.

Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar and Tom Boyd were among the other stars to walk out, yet the Giants powered on to their most successful run, including a Grand Final appearance in 2019.

Not to mention Tom Scully, Devon Smith, Jack Steele, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Adam Tomlinson, Zac Williams, Bobby Hill, Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and James Peatling.

You could make a fair old side of ex-Giants players.

It has become a clear cycle: Star players leave, draft capital comes in and the Giants find ways to replenish the list. Yet the club has consistently nailed those selections to help it stay in contention in the challenging football market that is western Sydney.

It’s an endorsement to the work of Jason McCartney, Adrian Caruso and the list management team and the wider culture built by outgoing chief executive Dave Matthews, coach Adam Kingsley and Leon Cameron before him. They’ve stuck to the ‘next man up’ attitude to build their list and stay relevant in a unique way.

THE NEXT GIANTS ERA

Losing Greene — their captain, games record-holder and an inaugural Giant — is clearly an on-field and spiritual blow.

But as good as Greene, specifically, and Hogan have been for the club, losing players in their twilight years is vastly different to losing stars in their prime.

The underbelly of their list is still strong with the likes of Tom Green, Finn Callaghan, Aaron Cadman, Lachie Ash, Connor Idun and Sam Taylor more than capable of carrying the torch.

Mooney, who’s previously worked at GWS in a part-time coaching role, thinks there’s more than enough talent coming through the ranks.

“They’ve had the team to really push for it but haven’t been able to get there and this year was a horrible year for injury. I think they’re at the point of thinking if they want to be successful for the next five to 10 years, they need to start regenerating,” Mooney said.

“They’ve got enough talent there, they’ve got so much talent.

“They’re going to put it on Aaron Cadman and Max Gruzewski to be ‘the man’. They will be the key forwards for the next 10 years of that footy club.

“Hogan was awesome for them but his body started to let him down, that’s why I think he’s still a bit of a question mark.

“Stringer was a bit of a stopgap. Did it work? I don’t know, he did his part in bits but obviously they didn’t get the premiership.

“And Toby and Lachie have been there 15 years and done everything for that footy club. I reckon it’s time for them to have a look at what else is going on and that probably helps the club keep its young players around.”

You could question the timing of a reset ahead of Tasmania’s AFL entry in 2028, with the 19th club set to dominate future drafts. But this is arguably the off-season to do it.

The Giants have highly rated Academy prospect Ethan Matthews in their sights, giving them another potential cornerstone for the next era.

Mooney believes a “fantastic culture” and “great people” — including Matthews, McCartney and Kingsley — is the main reason the Giants have maintained such a successful program, adding he “honestly believes Kingsley will be their first premiership coach”.

But long-time chief executive Dave Matthews’ looming exit will leave a big void as someone who “knows the region and landscape back to front”. Matthews might even be their biggest off-season loss as a key figure to their success behind the scenes. He’s been replaced by James Avery.

Arguably the first order of business for the Giants now is deciding who succeeds Greene as captain in 2027.

Tom Green, one of three co-vice captains this year alongside Connor Idun and Jack Buckley, appears built for the role.

There’s a possible complication: Green is also a major target for Tasmania, meaning there could be some trepidation around handing him the captaincy if the Giants fear losing him 12 months later.

But that’s of no concern for Mooney, who would “make Tom Green captain in a heartbeat”, both as recognition of his leadership and, potentially, as part of the pitch to keep him.

“You can hear the way he speaks in the media, I listened to him speak in meetings. I’d give him the armband,” Mooney added.

“I know we have seen captains move, but it’s a lot harder for a captain to move.

“I honestly believe he hungers for that leadership role.”

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