Cats sign up versatile young guns

Geelong Football Club has recruited rookies Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie, Jamaine Jones and Sam Simpson to round out the Cats’ 2017 list.
“These four players performed well through the year and now have an opportunity to step up to the rookie list,” said recruiting manager Stephen Wells.
Henry, a 191cm midfielder, kicked 21 goals for the Geelong Falcons and made the Victoria Country squad for the Under 18 national championships.
Defender Zach Guthrie will join brother Cameron at the Cats after finishing runner-up in the Calder Cannons best and fairest.
Jones played with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup and senior football in the Hamden league, where he earned inter-league selection.
Rangy winger Simpson is the son of former Cat Sean Simpson.
He impressed with the Geelong Falcons late in the TAC Cup season.
Geelong also added six players to its 2017 playing list at the AFL’s national draft last week: Brandan Parfitt, Tom Stewart, Esava Ratugolea, Quinton Narkle, Timm House and Ryan Abbott.
“We selected a good mix of players who play a variety of positions, which we think is important for our list,“ Wells said.
Small forward and midfielder Parfitt played for North Adelaide’s reserves and Under 18 teams, averaging 25 possessions and four tackles a game.
He represented Northern Territory in the Under 18 championships and won All Australian honours in 2015.
Stewart, a 190cm defender, impressed at VFL level for Geelong, finishing second in the best and fairest and earning selection in the VFL team of the year.
He played under assistant coach and former star defender Matthew Scarlett at South Barwon, where he picked up two premiership medals.
Ratugolea can play as a ruckman and a key forward, roles he filled this year for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup.
He booted eight goals against Bendigo, which earned him selection to the Victorian Under 18 team at the national championships.
Narkle is a versatile midfielder who played for Perth in the WAFL Colts competition.
House impressed at both ends of the grounds playing for the Cats VFL side. The 194cm utility kicked 19 goals in 2016.
Former basketball player Abbott also played in the Cats VFL side. The 200cm youngster was the GFL’s best ruckman in 2015 and won inter-league selection.