By Justin Flynn
Geelong completed the quietest AFL trade period in a decade by adding Hawks ruckman Jonathon Ceglar on the final day.
It was the quietest AFL trade period since 2009.
The Cats parted with pick 50 in this year’s draft for Ceglar, 30, who played 101 games in the brown and gold.
Ceglar played 101 games with the Hawks, including 12 this past season. Originally selected by Collingwood as a rookie, Ceglar moved to Hawthorn where he enjoyed a fruitful eight-year stint.
Speedster Jordan Clark completed a move from GMHBA Stadium to Fremantle.
The Cats gained pick 22 and Carlton’s third round pick in 2022 in exchange for Clark and the Cats fourth round selection in 2022.
Geelong national list and recruiting manager Stephen Wells said the Cats have a good draft hand for next month’s national draft.
Geelong currently holds picks 22, 30, 32, 34 and 50 ahead and has also secured a 2022 third round pick from Carlton and a fourth-round selection from Hawthorn.
“Jonathon (Ceglar) adds depth to our ruck stocks, and we are pleased to add him to our team,” Wells said.
“We have also got a strong hand at this year’s draft and added selections for next year as well.
“Jordan was keen to head home to Western Australia and we have been able to work through that with the Dockers and agree on a fair trade.”
In other trades, ruckman Darcy Fort is now a Brisbane Lion.
Fort managed eight games in the hoops and was traded along with pick 41 with the Cats getting pick 50 and a future third-round pick.
“The Lions came in for Darcy and with the trade for Jonathon we were able to make the deal with Brisbane,” Wells said.
Geelong also traded tall forward Nathan Kreuger and pick 55 to Collingwood for this year’s pick 41.
“We wish Darcy and Jordan all the best in their careers,” Wells said.
The Cats are also likely to snare wayward small forward Tyson Stengle as a delisted free agent.
The former Richmond and Adelaide goalsneak will be reunited with mentor Eddie Betts, who last week joined Geelong in a development role.
Stengle was traded from Richmond to Adelaide and was then sacked from the Crows following a series of indiscretions, but was a standout player for SANFL premiers Woodville-West Torrens were he booted three goals in the grand final against Glenelg.
Stengle played two games for Richmond and 14 for the Crows.
