Geelong’s new CEO, Steve Hocking, addressed the departure of Jordan Clark, a topic that dominated discussions during the AFL Trade Period. Hocking emphasized that young players at Geelong must earn their place in the senior team through hard work, rather than being given opportunities solely based on their potential. This comes after ongoing speculation that the club’s approach makes it challenging for younger players to break into the top 22.
Jordan Clark, who played just 11 games in 2021, sought a move back to his home team, Fremantle, hoping for more senior game time in 2022. The Cats, known for having the oldest roster in the AFL, eventually traded Clark to the Dockers, along with a fourth-round pick, in exchange for pick 22 and a future third-rounder.
Reports suggested Clark had a heated conversation with Geelong’s recruitment boss, Stephen Wells, during the trade negotiations, though Wells later denied any tension. After joining Fremantle, Clark confirmed there was no bad blood between him and Geelong. Despite the challenges Clark faced in 2021, Geelong also acquired veteran Jonathan Ceglar from Hawthorn during the trade period. Hocking expressed confidence in the club’s balance between promoting young talent and maintaining experienced players, stressing his commitment to developing young talent both on and off the field.
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