Geelong recruiting doyen Wells considering future

Geelong’s Stephen Wells, the AFL’s longest-serving and most lauded recruiting boss, is considering whether to continue on in the role.

Geelong sources confirmed on Thursday that Wells, who has been recruiting for the Cats since the mid-80s, was considering his future with the club that he reshaped and built into a powerhouse in the post 2007-era.

Taking a break: Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells.Credit:Getty Images

Wells was having a regulation break this week from recruiting duties. Club sources said it was not determined yet whether he would change his role with the Cats and down-shift to “just recruiting” or stepping away from his job altogether.

Wells and Geelong have a different list management structure to many clubs, in that Wells acts as both the list manager and head recruiter – effectively meaning he carries a heavy workload, which has been increased during the pandemic.

Geelong sources said there was no suggestion Wells had issues with the club, or that he was interested in joining another AFL club, but that he had been feeling the toll of his job and of a marathon stint in his role.

Wells has just two full-time staffers reporting to him, including Troy Selwood, the former Brisbane Lion and brother of Geelong skipper Joel Selwood.

Under Wells and coach Chris Scott, the Cats have dramatically changed their approach to recruiting and list management in the free agency period from 2012.

Geelong’s super team of 2007-2011, which won three premierships and played in four grand finals, had the vast majority of players drafted, with most of the stars selected in the national drafts of 1999 (Joel Corey, Paul Chapman, Corey Enright, Cameron Ling) and 2001 (Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett, Steve Johnson, James Kelly), with some assistance from the father-son rule (Matthew Scarlett, Ablett, Tom Hawkins).

But in recent years, in an attempt to defy the draft’s equalising gravity, the Cats have used free agency and trading to bring in mature players, including Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron, Shaun Higgins, Isaac Smith and a host of others, while also adding overlooked mature state league players Tom Stewart and Tim Kelly who became stars (Kelly since having returned home to play for West Coast).

Wells, a former star centreman with VFA club Geelong West, started with the Cats in recruiting under club great Bill “Bronco” McMaster in the mid ’80s. He is thought to be the longest-serving full-time official at any AFL club, his service stretching back to the VFL period before the competition expanded from 12 to 14 teams when the Eagles and Brisbane were introduced in 1987.

Real Footy

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up here to our Real Footy newsletter delivered to your inbox on Mondays and Fridays.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article