GEELONG picked up the first mature-age player of the NAB AFL Draft by selecting WAFL midfielder Tim Kelly at No.24.
Kelly, 23, can also line up in attack and finished second in the Sandover Medal this year while at South Fremantle.
The Cats will be hoping the Western Australian can slot straight into the senior side as they look to remain in premiership contention after bowing out in the preliminary final in consecutive seasons.
"Tim's been a terrific player in the WAFL for a long time but had an outstanding year this year and was desperate for an opportunity to play AFL footy," recruiting manager Stephen Wells told AFL.com.au.
"He's well motivated, he matches the profile a bit of Sam Menegola and Tom Stewart as two older players that we've brought in over the last couple of years that have been able to make an immediate impact."
Geelong had a win in picking up Lachlan Fogarty at No.22. A small forward/midfielder at 179cm, he is tough, a good decision-maker and was tipped to find a club earlier the Cats' first pick.
Wells was swayed by Fogarty's weight of performance.
"Lachie, some of his performances this year for the Western Jets, at school and in the under-18 championships just meant that we thought he would be a really good choice for us," Wells said.
Geelong see Fogarty starting up forward being eventually moving into the midfield.
Big-bodied onballer Charlie Constable was Geelong's third pick at No.36. At 191cm, Constable can win his own football and shapes as a contested midfielder.
He has his queries but Wells sees a bright future for Constable.
"The reason he's got to pick 36 was because he doesn't run quite well enough now for AFL footy, but he acknowledges that himself and knows that he's got a lot of work ahead of him," Wells said.
"If he can improve in that area and maintain his output that he's had so far, then Charlie will be a good AFL player."
TAC Cup Grand Final hero and local boy Gryan Miers was nabbed with the Cats' final pick at No.57. Miers booted seven goals in the Geelong Falcons' premiership win against Sandringham and has impressive game sense.
However, that performance on the big stage was not the sole reason Geelong drafted him.
"We watch Gryan very closely for the full season. No doubt, the fact that he could perform so well in a Grand Final didn't go against him, but it was just part of the overall picture we developed over the course of the year," Wells.
The Cats acquired No.22 in the deal to bring Zach Tuohy from Carlton last year, while No.24 came in the trade that saw Gary Ablett re-join the club from Gold Coast.
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