MATURE-AGED rookie Tom Ruggles has been elevated to Geelong's senior list and is a chance to make his debut on Sunday against the Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said the Cats had upgraded Ruggles so they could consider him at selection.
"He's close enough to the mark that we would like to have that option available to us," Scott said.
Ruggles, 23, won the Cats' VFL best and fairest last season and joined the club as a rookie after sending recruiter Stephen Wells a text message stating his case as to why the club should consider him.
With the Brisbane Lions boasting a fleet of nippy small forwards including Dayne Zorko, Lewis Taylor and Josh Green, the Cats will be looking to add a bit of zip to its ageing defence.
Ruggles began his junior career in the Bellarine League with Drysdale and made the Geelong Falcons squad but was not drafted.
He played with Werribee then Leopold in the Geelong Football League before putting together an outstanding VFL season with Geelong's VFL team in 2015 while continuing to work as a landscaper.
The Cats picked him up in last November's rookie draft.
He then performed well in two successive NAB Challenge games against Essendon in Shepparton and Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.
