GEELONG star Jimmy Bartel has indicated he won't stay on in 2017 if it means only acting as a playing mentor for the club's VFL side.

Fresh from playing his 300th game on the weekend, it emerged Bartel could be forced to play some VFL matches in 2017 if he took on a clause to continue his career.

However Bartel says any idea of spending the majority of the season in the second-tier doesn't sit comfortably.

"You don't go into a year planning on playing VFL football," he told SEN Breakfast on Thursday.

"So obviously the idea would never sit comfortably for you.

"You're there to play AFL football and you're there to play well."

Cats CEO Brian Cook earlier this week confirmed the club had held discussions with Bartel, which included him not playing every senior game next season as the team aimed to blood some youngsters.

But Bartel said on Thursday he wouldn't be content if he wasn't a part of the Cats' top squad.

"I don't think I would sign up for next year to be a VFL footballer, to just use in the case of emergency," he said.

"If I was playing VFL football it would be there to go back and press for selection."