GEELONG recruiting boss and list manager Stephen Wells is adamant the Cats extracted the maximum value from the two first-round compensation picks they received for Gary Ablett in 2010.

Wells handed the second compensation selection to Gold Coast on Wednesday as part of the deal that has brought Suns midfielder Josh Caddy to Geelong.

Back in 2010, the Cats also sent the first compensation pick to Gold Coast as part of a move to trade their way up the draft order.

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Geelong received selection 15 in return and used that pick to draft emerging midfielder Billie Smedts.

"We'd like to think that we've used the compensation picks to the club's best advantage," Wells told geelongfc.com.au.

"When they were allocated, they were both going to be (picks that fell) out in the 20s while the expansion teams were involved in the compromised drafts.

"The pick that we've traded to the Gold Coast sits next to where we finish on the ladder, and we hope Josh can help us finish up the ladder."

The signing of Caddy, who had attracted interest from a range of clubs including North Melbourne and St Kilda, has triggered much excitement at Simonds Stadium.

It is little wonder.

The 20-year-old was taken by Gold Coast with pick seven in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, which means the Cats - winners of three premierships in the past six seasons - now have three first-round selections from that draft on their list (defender Cameron Guthrie is the other one).

"It is great news that we've got another good young player coming into our club," Wells said.

"When he was playing with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup competition he was one of those players who got a lot of clearances and did his work as a genuine midfielder.

"Josh's body is fine and he should be able to do a full pre-season.

"He actually played over 20 games with Gold Coast this year and he's ready to go."

Geelong worked its charm on Caddy when he recently visited the club.

"Josh was impressed with the facilities," Wells said. "He met a lot of the players and coaches as well.

"We were impressed with him and he was impressed with us.

"I think he had a few options, with regards to the clubs he would have been happy to play with in Victoria.

"But Geelong soon came to the top of his priority list."

The Cats will now turn their attention to securing North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh.

The 28-year-old has expressed a desire to move to Geelong, but the clubs are yet to agree on a suitable trade.

Melbourne defender Jared Rivers is another of the Cats' targets.

Rivers is an unrestricted free agent, so he can simply sign with Geelong if that is his wish.

"We've got a very open mind about what else might happen," Wells said.

"Our list is quite tight. We have most of our players contracted and we want to keep them.

"So there won't be too many more changes, but we are open-minded about what might happen over the next 10 days."

Adam McNicol covers Geelong news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_AdamMcNicol