Geelong’s recruitment drive has paid off again with Jack Martin opting to join the Cats following five years with Carlton.
The 29-year-old, who played just three games in an injury-hit season this year, was delisted by the Blues and had options to continue his AFL career around the country.
A return to his home state of Western Australia initially appeared the most likely scenario but Geelong leapfrogged Fremantle and secured a commitment on Wednesday.
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“Freo were in the mix, but Martin and his family wanted to remain in Victoria,” 7NEWS Perth’s Ryan Daniels reported.
7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary reported Martin had a positive medical screening at the Cats on Wednesday.
Martin will arrive for nothing as a delisted free agent, a crucial factor for Geelong given their interest in trading for Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith.
The Cats also met with Melbourne premiership midfielder Clayton Oliver this week as he weighs up his future at the Demons despite being under contract until 2030.
There are several hurdles to overcome on the Oliver front, perhaps the biggest being Geelong’s ability to put together a competitive trade package at a time they will also part ways with draft picks for Smith.
Smith, who missed the 2024 season with an ACL injury, is expected to sign a bumper deal to become a key cog in Geelong’s midfield.
Martin was a big-money recruit at Carlton entering the 2020 season but after playing 15 games that year, he never managed more than 13 games in a campaign for the Blues.
He did, however, kick 17 goals in 2023 including four in the Blues’ elimination final win over Sydney and preliminary final defeat to Brisbane.
Any hopes of contributing to Carlton’s flag push this year — and potentially earning a new deal — were destroyed by calf and hamstring troubles.
He will now join Geelong’s premiership tilt and link up with former Gold Coast teammate Jack Bowes in the process.