Cats Pursue Rival Stars Reid, Butters
Last updated on June 11, 2025 at 06:12 am
Posted on June 11, 2025 at 07:12 am
Geelong's playing chess while everyone else is stuck on checkers. The Cats have their eyes locked on Darcy Reid and Zak Butters for 2026, and they've got the salary cap space to make it happen. Veterans taking pay cuts? Check. Fresh money ready to splash? Double check. But here's the kicker – rival clubs are already sweating bullets about what's coming next.
Geelong's Salary Cap Strategy for Landing Two Star Players
Few clubs have mastered the salary cap game quite like Geelong, and now they're ready to pull off their biggest heist yet. The Cats are hunting West Coast's Harley Reid and Port Adelaide's Zak Butters, with both stars' deals expiring in 2026. Here's the kicker: Geelong's experienced list is actually helping their cause. Veterans coming down from massive contracts means fresh cash for competitive player recruitment. It's salary cap advantages 101, folks. While other clubs scramble with their books, Chris Scott's mob quietly position themselves for a double swoop that could shake the entire competition.
Also Read: Collingwood Edges Demons In Tight Tussle
The 2026 Target Timeline for Reid and Butters
Why wait until 2026? That's when both Reid and Butters hit free agency, making them prime targets for Geelong's war chest. The Cats are playing the long game while others scramble for scraps. Meanwhile, Wanganeen Milera's next move could shake things up sooner. Port Adelaide's pursuit of the Saint shows they're not sitting idle either. But here's the kicker – Geelong's already cleared deck space for these superstars. Two years feels like forever in footy time, but the Cats are banking on patience paying massive dividends. Reid and Butters circled in permanent marker? You bet.
How Geelong's Aging Stars Create Cap Space Opportunity
The veteran Cats are finally coming down from their mega deals, and that's music to Geelong's ears. While rivals chase Wanganeen Milera's future and Pickett's long term commitment rocks the football world, the Cats are playing chess, not checkers. Their aging champions sliding down the pay scale means fresh cap space for new stars. It's salary cap magic – experienced players accepting less dough opens the vault for Reid and Butters. The Cats' list management genius strikes again. Those big-money contracts from yesteryear? They're expiring faster than milk in the sun, creating room for blockbuster acquisitions.
