Geelong are reportedly assessing trade avenues that would see them increase their place in the draft order to potentially attain South Australian ruckman Alex Dodson.
Dodson is viewed as the standout ruck prospect among this year's pool of draft hopefuls, having shown great upside in a limited year that saw him balance basketball commitments.
It wasn't until the second half of the year that Dodson decided to take the football bath over basketball, having been a prolific prodigy in the latter.
Dodson managed to feature in three games for South Australia at this year's U18s National Championships, averaging 17.3 disposals, 19.7 hitouts and 3.7 clearances per game to earn All-Australian honours.
The Payneham junior also featured for Sturt's U18s side on nine occasions to add to a dominant year as a hard-working ruckman.
Placed as a likely first-round draft selection, Dodson is sure to have strong interest from clubs looking to bolster their ruck ranks for the future, with the 201cm talent a promising project player.
Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide are clubs who could express an interest in Dodson, however the Crows only hold Picks 4, 64 and 78.
According toย News Corp, Geelong are keen to acquire Dodson and could make a play to move up the board to attain his services at next week's draft.
The Cats don't open their count until Pick 45, with the Kardinia Park club likely required to trade their 2025 first-round selection to have any chance of getting access to the young ruckman.
Geelong re-signed premiership ruckman Rhys Stanley for 2025 and are hopeful young tall Toby Conway can overcome his ongoing injury battles, while 2023 draftee Mitch Edwards also struggled to get on the field in his first season with the Cats.
"There's windows for us to pick trade, so we'll look at all sorts of different ways. Potentially we move some future picks into this year, we're open-minded to what that looks like," Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie told the club's media arm last month.
"That'd be guided by where (head recruiter) Stephen Wells and his team see the draft board forming. We'll work through what that looks like over the next month."
Should the Cats hold back from trading their way up for Dodson, they could hold hope that Western Australian ruck-forward hybrid Kayle Gerreyn is available at their first selection.
Geelong hold Picks 57, 74 and 84 as well, and could look at GWV Rebels tall Floyd Burmeister with one of those selections. Over-age ruckmen Aiden Riddle and Lucas Impey are viable rookie options too.
The Cats' VFL program was home to 202cm South Sudanese talent Ajang Kuol mun this year, with the recent Port Melbourne recruit seen as one of the best mature-aged prospects on offer.
