AFL trade news: Future of young Cat relying on rival interest

“If an offer does come from a rival club, he’s out of there.”

EDITOR | July 27, 2021 - 3:29pm

Geelong youngster Charlie Constable could very well be heading for the exit should rivals clubs begin to show interest in the promising midfielder.

Constable has been kept to just 12 matches across his opening three seasons at Kardinia Park and has been a dominant force for the Cats' VFL side this season.

Despite averaging 35 disposals per game across his past five matches in the reserves, Constable hasn't been able to break into the senior side, with his last match coming in Round 3 as a medical sub.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: Charlie Constable of the Cats (right) celebrates a goal during the 2019 AFL round 01 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Geelong Cats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 22, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

The 22-year-old was understood to be considering a departure from the Cattery last year, however no real interest seemed to emerge.

However, according to SEN's Sam Edmund, should a keen rival pursue the tall midfielder he would stand a good chance to leave Geelong at season's end.

"Charlie Constable is the really interesting one and not for the first time,” Edmund told SEN.

“But the difference this time is he’s out of contract, the Cats want him to stay and they’ve told him they want to re-sign him... and there’s a seat for him in the future.

“He’s tearing up the VFL. He tried to orchestrate a trade last year with a year to run on his contract but no suitable offers emerged so he stayed.

“If an offer does come from a rival club, he’s out of there. He will take it and he’s there to be taken from a rival club’s point of view.

“Charlie Constable is a watch this space as the season unfolds.”

Constable is among a number of players at Geelong that remain unsigned past this season whilst facing a challenge to cement their place in Chris Scott's lineup.

Fellow onballer Quinton Narkle has constantly been in and out of the selection frame, while speedster Jordan Clark hasn't featured since Round 11.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 29: Quinton Narkle (L) and Luke Dahlhaus of the Cats celebrate during the 2021 AFL Round 11 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Geelong Cats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 29, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Unlike Constable, both Clark and Narkle are interstate products, hailing from Western Australia.

The pair could consider a return to their home state in the upcoming off-season, with interest from Fremantle and West Coast likely to transpire.

Out-of-contract Geelong trio Bradley Close, Lachie Henderson and Gryan Miers are understood to be close to new deals, while the likes of Cameron Guthrie, Shaun Higgins and Rhys Stanley are yet to recommit.