Geelong forward Gryan Miers has sent a firm message to the AFL's competing clubs about the Cats' relentless pursuit of star talent.

We're going to keep doing it.

The Cats have become a common destination for star players in the off-season, with the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron and Bailey Smith all stripping their former club colours for blue and white hoops.

Whether it be the country location, out of the harsh spotlight of innercity Melbourne media, or the continual, seemingly endless success of the Cats, who have only missed finals three times in the last two decades, Geelong have proved time and time again they are the hottest market for players looking for a change of scenery.

That remark could prove correctly again should Gold Coast star midfielder Matt Rowell choose not to extend his contract with the Suns and instead make a blockbuster switch to Kardinia Park.

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Rowell reportedly met with Geelong's coach, Chris Scott, and football boss, Andrew Mackie, last October to discuss his future beyond 2025.

The pitch was a tantalising prospect - come and be the Cats' next Joel Selwood.

Despite uproar from fans that Geelong are yet again attempting to poach an AFL star from a rival club just as they enter their prime years, Miers has launched a defence for his recruiters, lauding their work for attempting to land the Victorian-born gun.

"He's (Rowell) one of the best players in the league, so it's pretty straightforward that our recruiting team are doing a great job," Miers said.

"And that's what everyone gets cut up about, is that we're targeting great players, and we've targeted them in the past and ended up getting them.

"They'll keep doing that job, and that is their job to do, is just target the best.

"And I actually don't know if we're going for him, but if we are, then good luck to him, good luck to us.

"If it happens, it'll be exciting, and I hope we keep going after those big names."

Geelong's approach to recruitment is polarising and aggressive. Rather than enduring the traditional route of developing top draft picks, Geelong apply greater attention to landing a big fish through free agency or the trade period, if not before plucking a mature-aged prospect in the draft instead.

The Cats have only had one top-ten pick in the last decade, 2022 Pick 8 Jhye Clark. The previous beforehand was Nakia Cockatoo back in 2014.

Miers said the strategy has paid dividends in Geelong's consistent on-field success, referring to the evidence in their side, and in other competitions, proving the unorthodox off-season tactics (from an AFL recruiting perspective) work.

"Oh, definitely (I like our aggressive player recruitment approach)," Miers said.

"We touched on NFL before the press conference that Philadelphia did the same thing. They target the big names and now they are going to a Super Bowl.

"You don't want to sit on your heels and let others take the best players in the league. If we fail at getting these players, so be it.

"But we've got Jeremy Cameron and won a premiership with him.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Jeremy Cameron of the Cats celebrates a goal during the 2022 AFL Grand Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 24, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

"We've had great success with the other players. We got 'Danger' 10 years ago, so you've got to keep doing it, and the only way to get better is by getting better players.

"That makes the players like me at the team see those guys come in and go,  'I don't want them to steal my spot, so I'm trying to get a little bit better as well'.

"So all in all, it works with each other."

Geelong will debut their most recent trade recruit in Smith in their Opening Round clash against Brisbane, a preliminary final rematch that Miers said the club is "itching" to play.

Miers kicked two remarkable goals in the Cats' 10-point loss to Brisbane, leaving him and his Geelong teammates to watch Brisbane tear up the MCG against Sydney a week later, who the Cats dispatched similarly two years prior.

The loss and the grand final result has no doubt left a burning feeling in the Cats players' stomachs.

"It feels like we're ready to go, I think all the boys are itching for (Opening Round) after a disappointing finish," Miers said.

"You just want to get straight back out there and forget about that one, and get on to the next one.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 05: Gryan Miers of the Cats celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Second Qualifying Final match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval on September 05, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

"We have a great opportunity to verse the same team that won it (the premiership) and got that taste of victory.

"We want to take off them from Round Zero."