Geelong coach Chris Scott has outwardly revealed that he is very much involved in the recruiting of rival players and is, in fact "excited" by that prospect.
For some time, the Cats have defied the laws of equalisation in the AFL competition, having missed the finals six times this century.
However, in Scott's time since he took over from Mark Thompson at the end of 2010, the club has secured two flags and missed September action twice, with yet another strike at premiership glory in 2024 well on the cards.
The two-time premiership coach's involvement can be seen as crucial in luring star players to the club, which is something he prides himself on.
"I would like to think that I am as involved as I would be if we weren't playing (finals), and that's just the reality and a requirement of the job," Scott said.
"There are 10 teams who are well and truly focused on that part of the cycle and if the other eight say we're just going to worry about playing and then address those issues when our season finishes, you're going to end up a long way behind.
"The fortunate thing from my position - I can't speak for every head coach - I have such a level of confidence in the people (at Geelong) that are largely charged with that responsibility.
"I think after a long period here of stability and work with those people, I understand my role in it."
As a result, in Scott's tenure, Geelong has seen Rhys Stanley (2014), Lachie Henderson (2015), Patrick Dangerfield (2015), Zach Tuohy (2016), Gary Rohan (2018), Jeremy Cameron (2020), Oliver Henry (2022), Jack Bowes (2022) and Tanner Bruhn (2022) join the club.
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The Cats are also heavily tipped to land Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith, while Gold Coast's Alex Davies and West Coast's Jake Waterman are on their radar.
Despite leading the Cats on-field, Scott doesn't find the prospect of recruiting a "burden" but is invigorated by the task.
"I don't feel it's a burden, in fact, I find this time of year quite exciting," Scott said.
"There's some opportunity there and some of these big decisions that are in a lot of cases really finely run things, 50-50 calls, they can set up your fortunes for years to come.
"So it's a crucial time. I'd be a little bit offended if anyone at our club thought that I couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time."
It comes in a day and age where players are constantly seeking the best deals and most money, with loyalty diminishing from the days of yesteryear.
As players live such a finite time in the competition, maximising their chances of winning a premiership or setting their futures up is paramount.
The role of modern-day coaches can help sell those dreams, where, in Scott's case, is the consistent appearance in finals and isolation from the Melbourne bubble down in Geelong.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has also been vocal in his push to tempt key defenders Tom Barrass and Josh Battle to Dingley. A push that has been successful.
It was reported that Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks met up with Gold Coast utility Jack Lukosius three weeks ago, playing an active role in attracting talent.
The player movement space has changed dramatically over the past decade, and those coaches who are being proactive are more than likely to be ahead when the whips are cracking.
