Cats re-sign Joel Selwood

Geelong have put another harpoon in the hopes of the Gold Coast luring a big fish
north with star AFL midfielder Joel Selwood ready to sign a new contract.
The Cats said on Thursday Selwood, 21, was ready to sign a new contract after
agreeing to terms, although the Cats would not reveal the length of the contract.
The pending re-signing of the player many consider Geelong's next captain is a major
coup for the Cats, who can now concentrate their efforts on retaining Brownlow
medallist Gary Ablett.
Selwood's agreement is also another major blow for the Gold Coast, who are yet to
sign a marquee player for their debut season in the league next year because the
established clubs are determined to re-sign their stars.
Selwood is the third big-name player this week to re-commit to his club, following
the decisions of Western Bulldogs' midfielder Adam Cooney and Essendon skipper Jobe
Watson to stay put.
Last week Hawthorn re-signed big forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, along
with skipper Sam Mitchell, while young guns Trent Cotchin (Richmond), Michael Hurley
(Essendon) and Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne) were all secured earlier this year.
St Kilda pair Nick Riewoldt and Sam Gilbert, North's David Hale and Collingwood's
Dayne Beams are others who last year decided against returning to the area where
they grew up and playing for the Gold Coast.
Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said Selwood and his management had refused to
meet with Gold Coast officials, which had always had the Cats confident he would
stay.
"Without being arrogant about it, we always thought Joel would stay with us," Cook
told AAP.
"He refused to meet with the Gold Coast, so he was always keen to stay here,
especially now that he's established and is part of the leadership group."
Selwood has starred for Geelong since his debut in 2007 - the year he won the
league's Rising Star award - and has already clocked up 77 games, for the remarkable
record of 67 wins and only 10 losses.
He played in Geelong's 2007 and 2009 premiership wins and was last year named an
All-Australian for the first time.
Ablett remains the Gold Coast's No.1 recruiting target but is considered closer to
re-signing with the Cats than he was at the start of the season, when speculation
arose he would join his brother Nathan at the new club.
Cook said a fortnight ago he was confident Ablett would re-sign, and said on
Thursday there had not been any advancements in contract talks.
"We aren't expecting to move on negotiations for another month," he said.