Geelong’s list boss Stephen Wells to take some time away from his role
Geelong list guru Stephen Wells’ position at the club is uncertain, with the veteran official taking time away to consider the next phase of his life.
Foxfooty.com.au understands Wells has not resigned yet as the Cats consider the best way to structure their football department for the future.
But Geelong sources believe there is a real chance he may call it quits or take a back seat in the near future.
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As the list manager and head of recruiting, the club still values Wells but has given him the time he needs to assess his future.
Wells has been at the Cats since 1984, with his first national draft as list boss in 1994. Since then he’s put together lists for three flags and several more finals appearances.
It’s understood Wells was feeling worn down like many other recruiting and list officials across the league.
In a long list of successful acquisitions, one of Wells’ best was WA mature-age recruit Tim Kelly, who was picked up by the Cats with Pick 24 in the 2017 draft.
Kelly had two brilliant seasons at the Cats, including an All-Australian jacket in his second season, before he requested a trade home to the Eagles at the end of 2019, with the Cats netting an array of early picks in return.
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While West Coast used its top two draft picks on tall forwards Jarrod Brander and Oscar Allen in the 2017 draft, Wells beat the Eagles to Kelly, taking him with a draft pick just before West Coast’s next selection that it intended to take Kelly with.
“Wellsy’s a genius,” Eagles football manager Craig Vozzo said in 2019.
“He’s an absolute gun recruiter and he got in just before we did.”
Wells played a key role in assembling the Cats’ premiership era list.
Geelong drafted Joel Corey, Paul Chapman, Cameron Ling and Corey Enright in 1999 before taking Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly, Steve Johnson and Gary Ablett in 2001 – all triple premiership players except father-son pick Ablett, who’s arguably the greatest player of the modern era. He also picked current captain Joel Selwood in the 2006 draft.
Wells has also found same late draft gems too, including dual-premiership player Max Rooke (2000 rookie draft), premiership forward James Podiasdly (2009 rookie draft), dual best and fairest Mark Blicavs (2011 rookie draft), dual All-Australian Tom Stewart (Pick 40, 2016 draft) and All-Australian squad member Sam Menegola (Pick 66, 2015 draft).
The Cats have also traded in an array of stars and key role players during Wells’ time, including Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson, Zach Tuohy and, more recently, Jeremy Cameron, Isaac Smith and Shaun Higgins.
— with Ben Waterworth