Ex-Bulldog, Swan and Bomber to train with Cats

GEELONG has thrown down the challenge for three players discarded by other clubs to win a spot on its list for 2010, while cut Cats Bryn Weadon and Dan McKenna will also return for pre-season training on Monday.

Former Western Bulldog Guy O'Keefe, Dan O'Keefe (Sydney Swans) and Bryce Carroll (Essendon) are yet to make their AFL debut but could yet be thrown a lifeline by the premier, should they show enough on the track in the lead-up to the NAB AFL Draft on November 26.

Weadon and McKenna were delisted last month along with Kane Tenace, Scott Simpson and Adam Donohue with Tom Harley, David Johnson and Matthew Egan all retiring.

Shane Mumford's trade to the Sydney Swans, Marcus Drum's arrival from Fremantle and Jeremy Laidler's elevation to the senior list rounded out the changes at the Cattery.

Geelong has picks 17, 28, 40, 42 and 56 in the draft and, like other clubs, may be drawn to the trend of recruiting mature-age players.

Football manager Neil Balme said allowing players to train with clubs before the draft was a win-win situation.

"It's a chance for these players to come in and stay in shape and at the same time try to do all the things that are needed for them to get another chance at the AFL level," he told geelongcats.com.au.

"Everyone benefits from this type of arrangement. It's good for us to be able to have a look at them and it works for the kids as they get to stay in the system, work hard and be ready when an opportunity comes up."

A midfielder, Dan O'Keefe was a first-round draft pick (No.15 overall) in 2006. Carroll and Guy O'Keefe are both forwards, with Carroll formerly on the Bombers' rookie list.

Log on to afl.com.au on D-day, Thursday, November 26, for the most comprehensive coverage of the 2009 NAB AFL Draft. We’ll have live chats, live audio streams, in-depth player profiles, club reaction and our famous afl.com.au Draft Tracker.