Andrew Bews, former Geelong captain and one of the club’s favourite sons, will return to Skilled Stadium in 2004 as one of Mark Thompson’s senior runners. Bews will replace Trevor Spencer, another former Cat, who retired from the post at the end of last season.

“It will be great to have Andrew back at the club,” Thompson said.

“He has a passion for the club and has experience at all levels of the game. Andrew has good communications skills and we are as excited to have him on board as he is to be working with us.”

Bews, who played 207 games for Geelong between 1982-93 after joining the club from North Geelong, is delighted to be back with the Cats.

“It’s a thrill to be back,” Bews admitted.

“I have been away from the club for a while now, nearly 10 years, so it is exciting to be back with the Cats. I’m looking forward to working with Mark and the players and it will be terrific to be part of the next wave of success, which is just around the corner.”

A fan favourite throughout his career, Bews was among the AFL’s elite players in his prime, earning 12 Victorian guernseys and representing Australia in the 1987 international rules series against Ireland.

Bews was a member of Geelong’s 1989 grand final team but missed the ’92 decider through injury. He was Cats’ captain in 1990-91. Bews moved to Brisbane in 1994 and played a further 69 games with the Bears/Lions before retiring in 1998. Bews is a life member of both the Geelong Football Club and the AFL.

Since retiring as a player Bews has enjoyed significant success off the field. He helped develop the ice vests favoured by elite athletes competing in warm conditions and coached Williamstown for three seasons.