New Geelong recruit Jon Ceglar believes one-club players is becoming a thing of the past, explaining why he was happy to leave the Hawks for his new club.
The ruckman was traded to the Cats on Wednesday evening for a swap of late picks.
Hawthorn was public in their intentions to take some age off their list and were reportedly happy to pay some of Ceglar’s wage while at Geelong.
Ceglar harbours no bad blood and says new coach Sam Mitchell was “open and upfront” about where they see the ruckman.
“I think it was the Saturday before trade week, maybe 10-12 days ago,” Ceglar told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“Sam Mitchell rang me; he was just open and upfront about what he was thinking, that the footy club was heading in a slightly different direction which didn’t include someone who was 30 playing in the ruck
“He said we wouldn’t stop any movement if I wanted to explore an option.
“So, from then on in we got the ball rolling a bit and it went from there.”
While Ceglar had played his whole career at the Hawks, the 30-year-old says older players moving clubs more is “the business we’re in” with the way the game is today.
Hawthorn champions Jordan Lewis and current Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell were famously pushed out of the club by former mentor Alastair Clarkson and went on to join other clubs.
“I’m not naïve enough to think that I was not going to be an option to move,” Ceglar said.
“It probably started with Clarko (Clarkson) a few years ago, that’s footy now.
“That one club player … probably doesn’t exist as much anymore.
“It’s just the way the world is now and that’s the business we’re in.”
Despite the big career move, Ceglar says he couldn’t have asked any more of the club in the way they dealt with the trade.
“I can only talk about my personal experience, for me personally I couldn’t have asked anything more of Sam. He was upfront and honest about it, and he put it out there what might happen and that’s all you can ask for,” he said.
“He’s the coach, he calls the shots, whether you agree or disagree with his decisions. He told me beforehand which gave me an opportunity to find a new club and extend my career.”
Ceglar will now contend to be the number one ruckman at Geelong against fellow big men Rhys Stanley and Esava Raugolea.
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