Delisted Cat certain he has more to offer amid reported interest from rival clubs

Delisted Geelong midfielder Mitch Hardie still has the burning desire to one day make an AFL debut.

Hardie spent one and a half seasons at the Cattery after being taken with pick No. 6 in the 2023 Mid-Season Draft out of Woodville West-Torrens.

While he never made an AFL debut in the hoops, Hardie was close to selection on more than a handful of occasions and won Geelong’s VFL best and fairest in 2024 to go with a VFL Team of the Year selection and fourth-placed finish in the J.J. Liston Trophy.

AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich believes that clubs are monitoring Hardie as a delisted free agent or supplemental selection period selection and the 185cm midfielder is hoping that one of those clubs offers him a lifeline.

“I think there's been a little (of interest) talking through my manager,” Hardie said on AFL Trade Radio.

“I've sort of left it up to him, but I am certainly hopeful that there are a couple of clubs out there that are willing to give me another crack at it because I think I’ve just got so much good footy to offer.

“You just hope that there's another one out there that's willing to take me on now.”

Hardie is willing to go anywhere in Australia to continue his AFL career as he feels he’s just reaching the prime of his career at 27 years old.

“Yeah, definitely (I am willing to go anywhere), it's always been the dream,” Hardie added.

“There's no boundary for me as to where I would go. I've absolutely loved my time here in Geelong and after having a taste of it over the last 18 months, I'm absolutely ready to continue that journey wherever that may be.

“The motivation is just at its peak for me at the moment. I'm so hungry and determined to play AFL footy and after the last 18 months, I'm feeling like I was I was so close.

“I still feel like I have so much good footy ahead of me, I've only recently turned 27 and I think I'm coming into the absolute peak of my powers.”

Hardie averaged 28.8 disposals, 5.1 marks and 4.9 tackles from 19 VFL games in 2024. He also kicked 14 goals during the state league season.