Nathan Kreuger has labelled Geelong “a beloved place” after signing with the Cats’ VFL team for 2025.
The 25-year-old, who played two AFL games with Geelong during a three-year stint at the club before making 13 appearances in three seasons in Collingwood, says the decision to rejoin the Cats followed a discussion with fiancee Tess Kirsopp-Cole.
“Me and Tess sat down and we went through our options, and Geelong seemed to be the best option for me, especially coming back and the familiarity of it all,” Kreuger said.
“I’ve got a lot of people here that I can lean on for support and those sorts of things.
“(An) AFL opportunity would be great. But at this point in time, I’m ready to start working and just being back and enjoying my footy and getting that consistency that I know I’m capable of doing.
“Hopefully, I can explore some work opportunities with working with youth and young people and turn that into a bit of a career for myself,” he said.
“And then just enjoy my football game, play VFL, play some local footy and give back to the Geelong community because it’s such a beloved place, and I love being around Geelong and the surrounding areas.”
Kreuger revealed he had discussions with a number of VFL and SANFL clubs before settling on a return to Geelong.
Although thoughts of an AFL lifeline aren’t at the forefront of his mind, the 196cm key forward is well aware that being under the nose of the Cats could work in his favour.
“If there are opportunities to jump at AFL footy again, I’ll take it,” Kreuger said.
“But for now… I just want to enjoy myself and get work, get stable work, and be a normal person for a while.”
After a career impacted by injury, Kreuger has exited the system with no lingering effects.
He is confident he can have an impact at the VFL level, labelling himself “fitter than I’ve ever been” after an off-season working with Tess, an elite runner who won the 800m at the Oceania Championships and competed at the World Athletic Championships in 2022.
“Once I knew what was happening, and I was delisted, ‘I was like, well, you know, I can try some different training, and it’s not going to be as full-on, and I don’t have to come back, you know, five or six kilos heavier and, and those types of things’.
“So, I basically went away and trained with Tess and she shaved my 2km time trial down about 40 seconds.
“I’m sitting at about a 6:30 2km time trial when my best was probably a 2:15, 2:20.
“I’m feeling really fit and really strong.”
Kreuger revealed he has spoken to “a few” local teams to have as his interchange club.
“I’m still working out what the best deal for me is at local level,” he said.
“I don’t have an answer for you just yet; I’m still working through that process.
“But I’m chatting to a few. Hopefully, we can get to a deal, and something can get sorted.”
EARLIER: Geelong VFL signs former AFL Cat
Former Geelong AFL forward Nathan Kreuger has signed with the club’s VFL squad for 2025.
The Cats have confirmed the 196cm 25-year-old will return to GMHBA Stadium after spending the past three years with Collingwood.
The South Australian arrived at GMHBA Stadium after Geelong gained access to Carlton’s pre-draft selection at the end of the 2018 season.
AFL: NO CHANGE AT THE TOP FOR CATS
Kreuger played 16 games and kicked 18 goals in the VFL in 2019, but with Covid-19 wiping out the 2020 state league season, he could not press his AFL claims in his second year.
He eventually made his senior debut in the Round 20 win over North Melbourne and featured in the following week’s loss to the GWS Giants before being traded to the Magpies at the end of the season.
At Collingwood, injury restricted him to just 13 matches and 11 goals in three seasons, including six games for seven goals this year.
Geelong unveiled a 46-strong training squad earlier this month.
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