Newly-crowned Geelong AFLW best-and-fairest Georgie Prespakis has given the strongest hint yet that she’s about to commit her long-term future to the club.
The star midfielder was coy when questioned on Tuesday morning about what the new collective bargaining agreement meant for her and contract negotiations with the Cats.
“It’s still in the works,” Prespakis said.
“With the season only finishing a couple of weeks ago, they’ve got the draft coming up and looking at bringing in some talent.
“So, I’m unsure as of yet.
“But we’ll find out shortly, I hope.”
However, with lists due to be lodged on Friday, an announcement on the length of the deal shouldn’t be too far away.
“I was really fortunate enough to get picked up by Geelong in the (draft) where it had only just opened up to an all-Victoria pool,” Prespakis said.
“Geelong took me, and I’m so grateful, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I do love the football club here,
“And I think from an outside perspective, everyone does see that culturally, we’ve got a really amazing culture here at Geelong.
“We’re on a really good trajectory, and, hopefully, some success will come in the next few years.”
The new CBA has seen the average player salary increase from $46,000 to $82,000, with multi-year deals to become the norm.
“I think it’s really exciting with this new CBA enabling girls to sign longer contracts at their clubs,” Prespakis.
“It just goes to show the commitment the girls are wanting to have to their football clubs.
After making an audacious run to a preliminary final after knockout finals wins over Essendon and Melbourne, Geelong’s players will enjoy a five-month break before pre-season training resumes around May.
Prespakis all but ruled out playing VFLW when that season commences in late March/early April.
“I’ll probably look at staying around Geelong doing all different sorts of things,” she said.
“Boxing, running, gym. I like to change it up before you come back and do stacks of running.
“So, I look forward to that.”
