JIMMY BARTEL YET TO RE-SIGN FOR CATS
Mark Heenan 21 July 2005

GEELONG coach Mark Thompson says the Cats are likely to step up its negotiations in the coming weeks to sign star midfielder Jimmy Bartel.

The twenty-one year old was best on ground in Geelong’s seventy-nine point mauling of Port Adelaide last Saturday at Skilled Stadium, with thirty-two disposals and three goals.

Bartel remains out of contract at season’s end with Geelong.

“We spoke about it at the start of the year and we’ve offered something (to Jimmy) and then all negotiations got cancelled and we’re hoping that they start up again soon,” Thompson said.

“We’ve always really wanted to sign him.”

However the Cats’ coach isn’t overly concerned that Bartel has failed to put pen to paper, saying it’s more important to focus on retaining other key young players as well.

In recent weeks, forward Paul Chapman and midfielder Joel Corey have both agreed to new deals with Geelong.

“No more desperate than we were to sign all the other boys, I think it’s not just about one player, it’s about the whole group,” he said

“Most of the other boys have agreed on terms and we try to give everyone reasonable pay to what they put out, and it will be no different with Jimmy.”

Meantime, Thompson has emphatically denied reports that Brad Ottens will miss the rest of the season, as the ex-Tiger battles to recover from a groin strain.

Ottens, trained lightly on Wednesday, has not played since round twelve, and is no certainty to line up against the Western Bulldogs at the Telstra Dome on Saturday.

While defender Tom Harley, who continues to be plagued by a hip injury failed to train has been ruled out.

“I don’t think he (Ottens) will be out for the season, we haven’t ruled him out playing this week yet, if he pulls up well he is a very good chance to play this week,” Thompson said.

While Geelong’s form has been indifferent with three wins from its past five starts, they expect the Western Bulldogs to bounce back from its heavy 74-point loss to Adelaide last weekend.

The Bulldogs could get up to four players back from injury, including veterans Rohan Smith (ankle) and Chris Grant (knee).

“You just know they’ll kick more than five goals this week, they (Bulldogs) were fairly embarrassed last week against Adelaide and they will play much better,” Thompson said.

Geelong has won two of its last encounters against the Bulldogs by an average margin of 40 points.