New two-year AFL deal for Geelong’s Motlop

Star midfielder Steven Motlop has signed a contract extension with Geelong, which is understood to be for two years.

Cats football manager Steve Hocking on Saturday said Motlop had resisted overtures from several other clubs including Richmond to remain with the Cats.

But the 24-year-old will be eligible for limited free agency when his new AFL deal expires in 2017.

The Cats had not wanted to publicise Motlop’s re-signing this week, fearing it would detract from the farewell games of multiple premiership-winning stars Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Mathew Stokes.

But Hocking confirmed on Saturday that the deal had been done.

“We’ll roll that out next week,” Hocking told ABC radio.

“It’s been a lot of work between (Motlop’s) manager and myself, but we got there in the end.

“It was really just about making sure that he realised his value – but, at the same time, we maintained a pay structure, as we have done.”

Motlop has played 88 AFL matches since making his senior debut in 2010, having been selected with pick 39 in the 2008 national draft.

He was suspended by the Cats for one week early this year after drinking alcohol at a local match on the eve of the round-one clash with Hawthorn.

But Motlop bounced back from that setback to be one of the Cats’ best players throughout 2015.

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