‘Really tough one for me’: Cats coach still holds out hope Ratugolea’s ‘future is at Geelong’

Geelong coach Chris Scott still holds out hope Esava Ratugolea will remain at the Cats, admitting the prospect of the key defender being traded is “not something I’m comfortable with” in the inflated key defender market.

Ratugolea reportedly informed Geelong earlier this month of his wish to be traded to the Power – 12 months after he was denied the same move.

It comes after the out-of-contract 25-year-old managed just 20 AFL games across the past two seasons for the Cats, despite reinventing himself as a player by shifting into defence.

“It’s a really tough one for me. I feel like our club has invested a hell of a lot in Esava – and personally, I’m really invested in the guy,” Scott told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night.

“I’m still hopeful that his future is at Geelong. He’s played a lot of games for us when he probably wasn’t ready and that’s sort of part of the investment. It’s not just that in terms of the games he’s played, but just in terms of us taking a long-term approach in the hope that he would be a much better player in the second half of his career than the first.