The question Geelong legend Matthew Scarlett posed to left-field draftee that changed everything

Triple Geelong premiership defender and club legend Matthew Scarlett may have found his Cats another defensive prodigy, but this one isn't named Tom Stewart.

Instead, it's Oli Wiltshire who, like Geelong premiership defender Stewart, was also an unlikely get from the South Barwon Football Club under Scarlett's watchful eye.

But if you asked the 21-year-old Barwon native if he thought he'd ever play AFL a few months ago, he'd tell you there was just no way.

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Wiltshire, a lifelong Cats supporter, played under Scarlett at South Barwon and was approached by the legendary defender in the middle of the Bellarine League's season, posing one life-changing question.

"He pulled me for a chat earlier in the year and said 'do you have any aspirations to play AFL?' I obviously said 'yeah, it's every kid's dream', and here I am today," Wiltshire said at the club on Thursday.

It wasn't just Scarlett who saw the unearthed potential in Wiltshire, who was taken at pick 61 during the draft on Tuesday night.

Geelong list manager Steven Wells, who has long ben dubbed the "wizard" for his successful left-field drafting work, had been keeping an eye on the young defender for a few seasons.

"This year Ollie Wiltshire, who came through the Bellarine Football Netball League, he actually had a couple of games at the Geelong Falcons a couple of years ago and didn't go quite so well, but his performances over the last two years and this year in particular has been outstanding," Wells said on Tuesday night.

"We just always try to do what is in the best interests of the footy club, and the Geelong region is a great footy area and the different leagues down, there's players that develop at different rates."

Wells lauded the "great talent" that the Geelong and Surf Coast regions have to offer, explaining that the club will always look to prioritise drafting local talent.

"It's going to be really interesting to see how he develops and we will see a lot of upside there. But there's great talent down in Geelong and it's there for everyone to see," he said post draft on Tuesday night.

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"Looking back, we would have been better off picking Tom Stewart before he got into the VFL program. Just Ollie's performances this year were outstanding, we felt that if we just took him through to the VFL program that by the end of next year he might be going so well that we might miss him."

That Cats did even more damage at the 2023 draft, with another unique selection a big suggestion that they're looking to win their second flag in three years.

One special selection was Shaun Mannagh, a 26-year-old Werribee small forward, who single-handedly led his side to victory in the 2023 grand final, with a six-goal, 27-disposal performance.

He spent seven years in the VFL, now keen to show Geelong what he is made of.

"As the pre season progresses and I'm actually at their training, I can showcase where my best capabilities can be," Mannagh said on Thursday.

The Cats even picked up ex-Hawk Emerson Jeka, who is keen to fill a big defensive hole left by big man Esava Ratugolea, who was traded to Port Adelaide last month.

"There's an opportunity there. I just need to take that with both hands. I feel like I play my best football down back," Jeka said.

As for Wiltshire, the carpenter won't be given up the tools just yet, with a few jobs to finish before his professional AFL career begins.

"I'll keep them, just a bit of handy work around the house. Mum and Dad will want some jobs done, I'm sure.