Melbourne defender Jared Rivers is bound for Geelong. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun
JARED Rivers will play for Geelong next year.
The out-of-contract Melbourne defender and the Cats today struck a deal that will see Rivers move down the highway in 2013.
Rivers' management and Geelong are meeting now to formalise a two-year contract, ending an anxious fortnight for the 27-year-old.
Rivers was an unrestricted free agent and was allowed to move to the club of his choice.
That club has long been Geelong, who made it clear they wanted a ready replacement for recently retired full-back Matthew Scarlett.
The Cats' recruitment of Gold Coast youngster Josh Caddy and their ongoing pursuit of North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh had delayed the Rivers deal.
The league-wide uncertainty over compensation picks also muddied the waters.
Every deal at Department of Trades
Rivers is a good friend of Geelong defender Andrew Mackie - a former schoolmate in South Australia - and knows several players at Simonds Stadium.
Port Adelaide also expressed an interest in Rivers after losing Troy Chaplin to Richmond.
2012 Trade and Free Agency period
MELBOURNE
IN: Chris Dawes (Collingwood), Shannon Byrnes (Geelong), Jack Viney (father-son pick), Jesse Hogan (via 17yo mini-draft), Dom Barry
OUT: Jared Rivers (Geelong), Brent Moloney (Brisbane)
STILL COMING (MAYBE): Scott Gumbleton, Cam Pederson
STILL GOING (MAYBE): Jordan Gysberts, Cale Morton
DRAFT PICKS: 4, 58, 64, 82, 100, 118
GEELONG
IN: Josh Caddy (Gold Coast), Jared Rivers (Melbourne)
OUT: Shannon Byrnes (Melbourne)
STILL COMING (MAYBE): Hamish McIntosh
STILL GOING (MAYBE): Mitch Brown, Tom Gillies
DRAFT PICKS: 15, 36, 55, 73, 91, 109
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