Ryan Bathie Biography

Geelong delist rookies Ryan Bathie and Cameron Eardley.

Bathie, who started his career as a defender, has kicked 30 goals in the VFL and was among the best players in Geelong's VFL Grand Final win last year.

Bathie hopes to resurrect his AFL career at another club.

"I just think the fact that he's developed so well over the last three years should grant him the opportunity to play AFL football," Bathie's manager Tim Hazell said.

"His body is ready to go, and he's at the prime of his height and size and the way that he moves.

"I think the agility he gets from his basketball background is a big strength, and he's an ultra-professional.

"He certainly feels that he should be in the system for a while yet."

Former NBL and US college basketballer Ryan Bathie hopes the retirement of Matthew Scarlett and Tom Gillies' move to Melbourne open a spot for him in defence.

"I think the last two years have been pretty good," Bathie said about his development in the VFL.

"I've developed a lot as a footballer and I think I've shown a lot of improvement.

"I think I showed in the second half of last season that I've made pretty good leaps and I'm almost up to that AFL standard that I've been trying to get to."

Former basketballer Ryan Bathie looms as a dark horse to be elevated by Geelong thanks to injuries to Nathan Vardy and Dawson Simpson.

"He's an interesting sort of project player for us," Geelong assistant coach James Rahilly said.

"Given he has come from a basketball background, we've been really impressed by how much he's improved.

"To see him come from the basketball court to the footy field, and really take on everything we've tried to teach him, has been really pleasing."