Ryan Abbott Biography

Doulton Langlands, Ryan Abbott, Jack Bell, Jack Mayo, and Logan Austin are cut from the Saints' list.

St Kilda pulls a recruiting curveball by acquiring axed Geelong ruckman Ryan Abbott as a delisted free agent.

Geelong had committed to re-drafting Abbott as a rookie next week if he wasn't able to find a new home, however the Saints swooped in the final hours of the delisted free agency window.

The 28-year-old, who played five games across three seasons on the Cats' list, will join on his existing one-year contract with triggers for a second season in 2021.

"While he has had limited opportunities at Geelong, he's shown that he is more than capable at AFL level both in the ruck and as a marking option up forward," St Kilda list boss James Gallagher said of Abbott.

"He is a strong character and we are really looking forward to Ryan joining the club immediately."

Geelong delist Ryan Abbott Oscar Brownless but the pair have been promised a spot on the rookie list should they not be picked up by a rival prior to November's NAB AFL Draft.

Ryan Abbott signs a new two-year deal with Geelong to remain at the club until the end of 2020.

Abbott who made his debut in round 20 in 2018, knocked back offers from rival clubs to recommit to the Cats.

"Ryan had a consistent year, working hard at his craft and was rewarded with an AFL debut late in the season," Cats general manager of football Simon Lloyd said.

"Ryan shows a lot of drive, we look forward to seeing him develop over the next two years."

Ryan Abbott knocks back rival offers to commit to a fresh two-year extension with Geelong that will keep him at the club until the end of 2020.

The 27-year-old has been rewarded after a season where he played four games, including the Cats' losing elimination final to Melbourne in the absence of No.1 big man Rhys Stanley.

Ryan Abbott's football journey took him from skinny basketballer to a place on Geelong's senior list in four years.

This week, the 27-year-old 100kg former electrical apprentice will play his fourth AFL game in an elimination final at the MCG against Melbourne.

"He's too nice, that's the only problem I've got with him," Abbott's former Grovedale coach Grant Tanner said.

"Once he develops that little bit of game day anger, then I reckon he'd really go to the next level.

"You couldn't ask for a nicer bloke, a true gentleman. He listens and learns, that's the most important thing for a young guy trying to make it. I haven't got a bad thing to say about him.

"He's a model citizen, he wasn't a big party boy, never drank too much and made many mistakes. Very much Mr Squeaky."

Mature-age ruckman Ryan Abbott has benefited from an atypical path to the big time.

Having spent most of his youth playing basketball, Abbott returned to his local football club Grovedale at 21 following a bout of knee surgery and some cajoling from his mates.

Having impressed in a handful of games for Geelong's VFL side in 2016, the Cats took a punt on the 200cm Abbott with pick 69 in the national draft.

"I tell people that at 17 or 18 I wouldn't have been ready to play AFL even if I had been playing football at that age," Abbott said.

"I wasn't in the right headspace and my body wasn't ready either.

"Everything just seemed to fall into place for me from about 21 onwards. The more experience I got and the more games I played I just kept building."

Ryan Abbott makes his AFL debut for Geelong at the MCG with 10 disposals (3 kicks and 7 handballs), 3 marks, 7 tackles, 27 hitouts and 2 goals in a 3-point loss to Richmond.

Ryan Abbott suffers a leg fracture that will keep him sidelined until the middle of January.

Abbott was injured spoiling the ball in a marking contest at training was on crutches at the Cats' recent annual general meeting.

Geelong select Ryan Abbott with pick No.69 in the 2016 National Draft.

"He's an experienced ruckman with the physical capability of playing right from day one," Geelong list manager Stephen Wells said.

"He's got some development in him, so hopefully he can continue to get stronger and improve with the full-time commitment he's now got at Geelong."