Announcement
Geelong has signed exciting young midfielder, Jesse Mellor as a Category B Rookie ahead of the 2026 AFL season
Geelong has signed exciting young midfielder, Jesse Mellor as a Category B Rookie ahead of the 2026 AFL season.
Mellor has been a part of Geelong’s Next Generation Academy for a number of years, while also dominating for the Geelong Falcons and gaining valuable exposure with the Cats VFL program recently.
Described as an exciting midfielder who can also play forward, Mellor emerged as a standout prospect this year with plenty of power, versatility and an incredible goal sense.
In his top-age Under 16 season, Mellor featured for the Falcons and represented Vic Country in the Diversity All Stars match, before making his senior debut for Geelong West in 2024.
Mellor would continue to feature for the Geelong Falcons and Vic Country at Under 18 level, but a six-goal haul against the Young Guns proved to be a decisive moment for his draft potential.
He would go on to become a consistent threat in front of goal, kicking eight goals from four games at the National Championships and piecing together a number of dominant performances, ultimately earning him All-Australian honours.
Mellor continued to dominate for the Falcons in the Coates Talent League, kicking 24 goals from 13 games which included a brilliant five-goal haul against Tasmania.
In 2025, Mellor also gained valuable VFL exposure and spent time training with Geelong’s VFL squad, playing two games throughout the season which included a 17 disposal and two goal performance against Essendon in Round 20.
Mellor will join Geelong as a Category B Rookie for the 2026 AFL season, with the Cats set to add three more players to their list in Friday’s Rookie Draft.