GEELONG could reap the benefits of an extraordinary class of four father-son recruits headed by Billy Brownless’ son, Oscar.

Oscar Brownless is arguably the most promising of four 16-year-olds who are eligible to be taken by the Cats in the 2018 AFL national draft.

The other three are Garry Hocking’s son Lochlan, David Mensch’s son Baxter and the son of ex-Geelong and North Melbourne player Robert Scott, Bailey. Scott is also eligible for the Kangaroos and is part of the Gold Coast Suns academy, and thus is eligible for the Suns.

Brownless and Mensch both play for Geelong Falcons in the under-16s and Brownless in particular impressed last weekend in a game at Bendigo against the Murray Bushrangers.

Round 18

Brownless, also a Geelong College student and son of the Footy Show panellist, is a midfielder at 184 centimetres and 69 kilograms while Mensch is listed at 176 centimetres and 69 kilograms as a midfielder/half-forward.

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Hocking’s son Lochlan is based in South Australia with Woodville-West Torrens but has family in Geelong and there have been discussions about him potentially playing for the Falcons as an under-18. His father, one of Geelong’s most decorated greats, is an assistant coach with Port Adelaide and his uncle Steve is Geelong’s General Manager of Football.

Bailey Scott is based on the Gold Coast but is still on the radar of the Cats, who already have an astonishing record of father-son selections. They include Gary Ablett, Matthew Scarlett and Tom Hawkins.

Under the new system, Geelong would have to match any bids for the four prospects — if Scott chose the Cats — in what would be an unprecedented situation. This would only be difficult if more than one was highly rated in the draft or if the Cats did not have many spaces on their playing list, albeit it is possible to recruit father-sons as rookies.

No club has ever gained so many father-sons in one draft though a number have picked up two father-son recruits in the same post-season, including Geelong.

Three of Geelong’s most recent father-son selections Matthew Scarlett, Gary Ablett and Tom Hawkins, seen here in 2009. Source: News Limited

Brownless is regarded as one of the most promising of the 16-year-olds at the Falcons and is expected to grow though he is unlikely to match his father’s key position height. The Cats do not want pressure on any of the prospective father-sons, but they know that as the sons of well-known players Brownless and Hocking in particular will receive media attention.

Remarkably Brownless, Hocking, Mensch and Scott were all teammates and Brownless, Hocking and Scott all played together in the 1992 grand final. Mensch was a member of the 1994 and 1995 grand final sides.

Collingwood meanwhile is strongly considering both Josh Daicos, 17, the son of club icon Peter Daicos, and another 1990 premiership player and ex-captain Gavin Brown’s son Callum. Neither of the midfielders are taller than 180 centimetres but they have shown impressive skills for the Oakleigh Chargers (Daicos) and the Eastern Ranges (Brown).