Chris Scott says Jeremy Cameron is eager to play after headbutt attack, flags ‘different’ look without stars

Chris Scott has responded after his star forward Jeremy Cameron was the victim of a headbutt. Plus, the Geelong coach has revealed how the Cats will replace Tom Hawkins and Mark Blicavs.

Jeremy Cameron was the victim of a headbutt attack. Picture: Getty Images

Geelong coach Chris Scott said Jeremy Cameron declared himself mentally ready to face Port Adelaide after he was the victim of a headbutt attack last Saturday night.

Cameron copped an unprovoked headbutt to the mouth from a patron at the Barwon Club in South Geelong, with Victoria Police investigating the alleged incident.

The star spearhead trained during the week and was in good spirits at the end training on Friday while attempting to kick miracle goals from the GMHBA Stadium pocket with his teammates.

Following up with Cameron about the incident, Scott said the 30-year-old’s desire to face the Power has been “unequivocal” despite the unwanted distraction.

Jeremy Cameron has said that he is ready to face the Power. Picture: Brad Fleet

“He is (ready to go), as soon as it was established from my perspective that he was completely the innocent party and that he was OK, that was really the end of it for me,” Scott said.

“And really maybe the job of the head coach over the years has evolved a little bit but I just haven’t been evolved in the nitty gritty once I established those key facts. I guess I did follow up a little bit, not so much because of that incident, but just in general whether is he ready to play at his best, and that’s been unequivocal.”

It will be the first time in Cameron’s 56 Cats matches that he has played without Tom Hawkins after his hamstring blow, with Scott expecting Hawkins to return before the end of the home-and-away season.

Scott flagged a “different look” up forward and through the middle in the absence of Hawkins and Mark Blicavs (hamstring) – who performed some light running at training but is set to be sidelined until the finals – and said that the two big outs will force the Cats to get creative and change their structure.

The three-time premiership coach was tight-lipped about who would be used up forward after the inclusion of Esava Ratugolea, who flourished earlier in the season as an intercept defender but was used in the ruck at times in the VFL last week.

But Scott said he was excited about the prospect of more midfield time for Tanner Bruhn and Brandan Parfitt, who will start in the green vest against the Power.

Mark Blicavs completed light running at training.. Picture: Brad Fleet

“That’s the intriguing puzzle for us, it was only brought to my attention by Jeremy this week that he has never played for the Cats without Hawkins there which took me by surprise a bit. He is a unique player for us, Tom, so we aren’t going to replace him like-for-like but a different structure – even Blicavs in his role in my mind is unique as well,” he said.

“So those players structurally force us to shift the way we go about it, which is exciting as well. We have got some young guys in there throughout the year that have got some opportunity that may not have if we had’ve been at full availability.

“In the midfield without Blicavs I’m looking forward to Bruhn and Parfitt will come into the 23 as well, so looking forward to those guys playing together. They are different to some of our other big midfielders so that is exciting for us.

“Then ahead of the ball it will just be a different look, we aren’t going to forecast it just yet but we are excited about – I’d always prefer to have Hawkins in, I hope he plays till he’s 40 – but there is some upside having a slightly different look in there.”

“My information is that (Hawkins’ injury) is minor and that he will certainly play before the end of the home-and-away series. But I’m passing on my interpretation of the information and I think I’ve said before, until it gets to within 10 days I’m probably not the best person to ask.”

Scott said forward Gary Rohan is still managing a minor ankle injury since the win over Essendon in round 18, which forced him out of the side at the eleventh hour against Brisbane.

He was also pleased with the progress of important midfielder Cam Guthrie, who he is hopeful can return to the Cats line-up by the end of the home-and-away season after a short stint in the VFL.

“The game before that against Essendon he tweaked his ankle and missed the next game, probably could have played and he manages that a little bit but that isn’t anymore significant than 50 per cent of players on every list I would have estimated,” he said.

“I think (Guthrie) is tracking roughly towards some home and away time, the question will be, having missed so much with a foot injury, how he comes back, likely through the VFL. But even through that program I think he could play some VFL footy and then say, the last home-and-away game, roughly there.”

Originally published as Chris Scott says Jeremy Cameron is eager to play after headbutt attack, flags ‘different’ look without stars