Latest Geelong Cats news ahead of Richmond blockbuster
Esava Ratugolea’s contract is set to be a talking point all year and Chris Scott has revealed how he will approach it.
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Geelong will continue to present Esava Ratugolea with “the best opportunity to play at a good club” as the out-of-contract defender mulls a decision on his future.
After Port Adelaide came hard at the big man in the most recent trade period, Ratugolea has worked his way into Geelong’s best side and has played every game so far this year at full back.
Ratugolea is on track for a career-year and has always been highly rated by coach Chris Scott, but he is set to leave a decision on a new contract until later in 2023.
The defender told the Geelong Addy last month he “never wanted to go” to the Power and he is “happy here” in Geelong.
Scott said he wouldn’t personally push Ratugolea to sign with the Cats but trusts the club will prove it is the best place for him.
“It will be what it will be, we will do our best to give Sav the best opportunity to play at a good club and in a good team and he will make his decision from there,” Scott said.
After persistent discussion throughout the AFL about the future of crowd boos after Sydney champion Lance Franklin was jeered by Collingwood fans last week, Scott said he expected stand-in skipper Tom Stewart to cop it from Richmond fans on Friday night.
Stewart is set for a hostile reception after he was suspended for a nasty hit on Tiger Dion Prestia last year.
Scott said he wasn’t against the boo in footy but suggested fans should think about the context of their jeering.
“There is the argument that it sort of adds to the theatre a bit, when it takes on more perverse undertones my suggestion would be and we would make this suggestion to our daughter, that you just think a bit harder,” Scott said.
“(In the case of) Tom Stewart, there is a reason for the booing. I think Tom would understand that and I think he will be OK with it because he has kind of reconciled his actions last year.”
Geelong will be without forward Brad Close for the Richmond showdown after he was suspended for a dangerous tackle on Adelaide’s Jordan Dawson.
Scott said he did not agree with the suspension but understood why actions like that tackle were being cracked down on.
“If you don’t agree that we should do everything we can to protect the head, maybe you need to reassess your thinking a little bit,” he said.
Injuries still limit Cats ahead of Tigers clash
Geelong will not be able to recall its host of injured players to fill the gaps left open by Patrick Dangerfield and Brad Close for Friday night’s clash with Richmond.
The Cats fielded eight players who didn’t feature in last year’s grand final triumph and that number is likely to grow this week, with Dangerfield (hamstring) out.
Close will also miss the Tigers meeting after his one-game ban for a dangerous tackle on Jordan Dawson was upheld at the tribunal on Tuesday night.
Cam Guthrie will not return for the MCG meeting to cover for Dangerfield and is still not back into full training as he recovers from a toe-joint injury.
The reigning Geelong best-and-fairest winner has been out since round 6 with the sore toe but made a step up in his rehab this week.
“Cam has been advancing successfully through his recovery. He is moving freely and we will
continue to be guided by our medical and conditioning team,” Cats footy boss
Simon Lloyd said.
“Jack Bowes, Gary Rohan, Sam De Koning and Tyson Stengle are progressing well and
remain on track to only be sidelined for the short term.”
Bowes (calf), Rohan (hamstring), De Koning (facial surgery) and Stengle (broken arm) are each eyeing returns in coming weeks.
After Bowes pulled up sore in his calf in the last weeks of pre-season, the Cats have opted to take it easy on the former Gold Coast midfielder to ease him back, while a similar cautious approach has been taken with Rohan.
Rhys Stanley also remains sidelined after an eye socket injury.
The Cats still have options to cover for the loss of Dangerfield and Close, with Brandan Parfitt in strong form in the VFL.
The premiership player has averaged 23.5 touches a game in the seconds this year and would be a ready-made replacement on the inside for Dangerfield.
Teen Jhye Clark will also come under consideration this week.
After making a couple of important plays late in the win over Adelaide, Ollie Dempsey appears likely to be promoted from the sub role to cover for Close in the front half.
Defender Jack Henry is in his second week of full training on his way back from foot surgery and is closing in on a return, while Sam Menegola (knee) has been running in recent weeks.
Tom Stewart picks left-field choice as future captain
Cats vice-captain Tom Stewart has identified his choices for the future leaders of Geelong, and believes the club is in capable hands in the future.
The All Australian defender was elevated to a sole vice-captain role for 2023 after Patrick Dangerfield was elected to take over from former skipper Joel Selwood.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Stewart said leadership qualities were not sparse in Geelong.
“We really rely on a massive group, it’s well documented we’ve got quite an older list and quite an experienced list so we rely on about a dozen blokes to get some information and just a real temperature check of the group,” he said.
“I’ve got ‘Blitz’ (Mark Blicavs) and ‘Hawk’ (Tom Hawkins), Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie and Zach Tuohy, who I really rely on to help me out in my sort of role and I think that’s the massive strength of our group.
“We’re not going to rely just on Pat and myself to lead the charge and it’s something we’re really, really proud of down here.”
The Cats opted for a two-man leadership group for 2023, but will have to rely on outside leadership help with Dangerfield set to miss some games with a hamstring injury sustained against Adelaide on Saturday.
Stewart said he saw plenty of leadership potential in some of the younger Cats stars.
“There’s probably three or four I’m really strong with, he’s not playing at the moment but Jack Henry has really really grown in that space,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“He came in as a rookie and had a different sort of pathway, but the way he goes about his footy.
“He’s not the most loud bloke or the one that’s first to talk but when he does speak his words come with a lot of weight, he’s one I really respect.
“Max Holmes is really developing in that space, he’s a bit of a late comer to football, his form on the field is really starting to show the player he’s going to be.
“He’s standing up in big moments and really playing some really consistent football.
“A different one that’s a bit of a left-field option is Tom Atkins, he was a strong leader at local footy and then captained our VFL club for a number of years.
“He’s someone who knows exactly who he is and isn’t afraid to speak up and say the right things and I think that’s something that can’t be underrated.”
Dempsey “never going anywhere” after signing extension
Exciting young Cat Ollie Dempsey says it is a “no-brainer” to remain in Geelong after penning a new deal this week.
The 20-year-old forward confirmed the two-year contract extension this week, remaining in the hoops until at least the end of the 2025 season.
Demspey, who came as the substitute on Saturday against Adelaide, said he was “never going anywhere”.
“It was a no-brainer to sign on again, I’m really happy at the club and I’m enjoying my football,” he said.
“I can’t wait for the next couple of years and spending more time here, I’ve got great mates at the club and they’ve given me this opportunity here, so to get it out of the way early was great.
“It was very easy, as soon as they sent it I thought ‘yeah I’ll sign this’ but obviously you still have to go through it all.
“I was never going anywhere.”
Dempsey’s contract announcement came alongside premiership Cat Brad Close, who also signed on until 2025.
The pair of Cats are just some of a large contingent of former Rookie Draft players currently at the club, with the group including vice-captain Tom Stewart, hard nut Tom Atkins, injured defender Jack Henry, All Australian Mark Blicavs, defender Zach Guthrie and small forward Sam Simpson.
Dempsey said the Cats’ savvy recruiting showed any draft pick had an equal chance to make a career in the league.
“I’ve learned a lot from Brad, I’ve spent a lot of time with him because we play a similar position,” he said.“I’m very happy for him to get another contract here, he’s been good to me.
“Once you get into the club everyone is the same, everyone gets the same sort of treatment from the club whether you’re a top pick or a rookie.
“Having that connection with some of the players has been nice to have, especially early in my career.”
Close set for tribunal hearing
Geelong has decided to challenge the ban on Brad Close after he was handed a one-match suspension for rough conduct.
The recently re-signed small forward was cited for careless conduct, medium impact and high contact for a tackle on Crow skipper Jordan Dawson during the Cats’ 29-point win at GMHBA Stadium.
Match Review Officer Michael Christian deemed the tackle deserved a one-match ban, but coach Chris Scott said Close did not have a case to answer.
“I thought there was a really clear defence (for the Mitch Duncan bump on Robbie Fox), there’s no defence required for this one,” he said after the game.
“The defence would be really strong but I don’t think it’s required, in my opinion and that’s all it is, and it’s not a reflection on the decision itself, but I had a look at it, very comfortable with it.
“It’s a topical issue … I get it, but when a player is off balance and he slips and falls into the ground, gets up and is okay.
“We’ve got the benefit the umpire doesn’t have, we can watch it and take into account everything with time and replays and slow motions and everything like that.
“They’ve got to make a call in the instant, and they made a call, I wouldn’t have made that call but that’s why they’re better umpires than I am.”
Melbourne’s Jacob van Rooyan was also suspended for two weeks after he made head-high contact with Charlie Ballard while going back with the flight in a spoiling attempt during the Demons’ clash with the Suns and he will also fight his ban at the tribunal.
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