By Peter Ryan
Geelong look set to prefer young forward Shannon Neale to triple-premiership veteran Tom Hawkins for Saturday’s preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions.
Star forward Jeremy Cameron on Monday praised both Hawkins, who has done everything possible to be ready if a spot opens up, and Neale, who has provided the Cats with a strong contest up forward in the veteran’s absence.
Cats insiders would not discuss selection, but the expectation is that it would take an injury for Hawkins to break back into the side.
Gary Rohan was back at the club on Monday with more than 50 stitches in his head after having surgery on a fractured skull after being concussed in the VFL semi-final.
He won’t play in the preliminary final but could be available for the grand final if the Cats make it.
Cameron said he was happy not to be on Geelong’s match committee, as Hawkins looms as one of several potential hard luck stories for the Cats.
Gary Rohan was back at training, displaying his head injury.Credit: Getty Images
Hawkins played in a losing VFL semi-final earlier this month, his first match since injuring his foot against Carlton in round 15. Neale replaced him and has kicked 16 goals in nine matches. Geelong have lost just one match since Neale replaced Hawkins.
Cameron said Neale had been “enormous for us”.
“He provides a really good contest. He is such a big fella and when he can launch at the ball he is hard to stop, so he plays an important role,” Cameron said.
Hawkins, one of six premiership players striving to win back a place, has been sharing his knowledge with Neale, and Cameron described his effort to get back from injury and his contribution from the sidelines as inspiring.
Tom Hawkins is unlikely to play unless there’s an injury. Credit: Getty Images
“He could just sail off as he has had an amazing career and it’s so touch and go with the timing of how his foot is healing, and the timing of getting back is such a tight window, but he has done everything he could possibly do ... it’s very [up]lifting to walk down to the gym and see that,” Cameron said.
“It’s a great to have a full team at this time of year. It’s needed, it’s crucial to have pretty much a full list of people to choose from but at the same time, there’s always stories [of disappointment] and it’s a challenging time as well.
“The guys are training really well ... and doing everything they can to get back in.”
Tom Stewart is expected to return from a hamstring injury suffered in the final round, and has recovered from the illness that saw him withdraw from the qualifying final. Cam Guthrie played his first match back in the VFL after battling a lingering Achilles issue.
Sam De Koning has played in two VFL matches as he returns from a knee injury and is a chance to play on one of Brisbane’s talls. Mark O’Connor is out for the season after wrist surgery and Brandan Parfitt has played just one senior match since round 11.
Jhye Clark, Mitch Knevitt and Ted Clohessy have all played senior football and all remain available for selection although they are unlikely to play unless the Cats are forced to make several changes.
Meanwhile, Cameron said his brilliant snap goal in the first quarter of the qualifying final was not necessarily the best goal he has kicked in a final.
“It’s definitely probably one of the top two that I’ve kicked maybe, but I think back to that Collingwood one [in 2022]. That was probably my favourite, to be honest, because I know that was with 70,000 Collingwood supporters sitting behind me,” Cameron said.
That goal was at a crucial stage in the third quarter of the 2022 qualifying final when Cameron kicked a set shot goal from the forward pocket at the Punt Road end of the MCG to bring the Cats back within a point of the Magpies.
He said his goal against Port Adelaide was “a bit lucky” even though he does practise such kicks at training.
“You still have to have a really big element of luck for that one to go through,” Cameron said.
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