Geelong opt to rest Sam De Koning after knee injury as Gary Rohan and Mitch Duncan return

Geelong coach Chris Scott is pleased with his side’s availability with two inclusions for its finals shaping clash against Fremantle. But two defenders have come out.

Geelong defender Sam De Koning won’t be risked for the Cats’ top-eight shaping clash against Fremantle on Saturday as veterans Mitch Duncan and Gary Rohan will return.

The 23-year-old went down with a knee injury against Adelaide last week after changing direction off the ball and was substituted out of the match.

De Koning was listed as a test on Geelong’s injury list but was unsighted on the track on Thursday, with Scott expecting him to be back next week.

SCROLL DOWN FOR CATS v DOCKERS TEAMS

It means the Cats defence will have their hands full combating Fremantle’s tall timber, but big man Josh Treacy – wh is equal fifth in the Coleman Medal race with 45 goals – will miss with injury

But Scott confirmed on Thursday that Duncan is available after being managed and Rohan, who missed the win over the Crows with concussion, trained well this week.

Fringe defender Jed Bews has been dropped for the Dockers clash despite some promising form in the seniors since his round 21 recall.

The 30-year-old, who comes out of contract at the end of this season, told this publication that it had been a tough yearstuck on the outer.

Sam De Koning was subbed out with a knee injury. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“We won’t take him (De Koning), he is going pretty well but we think he is really likely to play next week with a good preparation so we are just going to take a bird in the hand there,” Scott said.

“I’d say we’ve got a good problem with selection at the moment, we have got good availability.

“De Koning going out is annoying for us but other than that we’ve got some guys coming back and available into what we think is a pretty strong team.”

Retiring champion Tom Hawkins was off to the sidelines kicking the Sherrin at Cats training as he eyes as a potential return in the final home-and-away round.

Spearhead Jeremy Cameron, who plays his 250th game this week, said it was pleasing to see the determined Hawkins push for a return.

“Behind the scenes internally he has worked really hard to make sure he gives himself every chance and that’s exciting for the group and important for the group to see,” Cameron said.

The Cats had a rare win in the clearances last week but they face a much sterner test against the formidable Dockers engine run who have dominated sides at the source this season.

“We really respect what they can do in that part of the ground. I think they have got a really clear method and they have executed it really well,” Scott said.

“If they get it all their way in that respect they become hard to beat. Their personnel is elite, they have some good young midfielders in there who are pretty dynamic. Fyfe is still playing good footy that compliments them well and two elite ruckmen.

“That’s a part of the game we have got a bit of thought into, but as always with us we tend to prioritise sort of balancing our game rather than throwing all our eggs in one basket.”

Originally published as Geelong opt to rest Sam De Koning after knee injury as Gary Rohan and Mitch Duncan return