AFL 2024: Geelong coach Chris Scott rules out Tanner Bruhn and Toby Conway ahead of clash with Port Adelaide

Geelong has made a selection call on two of its youngsters. But one of their inclusions could fulfill a role on a Power star.

Tanner Bruhn will sit out this weekend. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Geelong has opted to take a cautious approach with midfielder Tanner Bruhn and ruckman Toby Conway with the pair to sit out the Cats’ clash with Port Adelaide.

Bruhn was substituted out of Geelong’s loss to Melbourne with a shoulder knock, while Conway was managed with a hip complaint in the VFL last week.

Bruhn had been listed as a test on Geelong’s injury update on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old and Conway both trained in a light captain’s run on Thursday, but neither will play against the Power.

Coach Chris Scott said Conway had been in line to face Port Adelaide regardless of whether ruckman Jordon Sweet — who has ruled out with illness — was selected.

Veteran Rhys Stanley has missed every third game this season but is set to come up against young Port Adelaide big man Dante Visentini on Friday night.

Vice-captain Tom Stewart copped a minor quad cork last weekend, but Scott said he will play after he “trained the house down” this week.

He indicated that Bruhn could still play if other injuries pop up, but the inclusions of Mark O’Connor and Brandan Parfitt — both managed last week — would help replace him.

Toby Conway has played two senior games this season. Picture: Michael Klein

“We think he (Bruhn) is going really well but we are not going to play him. We’ll keep him available in case something happens but our plan is to hold him back this week and have him fresh for next week,” Scott said.

“It is one of those that we’ve had quite a bit this year that for us there is a difference between being available to play and being optimal. so we are just going to be a bit conservative with him.

“We do have a couple coming back too, O’Connor and Parfitt didn’t play, so hopefully there is a bit of symmetry there that makes a bit of sense.”

Scott reiterated that the Cats will continue to play it safe with young ruckman Conway, with the Cats officially ruling him out on Thursday morning.

“We would have brought in Conway this week, that was our plan, but he’s just not quite right after a hip flexor issue — which is disappointing because we’d thought that we’d set up his program to be in a position to play well this week,” Scott said.

“But at the risk of repeating of myself, Toby is going to play when he is primed to play well.

We’re not just going to roll him out – and he’s probably a little like Tanner Bruhn where in their mind they would think, ‘I can still play’, but we’re just no comfortable that it is optimal this week.

“But that is a hard decision for us to make because we were really looking forward to seeing him play — and that would have been irrespective of Port’s ruck make-up.”

Scott said O’Connor, who will be in the 23, could play a tagging role on damaging Power midfielder Zak Butters.

O’Connor ran with Carlton ball-winner Sam Walsh in their win over the Blues a fortnight ago.

“It’ll be up our sleeve. I’ll think about it a lot tonight,” Scott said.

“I think he has to be (in our thinking), he is just such a good player.

“The only thing I can guarantee is we have put a lot of work into him, but Horne-Francis as well — without disrespecting (Ollie) Wines and (Willem) Drew and (Dan) Houston, I could keep going.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong coach Chris Scott rules out Tanner Bruhn and Toby Conway ahead of clash with Port Adelaide