Geelong hits the track ahead of preliminary final as star Tom Stewart trains unaffected
The Cats were out on the track, and a star was running strongly. But another big name was away from the main group. Plus, see the full gallery from Cats training.
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Geelong vice-captain Tom Stewart ran strongly at Cats training in a promising sign as he eyes a preliminary final return.
Stewart, 31, flew home early with illness before Geelong’s qualifying dominant win over Port Adelaide.
Coach Chris Scott conceded post-game that the Cats were leaning towards not playing him anyway due to his hamstring injury that saw him subbed out of their round 24 clash with West Coast.
The five-time All-Australian trained with the main group while sporting a fluoro cap during a light session at GMHBA Stadium on Wednesday — players warming up with a round of ‘keepie uppie’ with a soccer ball.
The Cats said on Tuesday that Stewart was expected to return to face either GWS or Brisbane in the preliminary final.
Tom Stewart completed high speed running (with Cam Guthrie in first vid) with no issues at Cats training this morning. Tom Hawkins didn't complete that block and instead did some set shots and leads after jogging laps earlier in the session. @geelongaddy@superfootypic.twitter.com/UoX2v6jvkK
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) September 11, 2024
As players completed high speed running along the wing, Stewart and veteran Cam Guthrie completed their own sprints together at different intervals, with both appearing unaffected.
Guthrie returned for his first competitive match since round 10 in Geelong’s loss to Southport VFL on Saturday after seemingly overcoming his troublesome achilles blow, putting himself in selection contention with an encouraging 19 disposals, eight tackles and a goal.
The dual best-and-fairest winner started the session away from the main group running laps before completing stationary kicking.
He then ran with Stewart before media were turned away.
Geelong champion Tom Hawkins returned alongside Guthrie from his foot injury with 1.3 and 10 touches, moving well around the ground against Southport.
However, Hawkins did not take part in the sprints at training and instead jogged laps, practised set shots and did some light leading and kicking with forward Ollie Henry.
Athletic tall Sam De Koning played his second game in the VFL since missing a month with a knee injury, playing primarily as a ruckman, and trained with the main group on Wednesday.
Veteran forward Gary Rohan suffered a fractured skull in the opening minutes against Southport and has been ruled out for their preliminary final clash.
Irishman Mark O’Connor will be sidelined for the remainder of the season after the utility underwent wrist surgery.
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