Geelong Track Watch: Cats tackle Sam De Koning puzzle as veterans Tom Hawkins, Cam Guthrie watch on
Sam De Koning shapes as an intriguing selection dilemma heading into the prelim, while Tom Stewart looks fit for a return, with Gary Rohan sporting a new look. JOSH BARNES has the latest.
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Geelong veterans Cam Guthrie and Tom Hawkins appear likely to be left out of selection discussions this week as Tom Stewart showed no signs of illness or hamstring problems at training on Monday.
The Cats worked through some standard drills before media was asked to leave GMHBA Stadium, with Stewart, Hawkins, Guthrie and Sam De Koning all training.
Guthrie began with a warm up away from the main group and a member of the Geelong fitness staff could be heard asking about his running speeds, as the Cats monitor the dual best-and-fairest winner closely.
It appears increasingly unlikely that either Guthrie or Hawkins will be called up to face Brisbane in Saturday’s preliminary final.
Guthrie has played just four games this year, his last coming in round 10, as he battled quad and Achilles injuries.
Champion goalkicker Hawkins fought through a foot problem to return to VFL action last week – alongside Guthrie and De Koning – but may end his career watching on, with Shannon Neale in good form up forward.
The popular Neale bounded out of the change rooms carrying the portable speaker the Cats used for the session.
With Stewart certain to come back in after missing the qualifying final through illness and his hamstring problem, the question of Geelong’s week will revolve around De Koning.
He hasn’t played since round 21 due to a knee injury and since being ruled out, the Cats have successfully retooled the defence by sending veteran Mark Blicavs back there, while Rhys Stanley has held down the ruck.
Geelong could deploy De Koning in either position, with the Lions boasting giant Oscar McInerney in the ruck and tall forwards Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Logan Morris.
Forward Gary Rohan made a surprise appearance at training after having surgery last Tuesday on a fractured skull.
Rohan did light ball drills while sporting a clear shaved section of his hair, in which staples were visibly seen across the top of his head.
Injured ruck Toby Conway joined Rohan for ball work.
The speedster was ruled out early for the preliminary final but a line has not been put through his name for the grand final, if the Cats get there and he can force his way into the team.
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