Geelong likely to take conservative approach with Jack Steven for Round 2 clash against Hawthorn
Geelong coach Chris Scott says recruit Jack Steven ‘could play’ against Hawthorn on Friday night, but selection will come down to more than one blistering training session.
Geelong
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Jack Steven is in better shape than he was at the start of the season but Geelong is likely to take a “conservative” approach with selection for Friday night’s clash with Hawthorn.
The former Saint has no issues physically from last month’s stabbing incident but Cats coach Chris Scott is weighing up whether his star recruit has enough miles in the legs to be ready this week.
“We haven’t decided on Jack Steven yet,” Scott said on Tuesday. “Jack could play, I don’t have any great doubt about that but it’s just whether that is the prudent thing for him longer term.
“We’re still in the process of working through that ... in the context of his preparation it’s more about the body of work.”
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Steven trained strongly during match simulation at GMHBA Stadium but his performance on the track wasn’t going to be the deciding factor for his coach.
“I’m very confident he will get through the session really well and put his hand up to play, it’s just a matter of whether we push the button on it,” Scott said.
“I think if we don’t play him we’re being conservative.
“But every club in the competition and around the world are going through the same thing in calculating how the shutdown has affected their players’ preparation.
“The three, or almost four, week preparation is clearly not enough to be confident that your players are ready for an AFL season so we’re backing that in the eight-week lockdown they had, they did the work.
“But we were unable to monitor them so there is a bit of the unknown there.
“Jack has had an extra bit of uncertainty, really he only missed about a week-and-a-half of training, he played in the Colac game (in March) which was JLT 2 and played really well.
“I think he is in better shape now than he was then, but maybe the uncertainty is just enough to be a bit more conservative with him.”
Steven, 30, was cleared on Monday by the AFL’s integrity unit over any wrongdoing surrounding the incident in the early hours of May 17 where he drove himself to Cabrini Hospital with a stab wound.
He was then transferred to The Alfred hospital, where he underwent surgery. Victoria Police said its investigation “remains ongoing”.
Midfielder Brandan Pafitt, who missed the season opener against the GWS, will return on Friday night but ex-Crow Josh Jenkins has been grounded with a back injury.
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Victoria Police said on Monday night the investigation “remains ongoing”.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further,” police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said.
Cats football boss Simon Lloyd told the Herald Sun Geelong had a large majority of their players fully fit.
He said Steven was back in full training with and “getting himself ready”.
“He’s going well. He’s back into full training and he’s desperate to get going again and play,” Lloyd said.
“He’ll start to be introduced to the competitive stuff over the coming sessions.
“Jack is a hard worker, he leaves everything out there on the park and he is in a good frame of mind and he’s getting himself ready.
Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit detectives have not laid charges over the May 16 stabbing.
Steven drove himself to Cabrini hospital with a stab wound to the chest in the early hours of Sunday May 17.
He was transferred to the Alfred hospital where he underwent surgery.
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The 30-year-old lauded his new home in the wake of the incident, and said it had vindicated his decision to move back to the Surf Coast.
“The Cats have been unbelievable,” Steven said.
“I felt really loved and I’d like to thank everyone, really – friends, family and especially the Geelong community and the players have been unbelievable. I’m pretty happy to be down here.
“It’s why I came back, just to get a bit of love going.”
In other Cats’ selection news, Nakia Cockatoo’s lingering issues will see him ruled out of selection but Jake Kolodjashnij (hip) is back in full training and Mitch Duncan and Joel Selwood are well progressed after only just making Round 1.
If he was given another week of training he would have an extra eight days before a GMHBA Stadium clash against Carlton on the Saturday night of Round 3.
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