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Geelong captain Selwood’s AFL finals waiting game

Geelong will wait until Friday before deciding whether captain Joel Selwood will be fit enough to tackle Collingwood in Saturday’s sudden-death semi-final at the Gabba.

Geelong captain Joel Selwood with his finger in a splint after surgery. Picture: Getty Images
Geelong captain Joel Selwood with his finger in a splint after surgery. Picture: Getty Images

Geelong will wait until Friday before deciding whether captain Joel Selwood will be fit enough to tackle Collingwood in Saturday’s sudden-death semi-final at the Gabba.

The Cats champion, who has played 23 matches in his career against the Magpies, underwent surgery last Friday after injuring a finger in the qualifying final loss to Port Adelaide.

Selwood had his left middle finger heavily strapped as he ran laps and engaged in some light kicking drills during training at Southport on Monday morning. But he avoided grabbing the ball with his left hand.

The joint was dislocated during the game and, given surgery was required, the injury was at the upper end of severity.

A close-up of Joel Selwood’s injured finger
A close-up of Joel Selwood’s injured finger

Geelong’s football boss Simon Lloyd said Selwood would do everything possible to ensure he was capable of leading the Cats against the Magpies despite the problem.

“We know what his mental fortitude is like, so he will give himself every opportunity to play this weekend and he will test it out fully come Friday,” Lloyd said.

The Cats have confirmed Jack Steven, a four-time best-and-fairest at St Kilda, will be unavailable for selection after he suffered a slight hamstring strain in a scratch match on Saturday.

Steven was among reserve players from Richmond and Port Adelaide who competed in the hitout in order to maintain their fitness should they be called on for the finals.

Geelong has lost its past two matches to Collingwood and struggled to score in both outings.

The Cats managed to kick just one goal in the first half during a 22-point loss when the sides clashed in Perth in Round 7.

Collingwood also stymied the Cats’ attack when it defeated Geelong by 10 points in last year’s qualifying final.

Selwood after dislocating his finger in the loss to Port Adelaide
Selwood after dislocating his finger in the loss to Port Adelaide

Geelong had won their three previous clashes against the Magpies, but similarly to the last two outings, they too were low-scoring affairs where the pressure applied was at a premium.

Former Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel said there is some concern about the manner the Cats moved the ball when they last played Collingwood in Perth.

“The last time the Cats played them, they probably played the slowest they ever played. They need speed,” he said.

Although they were beaten by Port Adelaide when kicking their third lowest score for the year, there is reason to believe they will rebound against Collingwood.

Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins had six shots for goal for five points and one that missed everything.

Gary Ablett, Gary Rohan and Gryan Miers failed to register a score either. Bartel does not believe lightning will strike twice in that regard.

“You would be backing (that) surely Rohan, Myers, Ablett couldn’t be all that cold or shut out of the game like they were,” he said on RSN 927.

“It was fantastic by Port, so it is a tick to Port, but surely we can’t have all these three down.”

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Geelong and Collingwood have possessed the ball more than any other side this year but their methodology is different.

Collingwood has had more handballs than any rival this year. Geelong ranks No 1 for kicks in 2020.

The Cats are the highest scoring team in the competition in the abridged season and boast the fourth best defence.

The Magpies’ defence is even more miserly but their potency has been far less a strength this season.

But they did kick their third highest score for the season in the elimination final triumph over West Coast, with their rapid ball movement a factor in enabling forwards such as Mason Cox to enjoy a strong outing.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-captain-selwoods-afl-finals-waiting-game/news-story/2974e95a70ac531ba47f070069f4ae87