Geelong Cats: Full injury update ahead of round 19 clash with Brisbane

A star forward will have to pass a fitness test later in the week to be cleared for the clash with Brisbane, while another goal kicker will play the Lions. Plus a young ruck returns.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: Gary Rohan of the Cats runs out during the round 18 AFL match between Geelong Cats and Essendon Bombers at GMHBA Stadium, on July 15, 2023, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Cats forward Gary Rohan will be racing the clock to be fit for the clash against Brisbane, having injured his ankle in the win over the Bombers.

Rohan spent an extended period of time off the ground in the 77-point win and finished the game on the bench, with Cats footy boss Simon Lloyd confirming Rohan will be “close” for the Lions clash.

“He obviously came downstairs a couple of times to see our medical team, and work through the challenges of carrying an injury through a game,” he said.

“We’ll assess that throughout the week, but he’ll be close to playing this week.”

Star forward Jeremy Cameron made his return on Saturday night after missing two weeks with concussion, suffering a corked thigh and a bloody nose in his return.

Lloyd said Cameron should have no concerns ahead of the pivotal clash with the Lions, while returning Jake Kolodjashnij also pulled up well.

“Sometimes you have games where you just keep getting knocked around and bumped and bruised, and Jezza copped one early just above his knee, copped a cork, and so he tried to work his way through that and came off with the blood rule as well,” he said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - July 15. AFL. Jeremy Cameron of the Cats on the bench after copping an accidental elbow 2nd qtr during the round 18 AFL match between Geelong and Essendon at GMHBA Stadium, on May 27, 2023, in Geelong, Australia. Photo by Michael Klein.

“I know at half time he walked past and said ‘I can’t take a trick’ but good thing about it was he worked himself into the game and finished with that long goal down city end.

“Jake Kolodjashnij was obviously out with a hip injury and an adductor injury and he returned, helped really get us going with our team defence in that first quarter and is a very important player for us.

Defender Jed Bews may not return for the round 19 clash, with Lloyd flagging he could spend another week on the sidelines.

“Jed’s doing a lot of running at the moment, his knee is improving and again our medical team will assess whether he’s available this week or next come the latter part of the week,” he said.

Big man Toby Conway played his first VFL game of the season on managed minutes, clocking up seven kilometres before being bench in a moderated return to football.

The club also announced GMHBA has extended its partnership with the Cats for another four years, taking the deal until November, 2027.

Originally published as Geelong Cats: Full injury update ahead of round 19 clash with Brisbane