Geelong to make concussion call on Jeremy Cameron later in week as Mark O’Conor set to return

Will Jeremy Cameron return from concussion against the Roos? The Cats have given an update. Plus, there’s good news on the injury front.

Will Jeremy Cameron face the Roos on Sunday? Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Geelong will make a call on Jeremy Cameron later in the week but the star spearhead is “tracking well” for a return against North Melbourne on Sunday.

Tuesday marked the 12th day since Cameron’s brutal concussion blow against Melbourne, meaning the key forward can exit the AFL’s mandatory concussion protocols.

Football boss Simon Lloyd said Cameron travelled to Sydney ahead of the Cats’ drawn clash with the Swans last week and ran “a lot”, with the key forward also completing a running block on Monday.

Geelong managed seven goals in his absence in round 16, recording just 22 shots at goal from 50 entries.

The club is also set to welcome back Mark O’Connor after the Irishman missed last week with a minor adductor strain.

Jeremy Cameron is tracking well in his return from concussion. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“Jezza is tracking well, I’ve gone on record as saying Jez travelled with us to Sydney last week and did a lot of running around the SCG and moved well and he ran well (on Monday) as well,” Lloyd said.

“But in regard to concussion protocols we’ll be guided by our medical team to when Jez will be available and we will know that later on in the week.

The Cats’ ruck stocks will be boosted in the coming weeks with Jon Ceglar (ankle) and Toby Conway (foot) closing in on returns, with the Geelong Advertiser reporting on Monday that Conway is back in full training.

Lloyd confirmed Conway, who has been sidelined since February with a stress fracture, will be available for selection in a fortnight.

He also said the Cats’ medical team is pleased with the progress of midfielder Cam Guthrie as he eyes a return later from a toe issue later in the season.

Toby Conway is closing in on a return. Picture: Brad Fleet

“Cegs obviously initially had adductor soreness and that recovered and then there was a bit of ankle issue as well. That ankle irritation has improved and he is now part training and is then doing top-up running post so he is not too far away but he is tracking along well,” Lloyd said.

“(I) walked past Cam the other day and he was doing some stair work, doing a lot of weight baring work through that foot so he is tracking really well at the moment. Our medical and conditioning team are really happy with his progress.

“Toby is full training at the moment and I’ve touched on this previously that Tobes has done some great work against Jonathan Ceglar and Rhys Stanley over the past few weeks.

“And you can really see that Toby is developing his fundamentals of his game and his ruck craft with a lot of the work he’s done with those players and also the work he has done with Josh Jenkins and Brad Ottens.”

Forward Sam Simpson has been involved in training as he recovers from hand surgery, while highly-touted midfielder Jhye Clark is expected to come out of a moon boot on Friday and begin running next Monday.

Originally published as Geelong to make concussion call on Jeremy Cameron later in week as Mark O’Conor set to return