Young tall Shannon Neale most likely to cover for injured Tom Hawkins at Geelong
Geelong could be without Tom Hawkins to start 2023 as he recovers from foot surgery. And a young giant looms as the most likely to fill his spot.
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Man-mountain Shannon Neale has firmed as most likely to slot in alongside Jeremy Cameron in Geelong’s forward line to start the season as star veteran Tom Hawkins continues injury rehab.
The Cats face the rare scenario of starting the 2023 campaign without either of Hawkins or the retired Joel Selwood, the great full-forward only just ramping up his fitness after off-season foot surgery.
Geelong is not short of options to pair with Cameron upfront, with recruit Ollie Henry and swingman Esava Ratugolea capable of playing out of the goalsquare, while qualifying final hero Gary Rohan remains a marking target.
But 203cm giant Neale could get first crack after training alongside Cameron and Rohan in the early stages of pre-season.
The West Australian, 20, played as the focal point of Geelong’s VFL side for most of 2022 and provided a strong marking target, while pinch-hitting in the ruck when needed.
He made his AFL debut in round 11 against Adelaide and showed a willingness to fly for his marks.
Neale was then subbed on for Rhys Stanley against Port Adelaide in round 19 and played in the ruck for the second half of that game.
“(Neale has) got a great opportunity at the moment with big Hawk working through his rehab. He is getting some experience with Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan and the bigger guys down there and being the main target, along with our big fellas,” Geelong head of development Matthew Egan told the club website.
“He came back from pre-season in ripping shape and into his third year at the moment he is free to go, he is getting a lot of the training in.
“(He is) an amazing athlete, his ability to play tall and he has developed his body so he is strong enough to play on anyone but he can also get right up the ground and play sort of a third hybrid tall as well.
“It’s an exciting place he is in, his markings are really strong and he dominated some games in the VFL (last) year, so he’d be looking to progress as best he can this year and he is in a really good place at the moment.”
Egan also said top-10 draftee Jhye Clark was spending some time training at half-back, as well as his customary position as an inside midfielder.
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