Cats cautious on Kelly
By Ben Broad 11:43 AM Tue 26 August, 2008
James Kelly will not play against West Coast on Saturday
GEELONG appears set to make further changes to its side ahead of the final home and away match of the season as coach Mark Thompson enforces a strict ‘no risk’ policy with his stars.
That means James Kelly is racing the clock to be fit for the Cats’ first final after Thompson confirmed the silky-smooth midfielder would miss another week with a quad injury.
While Thompson insisted Kelly would only miss this week’s round 22 clash with West Coast, the fact he has already been ruled out must place him in some doubt for Geelong’s qualifying final the following week.
“Kel will probably miss another week, we found out yesterday,” Thompson said at Skilled Stadium on Tuesday morning.
Kelly was a late withdrawal from the Cats’ side that beat North Melbourne on Sunday.
The coach said he was unsure whether small forward Mathew Stokes – also a late withdrawal against the Kangaroos – would be fit to take on the Eagles at Skilled Stadium on Saturday but Ryan Gamble was “more than likely” to play.
Max Rooke is a certain absentee after accepting a one week ban for engaging in rough conduct.
However the biggest surprise could be the return of young forward Tom Hawkins, the man many believed had played his last senior match for the year a few weeks ago as a foot injury threatened his season.
But Hawkins' six-goal effort for Geelong's VFL side on the weekend has thrust his name back into senior calculations.
“He’s name will no doubt be mentioned at selection,” Thompson said.
David Wojcinski is also a possible inclusion with Thompson declaring the speedster a chance to return, however the Cats will carefully manage their list and won’t play anyone not at full fitness.
“We’ll just do what we do every week and blokes that are fit to play, they’ll play,” Thompson said.
“If they’re a little bit sore we’ll make a decision whether they can play or not.”
One luxury Geelong won’t have this season is its VFL side also playing throughout the finals.
The Cats’ reserves are set to miss the finals in the state competition, meaning after this weekend whoever isn’t playing senior footy but still hoping to come into the Cats line-up will be missing valuable match practice.
“Obviously we’ll keep all the guys who we would consider a chance to get a game around the club and keep enough numbers so that we can perform training at the required level," Thompson said.
“There’d be some guys who’ll probably be released and told to take their break so we can get them back early and chuck them back in the gym, but we haven’t really worked out names or numbers yet.”
www.gfc.com.au
By Ben Broad 11:43 AM Tue 26 August, 2008
GEELONG appears set to make further changes to its side ahead of the final home and away match of the season as coach Mark Thompson enforces a strict ‘no risk’ policy with his stars.
That means James Kelly is racing the clock to be fit for the Cats’ first final after Thompson confirmed the silky-smooth midfielder would miss another week with a quad injury.
While Thompson insisted Kelly would only miss this week’s round 22 clash with West Coast, the fact he has already been ruled out must place him in some doubt for Geelong’s qualifying final the following week.
“Kel will probably miss another week, we found out yesterday,” Thompson said at Skilled Stadium on Tuesday morning.
Kelly was a late withdrawal from the Cats’ side that beat North Melbourne on Sunday.
The coach said he was unsure whether small forward Mathew Stokes – also a late withdrawal against the Kangaroos – would be fit to take on the Eagles at Skilled Stadium on Saturday but Ryan Gamble was “more than likely” to play.
Max Rooke is a certain absentee after accepting a one week ban for engaging in rough conduct.
However the biggest surprise could be the return of young forward Tom Hawkins, the man many believed had played his last senior match for the year a few weeks ago as a foot injury threatened his season.
But Hawkins' six-goal effort for Geelong's VFL side on the weekend has thrust his name back into senior calculations.
“He’s name will no doubt be mentioned at selection,” Thompson said.
David Wojcinski is also a possible inclusion with Thompson declaring the speedster a chance to return, however the Cats will carefully manage their list and won’t play anyone not at full fitness.
“We’ll just do what we do every week and blokes that are fit to play, they’ll play,” Thompson said.
“If they’re a little bit sore we’ll make a decision whether they can play or not.”
One luxury Geelong won’t have this season is its VFL side also playing throughout the finals.
The Cats’ reserves are set to miss the finals in the state competition, meaning after this weekend whoever isn’t playing senior footy but still hoping to come into the Cats line-up will be missing valuable match practice.
“Obviously we’ll keep all the guys who we would consider a chance to get a game around the club and keep enough numbers so that we can perform training at the required level," Thompson said.
“There’d be some guys who’ll probably be released and told to take their break so we can get them back early and chuck them back in the gym, but we haven’t really worked out names or numbers yet.”
www.gfc.com.au
