Cats buzzing for Buzza
Cult hero close to debut on VFL form
GEELONG coach Chris Scott says he is tempted to throw enigmatic tall Wylie Buzza into the deep end at some stage this season.
The cult hero ruckman/ forward has a highlight reel from the VFL this season, and produced one of his best games a fortnight ago with two goals, six marks and 18 disposals in the Cats’ win over Footscray.
Scott said the 21-year-old was pushing his case.
“He and Esava Ratugolea have really generated some excitement at VFL level for really young developing players and they would have appeared to be a fair way away from AFL selection through the pre-season, but they’re a lot closer now than they were then,” the coach said.
“Wylie is ahead of Esava as well — Esava is still a very young player and early in his journey — but it wouldn’t be out of the realms of possibility Wylie Buzza will just play so well that he’ll force his way into the team at some stage this year.”
While Scott said he did not forecast any debutants for tomorrow night’s game against Adelaide, he said he was tempted to fast-forward Buzza’s debut.
“We’ve tended to back them (debutants) in and almost to a man they’ve played better up a level with our senior players, which to an extent makes a bit of sense,” Scott said.
He said Nakia Cockatoo was in the mix to return this week, despite the club’s bias to take no risks.