Stevie J expects Selwood
GREATER Western Sydney veteran Steve Johnson expects Geelong captain Joel Selwood will be fit for Saturday’s crunch clash that will shape the top four.
Selwood was knocked out in the opening minute of the Cats’ last-start win over Fremantle.
Johnson, who played 253 games and won three flags with Geelong before joining GWS, knows relentless midfielder Selwood as well as anyone.
“He probably should take another week off,” Johnson quipped yesterday.
“I would be surprised if he didn’t (play). “I haven’t given him a call. “He commented on one of my Instagram posts because he says I’m down at Bronte (beach) a bit too much but that was about a week ago.
“This week there hasn’t been too much interaction but I’m sure we’ll have a laugh about that after the game.”
Johnson looms as one of the main subplots of Saturday night’s clash between the ladder-leading Giants and thirdplaced Geelong.
He is renowned for his cheek and chirp, particularly on the field. One of Johnson’s many memorable one-liners came during GWS’s maiden year when he told a future teammate: “I’ve won more premierships than you’ve played games”.
But the 33-year-old has gone largely incommunicado with his many good mates in Geelong since attending the Cats’ 2007 premiership reunion earlier this year.
“I’m hearing that they’re coming up here around lunchtime Friday. Not sure if I’ll catch up with them, it’s probably best if I wait until after the game,” Johnson said.
“It certainly did feel a bit weird leading into the first game I played against the Cats in Canberra . . . then going back to Geelong to play, that was a little bit strange. “But I guess I’m over that. “This will be the third time and the focus is not going to be on me.”
GWS young guns Josh Kelly and Devon Smith both trained well yesterday and are in the mix to return against the Cats.