Selwood back up to speed

GEELONG midfielder Scott Selwood is confident he will be given the green light to take on Hawthorn this weekend after losing a lineball call to play against Brisbane.

Selwood has missed the past two matches with a hamstring injury initially suffered against West Coast in Round 13 and slightly aggravated the following week against Fremantle.

The 27-year-old yesterday declared himself set to return on Saturday, provided there are no setbacks at training this week.

“I think I came pretty close to playing on the weekend and I was a little bit sick as well last week, so I think that ruled me out as well on both fronts,” Selwood said. “I feel really good, I feel fit and raring to go and hopefully I can get a spot back in the team with the boys playing so well.

“We had some good performers in the VFL coming through and we saw that against GWS and on the weekend. So I’m really comfortable that the guys coming in were going to do the same — if not better — in my role.”

Selwood suffered a minor hamstring tear against the Eagles in the first match after the bye, but recovered so well he was cleared to play the Dockers the following week.

He got through the Freo match but experienced issues in the days after.

“It was only a really small nick and it was in a really good part of the hammy and we thought we could get through and feel fine,” Selwood said.

“Got through the game fine, felt fine, but it was just hanging around and we thought it was better off to get it right now and have a consistent run going into the next six weeks.”

Selwood had to wait until Round 9 to play his first AFL match of the season after being grounded by a foot complaint that surfaced after the Christmas break.

He is seen as a vital part of the Cats’ engine room for his ability to simultaneously shut down an opponent and win the footy. Across Rounds 9-10 he became the first player in league history to record 17 tackles in back-to-back weeks.