FORWARD LINE LOTTO

Attacking mix hinges on Hawkins tribunal outcome

THE makeup of Geelong’s forward line for Sunday’s clash against Collingwood remains up in the air as Tom Hawkins faces the AFL tribunal tonight.

Hawkins will learn his fate after being referred directly to the tribunal, but the Cats are hopeful he will be cleared of intentional contact with umpire Dean Margetts and be free to take on the Magpies.

With Daniel Menzel only a 50-50 chance to return from a groin complaint, it makes Geelong’s forward mix an intriguing situation should Hawkins be suspended.

Only two weeks ago, the 29year-old was a late withdrawal against Port Adelaide in a game the Cats won by 34 points on the back of varying its attacking options inside-50.

They were widely lauded for that performance, but without potentially both Hawkins and Menzel on Sunday, there will be a far more intense focus on emerging key forward Esava Ratugolea from Nathan Buckley and his coaching staff.

Geelong coach Chris Scott last night said he welcomed the case being sent to the tribunal so Hawkins could explain his side of the story.

“This is one of the rare cases in my view where I actually think even though we’ve got a vested interest, it’s not a bad thing putting it up to the tribunal,” Scott said on AFL360.

“It gives Tom a chance to say his piece and at the very least make it clear that there was contact, he acknowledges that, and that there shouldn’t be contact with umpires.

“It should be avoided at all costs but this wasn’t a situation where he just thought ‘I’m going to push an umpire’.

“Tom is a pretty forthright and honest guy and he actually explained his position almost in the moment straight away post-game. I trust Tom implicitly and that is pretty much the situation even with a couple of days to contemplate his predicament.”

Brandan Parfitt (foot) will miss for the third week, but Harry Taylor is expected to re- turn to face the Pies.

Despite how well the Geelong backline has held up in his absence, it is unlikely Scott will use him as a forward, with the two-time All-Australian seen as an ideal matchup for Darcy Moore or Mason Cox.

Stewart Crameri did enough to keep his spot in the side should Menzel require another week on the sidelines, and with Gary Ablett set to return it allows the Cats greater flexibility to if they choose to let Patrick Dangerfield spend time more time forward.

Dangerfield has been used deep in attack with great effect and is clearly playing hindered. Ablett’s return, combined with the form of Mitch Duncan and Tim Kelly, provides the ideal opportunity to isolate a Collingwood defender and create a one-on-one close to goal that the Cats would back themselves in to win.

A decision on Scott Pendlebury’s availability will be made later in the week after he injured his ankle in the sevenpoint win over Brisbane.

He returned to Melbourne yesterday in a moon boot and is waiting for scan results.