BLACK BLOW
Cats defender out for season with ACL tear
GEELONG is facing a nervous wait on Aaron Black’s fitness with scans suggesting the defender has injured his ACL.
The Cats had been hopeful across the weekend that Black had avoided serious injury.
But Geelong coach Chris Scott said last night it appeared the 27-year-old had ruptured his ACL.
“It’s devastating for him, clearly,” Scott said.
“I spoke to him yesterday and he was still pretty upbeat — he’s that sort of guy. The whole footy club feels for him.”
Geelong officials last night said Black was booked in to see a specialist in the coming days to confirm the news.
It is a devastating blow for the former North Melbourne forward, who had reinvented himself as a defender in recent weeks and earned the praise of his coaches and teammates.
His absence leaves a hole in Geelong’s backline that will need to be filled, but both Lachie Henderson and Harry Taylor are likely to return in the coming weeks.
Henderson played his first game for the season in the VFL at the weekend and got through unscathed, while Taylor is recovering from a plantar fascia injury.
It means there will be at least one change to the team that defeated the Kangaroos by 37 points on Saturday, with Geelong considering deploying a revamped forward line on Sun- day for its blockbuster clash against Richmond at the MCG.
The Cats are likely to recall one or both of Lincoln McCarthy and Cory Gregson to the side to take on the Tigers at what has become a fortress for Damien Hardwick’s men.
Gregson, who was ‘managed’ last week, booted five goals and gathered 19 disposals in a beston-ground performance for the Geelong VFL team and looked a class above at the lower level.
It is a performance that is likely to give him a strong hand at the selection table later in the week, while McCarthy was a late withdrawal from the Cats team for the Kangaroos match and is expected to be available for selection.
But Geelong coach Chris Scott said after the win the club would not be taking any risks with McCarthy, who played his first senior game in more than 12 months last week against Gold Coast.
“Lincoln McCarthy didn’t come up with a tight hamstring and those that follow us closely would know that with him if he has a tight hamstring we’re just not going to play him,” Scott said.
Midfielder Scott Selwood showed some positive signs in the 100-point drubbing of North Melbourne’s VFL team and will also be considered for a return to AFL level after getting through his first match since May 4 intact. Geelong remains hopeful forward Stewart Crameri will be cleared to train later in the week after seeing an eye specialist yesterday.