Stars out to press credentials
GEELONG will unleash luckless forwards Nakia Cockatoo and Daniel Menzel in the VFL tomorrow as they push for AFL selection in the back half of the season.
The Cats take on Werribee at GMHBA Stadium and will run out with another strong side, including AFL-listed players Cockatoo and Menzel, as well as Timm House, Zach Guthrie, Charlie Constable, Lachie Henderson, Mark O’Connor, Sam Simpson, Scott Selwood, Jackson Thurlow, Cory Gregson, Wylie Buzza, Gryan Miers, Jamaine Jones, Zac Smith, Ryan Abbott, Ryan Gardner, Matthew Hayball and George Horlin-Smith.
Selwood and Henderson are playing their third games since returning from injury and will be aiming to impress selectors in a bid to earn a call-up for the trip to Sydney next week.
With the Cats bringing in Harry Taylor and Cam Guthrie, as well as debutant Quinton Narkle, from the team that defeated Port Melbourne two weeks ago for the clash with the Western Bulldogs tonight, there is every chance that additional changes will be made in the weeks ahead.
Senior coach Chris Scott said on Wednesday he was confident Geelong was closing on where it wanted to be with its injured players, who all took plenty out of last week’s training camp on the Gold Coast.
“Most bye weekends it tends to be more individual rather than a group focus. This, more so than most, was important for a few guys to get a bit of extra work in,” Scott said.
“We had a big group of players who were chasing extra miles in their legs and extra training as opposed to a down load.
“I think . . . off the top of my head, those guys ticked all the boxes. We’re confident that we are well placed in a testing program over the next month or so.”
A win against the Tigers would solidify Geelong’s spot in the top four and give it a strong chance to push for a top-two spot come the end of the season.