Esava in wings for AFL return
GEELONG big man Esava Ratugolea looms as a finals wildcard for coach Chris Scott, with the powerful forward to be unleashed in the VFL tomorrow.
Ratugolea will play for the Cats against Box Hill and will use the hit-out as a chance to push his case to feature in AFL finals — if Geelong makes it.
The 20-year-old was a revelation this season, forming a key part of Geelong’s forward line before breaking his ankle in Geelong’s win over Carlton and missing 13 weeks.
The Cats have always hoped that Ratugolea would be available for a late-season comeback, but were also careful not to rush one of their prized young talents.
“It’s really exciting. He’s moved really well on the track,” Scott said yesterday.
“There’s a couple of days to go, so we need to be a little bit careful that we don’t jump the gun. But all the signs are really positive that he’s ready to go.”
“We’re absolutely leaving the door open for Esava, (but) there’s a lot of work to be done.
“We don’t want to put too much pressure on him in his first game back, but we’ll keep an open mind as to how he performs.
“Then (we’ll) make a more informed judgment on whether we think it’s plausible that he could come into our senior team if we’re good enough.”
Ratugolea will be able to get two games under his belt at VFL level before the start of AFL finals.
Geelong will be certain of an AFL finals berth if it defeats Gold Coast at home tomorrow, or if Port Adelaide loses to Essendon tonight.
Ratugolea will make his return at the same time as the Cats play Gold Coast.
He will then have his second game in the pre-AFL finals bye when Geelong’s VFL side plays in a qualifying final.
Having last played before July 1, Ratugolea is eligible for VFL finals, despite having not played the minimum six games needed at that level to qualify.
Scott said the Cats had not rushed his recovery in a bid to get him back.
“The one thing I will be quite specific on is that he hasn’t been pushed. It’s not as if any shortcuts have been taken,” he said.
“To my eye, my untrained eye, I must admit, when it comes to these sort of injuries — he’s moved well for a few weeks.
“So, if anything, he’s been held back a little as opposed to pushed to make him available for a finals series if it presents.”
Ratugolea averaged eight disposals, eight hitouts and almost a goal a game at AFL level, playing the crucial role as a second key forward and a pinch-hitting ruckman.
Scott said the Cats were not “pinning our success on Esava coming back”.
“Absence does make the heart grow fonder at times as well,” he said.
“It’s amazing when you get players who you rate really highly who don’t play for a long period of time, they can go up in your estimation.
“We will wait to see what he delivers before we work out how important he could be.”