GAZ BACK TEST
Cats open to trialling Ablett in defence
GEELONG champion Gary Ablett could be trialled in defence as the Cats look to alleviate the 34-year-old of midfield duties, assistant coach Matthew Scarlett has revealed.
It comes as the Cats look to settle veteran Harry Taylor back in defence after being used as a swingman in the past two seasons.
Scarlett said a move to the backline could be a good fit for Ablett.
“We spoke a little bit (about it) this year — obviously he uses the ball so well and he’s really smart,” Scarlett said.
“Hopefully Gary is open to that as well, we haven’t spoken to him about it yet.
“It’s something he might trial throughout the pre-season, but he won’t spend big parts training as a defender. He’ll be an on-baller and he’ll probably train rain forward a little more re than he did last year.”
Scarlett said he didn’t envisage any other “radical” new roles for Cats ats players, as the club ub programs its ts pre- Christtmas training ng around skill kill execution.
“I think ink Harry will settle down own back this year, so you’ll see ee him down back,” k,” he said.
“I think k Jack Henry will ll settle down back k as well, so he’ll spend most of his preseason in defence. “Joel Joel Selwood wi will spend a bit of time training as a forward, but he did tha that last year anyway, so no radic radical plans of moving any of our k key players into different positi positions at this stage.” The clu club’s first to fourth-ye fourth-year players again hi hit the track at Dea Deakin University yesterday, with Zac Smit Smith making an early return to give him himself the bes best chance of regaining the No. 1 ruck man mantle.