Battle of the backs

FIGHT FOR SPOTS, SAYS SCARLO

GEELONG assistant coach Matthew Scarlett says he expects there to be fierce competition for spots in the Cats backline in 2019, with veteran defenders Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson eager to play key roles in the team’s push for a flag.

The duo had interrupted seasons this year, with Taylor missing a large chunk of games due to issues with his feet, while Henderson took until the middle of the year to play his first game after several operations on his knee.

It meant Mark Blicavs was forced to play as a key defender in 2018, which proved a masterstroke as he went on to claim a second club best-and-fairest award.

But Scarlett, Geelong’s defensive coach, said with the majority of the Cats backmen fit and healthy there was bound to be strong competition for places in the senior side.

“Harry has come back in really good condition and so has ‘Hendo’, who had a horror pre-season last year with his knee injury,” he said.

“So they are really healthy and having good pre-seasons so far.

“Obviously we have ‘Blitz’ down there, who is a leader, and the other guys like Tom Stewart and Jack Henry, and Mark O’Connor and Zach Guthrie have been training down there, but we have a healthy squad and competition for spots is really on.

“The guys understand that, and the only guy who hasn’t been training is Zach Tuohy, but he is running now, so competition is there and the guys are training really well.”

Scarlett said the Cats coaching staff had been pleased with the progress of returning key forward Esava Ratugolea and were keen to see him partner Tom Hawkins in attack again next year.

Taylor and Henderson have played cameos inside-50 previously but as Geelong looks to move towards playing a smaller forward line it would seem only injuries would warrant them playing there in 2019.

“Those guys (Taylor and Henderson) will be down back and they have spent the whole pre-season training as defenders,” he said.

“Things can change with injuries and we know Harry can go forward and play a role there, and Hendo has done that as well, but hopefully we stay healthy in the front end.

“Big Sav (Ratugolea) has been back for a little while and is going really well and ‘Hawk’ is training well, so hopefully we are healthy and don’t have to move the defenders around.”