Guthrie in Cats’ plan for Hawks
CHARLIE Constable is out, Zach Tuohy is close and Cam Guthrie is probably in as Geelong coach Chris Scott continues to finetune his line-up for the Easter Monday blockbuster with Hawthorn.
The Cats don’t have to trim their extended squad for the big game until tomorrow afternoon, but Scott yesterday said Guthrie would likely replace young star Constable.
“Charlie will be managed this week ... he’s a young player who we need to get through the season, so that was a priority for us,” Scott said.
“It was either going to be last week or this week, and it’s not a reflection of his performance because he’s been going really well.”
If selected, Guthrie will play his first game of the season after being slowed by a calf injury.
Both teams are coming off close losses — the Cats a fourpoint thriller to GWS and the Hawks a five-point heartbreaker to St Kilda.
Regardless of ladder position or form over the years, the Easter Monday clash has become a must-watch fixture on the AFL calendar.
“I will certainly say that we don’t need to go to too much effort to manufacture some excitement and some enthusiasm for the game,” Scott said.
“We know Easter Monday’s on the calendar every year and it’s taken on more importance over the last decade or so because the two teams have generally been contenders.
“I think we’re both hoping that that’s the case this year, but that’s all it is at the moment — early-season hope.
“There’s enough evidence there to think that both teams can be formidable at their best, and it’s a great occasion.”