FORWARD LINE REWIND
Cats return to attacking mix that propelled side to flying start to season
GEELONG will go back to the forward line that brought so much early season success, with Esava Ratugolea and Brandan Parfitt returning to face St Kilda tomorrow night.
GEELONG will go back to the forward line that brought so much early-season success, with Esava Ratugolea and Brandan Parfitt returning to face St Kilda tomorrow night.
Ratugolea, who suffered a hamstring injury in the Round 12 win over Richmond and then had a setback, comes in after missing three matches, while Parfitt was rested for last Saturday’s loss to the Western Bulldogs.
The Cats tried a different look with their forward line in Ratugolea’s absence, playing Darcy Fort (against Port Adelaide) and Jack Henry (against Adelaide and the Dogs) as their second marking forward.
While the tall forward has not racked up significant numbers statistically, his presence in Geelong’s attack cannot be underestimated.
The Cats kicked their two lowest scores of the season in the games Ratugolea missed, while his absence also had a significant impact on the form of power forward Tom Hawkins.
Hawkins had been in career-best form this season, but has only kicked four goals in his past three games.
Before Ratugolea’s injury, he had booted 35 goals from 12 matches.
Lachie Fogarty (omitted) and Henry ( managed) have made way for Parfitt and Ratugolea.
It means veteran midfielder Scott Selwood will have to wait another week for his first taste of senior football this year, named an emergency despite dominating at VFL level.
St Kilda also made two changes, with Nathan Brown and Jack Lonie returning.
Goal sneak Matthew Parker has been omitted, while Josh Battle is injured.
Dan Hannebery’s injury woes have continued, with his problematic hamstring issues ruling him out of the trip down the highway.
The star on-baller missed last weekend’s loss to North Melbourne and was ruled out of tomorrow’s clash yesterday.