CATS ‘BETTER PLACED FOR FLAG’

GEELONG coach Chris Scott believes the Cats are better placed to challenge for the flag this year than the teams of 2016 and 2017 that bowed out in the preliminary finals.

“We think our game will stand up,” Scott said on AFL360 last night ahead of Friday night’s qualifying final against Collingwood.

“We haven’t got the obvious holes that we have had in previous years. And I do mean ‘years’, not just last year where it was probably a little bit more obvious.

“We finished top-four in the home-and-away season in 2016 and 2017 as well, but we were pretty clear there were some deficiencies in our game.

“We’re not perfect now, but we think we’re better placed to play a style of footy that will stand up against anyone.”

Both teams expect a typical, finals-like arm-wrestle that will be defined by key moments, rather than a shootout.

The Cats are still weighing up one or two final selection calls, notably how they fit Tom Atkins and Jake Kolodjashnij back into the side, as well as whether to reward the elite VFL form of young midfielder Charlie Constable.

The Cats are refusing to rule out Jordan Clark and will monitor his recovery this week after a setback in his VFL comeback on Saturday.

The club said Clark injured the back of his elbow during the match, but added there was no further ligament damage to what was originally sustained.

It was Clark’s first match since he injured his elbow at training almost a month ago.