RISK AND REWARD
No worries despite star-studded Cats injury list
GEELONG has downplayed a series of pre-season setbacks, confident the niggling injuries are nothing unusual for this time of the summer after a block of intense training.
The Cats say they are not concerned by the number of players on the injury list, with this pre-season comparable to last year’s. Jack Steven has joined a range of players working predominantly away from the main group, including Joel Selwood (hamstring surgery), Mitch Duncan (hip), Lachie Fogarty (ankle) and Nathan Kreuger (knee).
All-Australian Tom Stewart joined match-simulation training yesterday as he recovers from groin soreness, in a positive step.
“We’ve had a really positive block of training through January that has been high intensity. Players are really driving each other to improve in all aspects,” Geelong football manager Simon Lloyd said.
GEELONG has downplayed a series of setbacks during preseason, blaming an intense workload for niggling injuries.
Jack Steven has joined a range of players working predominantly away from the main group, including Joel Selwood (hamstring surgery), Mitch Duncan (hip), Lachie Fogarty (ankle) and Nathan Kreuger (knee).
An achilles tendon tear has ruled out Stefan Okunbor for the foreseeable future, defender Jake Kolodjashnij is yet to return to running after hip surgery and Mark O’Connor is still recovering from a toe complaint.
All-Australian Tom Stewart joined in with match simulation training yesterday as he recovers from groin soreness.
Geelong football manager Simon Lloyd said the Cats weren’t concerned about the health of their list.
He said the amount of hours spent on the track this summer compared favourably to this time last year.
“We’re on track across the board to have an equitable workload to last season,” Lloyd said.
“There’s some relatively minor things that happen across all clubs this time of year and it’s our job to manage that and manage the risk that comes with it.
“We’ve had a really positive block of training through January that has been high intensity. Players are really driving each other to improve in all aspects.
“It’s a demanding training phase for all involved because of the high speed and volume of work they are doing.
“Across the board they are coping well with the demands of pre-season.”
A calf tweak dragged recruit Steven away from the group earlier this month, but he was running yesterday during a long session for the players.
With 51 days to go until Geelong’s first-round meeting with Greater Western Sydney the countdown has begun for the medical staff to clear the injury list.
Lloyd said he was hopeful the majority of those on their own programs would be available when Geelong faces Gold Coast in the Marsh Community Series on February 22.
“We’ve had a really positive block of training through January and we are now introducing match play,” he said.
“You want to limit the damage in that space, these are the things that we are aware of and we have very little concern with some of these (injuries).
“They’re the challenges you face at this time of the year. We’ve still got seven weeks to put a lot of work in now that will hold us in good stead throughout the season.”
Geelong’s players will get the chance to refresh with a four-day break, which begins today.