GEELONG PONDERS TOM REPLACEMENT
CATS SELECTION PUZZLE:
GEELONG is facing another selection quandary this week as it looks to address how to replace Tom Stewart and counter Gold Coast’s fleetfooted forward brigade.
Stewart suffered a broken collarbone in the Cats’ threepoint win over the Demons on Sunday and had surgery in Melbourne yesterday.
But while Geelong is resigned to the fact it will be without the dual AllAustralian — one of its best rebounding defenders — for most of the season, in the short term it faces a dilemma in finding a suitable alternative for this week’s clash with the Suns.
“Tom is in good spirits,” Cats football manager Simon Lloyd said.
“It is quite unfortunate and at the time it didn’t seem much. There wasn’t a lot in the incident and it is disappointing to lose Tom in that way.
“At this early stage we are only 24 hours post-injury, so we will let the surgeon operate and over the coming weeks he will be able to give us more information about what it looks like long-term.
“But he will spend a period of time on the sidelines.
“Knowing Tom, he is highly driven and he will do everything he can get back as soon as possible.
“But if he is on the sidelines I am sure he will be coaching in some way, shape or form to assist and support his teammates.”
Key backman Harry Taylor was rested for the win against Melbourne on Sunday, while fellow veteran Lachie Henderson has been banging the door down for three weeks and is on the verge of a call up to the senior side.
But with Mark Blicavs and Jake Kolodjashnij already in the team — as well as Irishman Mark O’Connor and youngster Jack Henry — it means Geelong would be going in with six players at 191cm or taller down back if Taylor and Henderson return.
The Suns have two key forwards in Max King (202cm) and Sam Day (197cm), but outside of that pair not one of their remaining four starting forwards tops 185cm.
Gold Coast’s small brigade consists of Will Powell (185cm), Alex Sexton (185cm), Brandon Ellis (181cm), Ben Ainsworth (178cm) and Darcy McPherson (174cm), and they have been a key part of their team’s transformation in 2020.
It means despite Stewart’s absence there will likely be an unlucky defender at Geelong this week.
Young backmen Jordan Clark and Zach Guthrie could come into contention if the Cats opt to go for a smaller, running player, but Henderson was named emergency for the clash against the Demons and was best-on-ground in a scratch match for non-selected players on Sunday morning.
He won the backing postgame of senior coach Chris Scott, who hinted that Henderson was firmly in the mix to make his way back to AFL level.
“His training form has been outstanding as well. He and I were joking about it pre-game, that I wouldn’t blame him for coming up to me and saying, ‘What more have I got to do, coach?’,” Scott said.
“Hendo was really clear on the terms with which he played on one more season and it is going to be hard for him to force his way into the team.
“He has gone in with the mindset that he is going to everything he possibly can and he is doing that, so he is well and truly in the frame.”