ENTER SAM MAN

Cats call up Simpson for first game since 2018 Steven out for SCG showdown

GEELONG midfielder Sam Simpson will play his first game in nearly two years tonight, as the Cats begin to bring youth into the side for their interstate swing.

The SCG clash against Brisbane will be only the 22-yearold’s seventh career game and first since Round 17, 2018.

Jordan Clark was again overlooked and will be one player pushing his case in the scratch match against Collingwood on Friday.

Simpson will replace Jack Steven, who the club listed as “managed”.

Simpson was selected in 2016 as a father-son rookie and has played 32 VFL games across the past two seasons, winning the seconds’ best-andfairest last year.

He has been one of Geelong’s best performers in recent scratch matches.

Simpson’s previous five games came in late 2017.

Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said this week the club’s young players had been told opportunities would present as it prepares to travel to Western Australia for at least a three-week stay.

“We’ve got a number of players that we feel are in their third and fourth years, we feel they are definitely putting their hands up,” Lloyd said.

“Our academy and development coaches have spoken to that group and all have to make sure they seize the opportunity, because without doubt, there are going to be opportunities that present themselves in the coming weeks.”

Steven had played the past three weeks and his best game for the club came in last week’s 37-point win against Gold Coast, when he had 17 touches and kicked a goal.

There was speculation that Gary Ablett, 36, would be rested, but the 350-game champion was named.

The game will also be Patrick Dangerfield’s 100th for Geelong since joining the club at the end of 2015. The superstar midfielder will be the 47th player to play 100 games at two clubs after he logged 154 matches with Adelaide.

Clark, Lachie Fogarty, James Parsons and Zach Guthrie were all named emergencies.

Brisbane has made one change, with captain Dayne Zorko returning for the injured Cam Ellis-Yolmen.

Picture: PHIL HILLYARD FRESH LEGS: Geelong’s Sam Simpson with Patrick Dangerfield, Chris Scott, Cam Guthrie and Joel Selwood during a run out at the SCG yesterday ahead of the blockbuster against Brisbane.