Cats await fixture before making family plans
THE collection of fathers in Geelong’s Perth hub are staying connected to home with many hoping to see their loved ones again soon should the club be placed in a second hub.
All players were given the opportunity to request their family join the club, first in Sydney and now at Crown Perth, for the stint away from home.
Just three members of the playing group — Harry Taylor, Rhys Stanley and Sam Menegola — took up the offer.
While Menegola’s wife and young son are with him in Perth, Taylor and Stanley’s loved ones were given permission to spend the 14 days of quarantine close to their West Australian families.
The Cats are still waiting on the AFL fixture to give them warning of whether they will return straight to Victoria after their stay out west or into a new location, likely to be in New South Wales or Queensland.
Should another destination be added to the trip, it is expected some more partners and children could join the group.
Forward Tom Hawkins said last week he had initial talks about bringing his family over to Perth to join the group but the plan didn’t come together.
The Cats have settled into their new home in the west, having completed training in small groups on Sunday morning.
The group trained a short bus ride from the hotel in the shadows of Optus Stadium, where a blockbuster match-up with Collingwood looms on Thursday night.
After a day off today, Geelong will hold its main session on Tuesday and a light run on Wednesday.
The club hopes to stage another scratch match against
Collingwood this week, after the players outside the selected 22 played on Friday morning.
Players and staff are under strict quarantine rules in Perth and can’t leave the hotel unless it is for training or matches.
They are able to meet in common areas or individual rooms and get together for buffet meals during the day.
Most of the Cats players donned face masks as they flew west from Sydney on Saturday.