Nod for three to take on Carlton

A TRIO of young Cats will be recalled to the AFLW team to take on Carlton on Sunday at Ikon Park.

Olivia Barber, Rene Caris and Darcy Moloney (pictured) will have another crack in the senior team, with Olivia Purcell (knee), Maddie Boyd and Steph Williams making way.

But gun midfielder Nina Morrison remains on the sideline as she continues her rehab from a second knee reconstruction.

Geelong coach Paul Hood said while it was disappointing not to have the young duo available, the continued absence of Morrison and fresh absence of Purcell created further opportunities for other players to grow.

“Both Nina and Olivia are outstanding young players and are really important to the club’s future so it is disappointing not to have them out there,” Hood said. “But having said that, Nina is tracking well, it just takes time. With someone so young we are reluctant to push forward their comeback outside of the dates that have been recommended to us for her.

“So we will wait for her to reach the 12-month mark, and we will have a similar conversation about Olivia in 12 months’ time. But those two not playing provides tremendous opportunities for other players to grow their games and get valuable minutes in the midfield and accelerate their development.

“Seeing the form of Rebecca Webster, Amy McDonald, Sophie Van De Heuvel was terrific after halftime when she went in last week. So we are gutted for those two players (Morrison and Purcell) to miss out but it provides a terrific opportunity for some others.”

Hood said the focus for the Cats would be on quick ball movement and transferring the attitude at training into game day.

“The mood has been really good, and there is a really positive vibe around the group,” he said. “So what we are looking forward to now is to take that into the game.”