CATS MAY REJIG SIDE FOR RAIN
Rain may force team rejig as Cats keep options open GEELONG v RICHMOND
GEELONG coach Chris Scott says he will have no hesitation in altering his team’s personnel for tomorrow night’s clash with Richmond if heavy rainfall continues for the remainder of this week.
Having gone in with seven players — Zac Smith, Mark Blicavs, Harry Taylor, Lachie Henderson, Tom Lonergan, Tom Hawkins and Wylie Buzza — standing 195cm or taller against GWS in Round 23, the Cats risk being too top-heavy against a fleet-footed Tigers outfit if they play with a similar line-up to the one that took on the Giants.
That would be exacerbated by a slippery MCG surface, and conditions at the home of football will only worsen if there is persistent rain tomorrow.
It means Buzza, who has impressed in his first six games for Geelong, could yet be an unlucky omission and Scott said the ominous forecast and Richmond’s talented array of smaller players would unquestionably be a factor at the selection table.
“It’s definitely a consideration,” the coach said.
“We’re not a team that says irrespective of the opposition and irrespective of the weather we just roll out the same 22 in the same spots.
“We’ve put some work into that and they do set up differently to most teams in that they have been playing only one ruckman and their back up is 190cm. They generally only play one tall forward and they’re pretty quick in their front half, so you need to take those things into consideration.
“No team, I think, these days is good enough to say it doesn’t matter what they do, we’ll just do what we do. So without stepping through exactly what might be different if it is a bit slippery, we have put some work into it.”
One player certain to come back for the Cats is skipper Joel Selwood, who has recovered from syndesmosis surgery and will be a welcome addition to the Geelong midfield.
Scott said while there was “great consideration” given to resting the six-time All-Australian, it was a clear benefit to know early in the week that he would be playing.
“It was a positive for everyone at our club that we were able to make that determination really early so that there is certainty,” he said.
“It’s an injury our medical staff for a start are very comfortable that is going to allow him to play.
“Even more importantly, it’s an injury that even if he does pull up a little bit sore, which is likely, there’s a very, very low risk that it is going to compromise him for future weeks.”
Scott said James Parsons, who has recovered from the ankle injury he suffered against GWS two weeks ago, would play against Richmond, although Nakia Cockatoo will have to wait at least another week as he looks to overcome the hamstring issues that have plagued his season.