Coaches split on merits of resting in-form Constable
GEELONG assistant coach Corey Enright says the Cats’ selection committee was split 50-50 on whether to rest young midfielder Charlie Constable.
The 19-year-old had been a shining light for the Cats in the opening four rounds, averaging 22.75 disposals a game.
But Enright said it was a preconceived plan to rest Constable at some stage, and Cam Guthrie’s return from injury gave Geelong’s selection committee a straight swap.
“It’s always a tricky one,” Enright told K rock Football.
“Probably half our coaching group think he doesn’t need a rest and half do.
“I think with someone like Charlie, you’re very proactive rather than reactive.
“The plan was at some stage early in the AFL season to have a rest and it just happened to be this week.”
Another young gun, Jordan Clark, could also soon be rested given the imminent return of half-back flanker Zach Tuohy, who played his first game of 2019 in the VFL on Saturday.
“There are a few guys that are out at the moment with (Jed) Bews — and Tuohy played VFL on the weekend so he’s really confident that when his opportunity comes, he’s ready to go,” Enright said.
“We’re in a pretty good spot.”
Wylie Buzza was a late omission from Saturday’s VFL game with soreness, while ruckman Zac Smith was held over as an AFL emergency for yesterday’s clash with the Hawks. “He (Buzza) just pulled up a bit sore during the week,” Enright said. “He was almost at the line, but he pulled out.”