ONE & DONE

Cats to get just a single practice match before season kicks off

GEELONG will play only one formal practice match as part of a downsized pre-season competition in early March.

Ongoing border restrictions have forced the AFL to reduce and reshape the AAMI Community Series to help minimise interstate travel and movement before Round 1.

The AFL has confirmed teams will play one formal practice game and one informal scratch match in the lead up to the regular season.

The formal games will be played between Wednesday March 3 and Sunday March 7.

The unofficial scratch matches will be between teams from the same state. The teams will decide between themselves on the format of these games, including number of players used and length of quarters.

Clubs are understood to be happy with the modified preseason competition to help limit the amount of interstate travel required on the eve of the season.

Geelong was originally scheduled to play two games across three weeks starting mid next month.

But clubs and broadcast manager Travis Auld said the league had to tweak the competition in the best interests of the clubs and the players.

“In addition to ensuring we continue to prioritise the health of our players, staff, and the wider community, this arrangement provides clubs with the ability to determine individual requirements, allowing clubs and players to best prepare for the season ahead,” Auld said.

“The AAMI Community Series plays an important role for both AFL clubs and supporters and we are proud to have AAMI as the namingrights partner for this upcoming series.”

The series will be broadcast live on Fox Footy. The league has not yet released the complete pre-season fixture.

MEANWHILE, Patrick Dangerfield has been flying between Geelong and Adelaide to see former Crows doctor Steve Saunders for an ongoing groin issue.

The Cats superstar has been on his own program in pre-season.

He has flown to Adelaide on a couple of occasions to see Saunders, who finished up as the Crows doctor at the end of last season after two years at West Lakes, for specialised consultations.

Geelong is confident the groin issue won’t be a problem for Dangerfield in 2021.