PAT STAYS PUT
DANGER TO MISS TRIP WEST AS EAGLES EYE RETURN OF STAR FIVE
GEELONG will travel to Perth without superstar Patrick Dangerfield as West Coast eyes off bringing back five premiership heroes for Saturday’s clash.
Dangerfield has been working through an intense fitness program after battling calf issues during the first-half of the season that culminated in being subbed out of round 10’s win over Port Adelaide.
Despite not playing since the Power clash, Cats medical boss Harry Taylor said the Brownlow medallist would spend at least another weekend on the track.
“(Dangerfield) will continue to complete high-intensity sessions during the remainder of the week and over the weekend with further decisions regarding his availability to be made next week,” Taylor said.
Geelong will put Max Holmes and Esava Ratugolea through fitness tests as they make their way back from ankle operations, while Jack Henry (foot) will also be tested.
Taylor said Jake Kolodjashnij (Covid protocols), Tom Stewart (concussion), Shaun Higgins (soreness) and youngster Nick Stevens (foot) should all be available to play this weekend.
West Coast will have the chance to call on stars of its own as 2018 flag winners Jeremy McGovern, Liam Ryan, Willie Rioli, Dom Sheed and Elliot Yeo all put their hands up to face the Cats.
Speedsters Jack Petrucelle and former Cat Jamaine Jones are also set to be available as the last-placed Eagles aim to wake from their season-long slumber.
Yeo has played two games at WAFL level – before picking up a suspension – and Sheed two, and Eagles coach Adam Simpson said they were ready to go.
“(Yeo) played two WAFL games and it would have been great to get another one in and that was disappointing, but he is ready to go,” Simpson said.
“It gets to a point where you have to get them in.
“Ryan, Rioli, Sheed, McGovern, Petrucelle, Jones, there is a few there that spring to mind (that will be available). I haven’t gone through everyone.
“There hasn’t been much pressure at match committee.
“We haven’t had the luxury of having guys playing at WAFL level and the pressure that brings.”
Simpson said his selection panel would weigh up whether to bring back all of the first-choice cohort or ease them in over coming weeks.
Despite the potential additions to West Coast’s side, Geelong will still travel to Perth as a heavy favourite and Simpson said the Cats were an “exceptional” side.
“They are reasonably healthy, they are in good form, so that is going to be a real challenge,” he said.
The Eagles will have a chance to rub Geelong’s nose in past horrors on Saturday, when they wear a replica jumper of their 1992 season, which ended with a comefrom-behind grand final win over the Cats.