COME IN COCKATOO
Sidelined young gun back on the finals radar for Cats
GEELONG is on the brink of a shock finals selection by picking a 20-year-old who has played 65 minutes of footy in the past 13 weeks.
Explosive Cats midfielder Nakia Cockatoo is tipped to make a dramatic return against Adelaide in tomorrow night’s preliminary final.
His crunching tackles and surging runs through the midfield make him an inviting prospect, with Chris Scott yesterday confirming he would be in the 25-man squad.
But in his past two outings — Round 13 and Round 19 — he has suffered hamstring injuries that required lengthy breaks. It is understood the Cats have set him for this clash for some time and were buoyed by a 10km match simulation hitout on Saturday.
“He will be in the squad. I am not prepared to elaborate,” Scott said.
Tom Lonergan will return from gastro — potentially at the expense of Rhys Stanley — with James Parsons in danger of losing his place to Cockatoo.
Cockatoo, the No.10 pick in the 2014 draft, has long been one of Chris Scott’s favourites given his bone-jarring tackles and X-factor. In that Round 19 game against Carlton he kicked 3.2, laid four tackles and was done by the final term.
Half-forward Parsons has won only 11 possessions and kicked a single goal in two finals since a Round 23 midfoot sprain.
Swingman Harry Taylor said yesterday Cockatoo was capable of special things.
“He plays with instinct and his power and ability to accelerate is absolutely phenomenal, so what he can bring to the team is some real energy and enthusiasm, and defensive pressure,’’ Taylor said.
“They are the things I love about him. Whether he gets the nod or not, I am sure if he does he will bring all those things to the team. He is so energising.”
Scott was non-committal about Patrick Dangerfield’s positioning at the first bounce against his old side, adamant he would play midfield and forward.
“I know this might be obvious to all, but he’ll play both parts of the ground. So I know there will be a big focus on where he starts,” he said.
“I don’t think we’ll surprise Adelaide, irrespective of where we start him. I know where he’d like to start. But it’s not black and white for him, so he’s got a preference.”
Asked why it was not obvious that Dangerfield would start forward, Scott said: “Because he is the best midfielder in the competition. It is a compelling argument but if he played as a deep forward he might be close to the best deep forward in the competition.”