Cats save Selwood for finals
GEELONG skipper Joel Selwood will miss his fourth match in a row on Friday night but coach Chris Scott is adamant he has not suffered a setback with his worrisome knee.
The captain has not played since Round 12, and the club has persistently stated he has been held back as a precautionary move.
Scott said Selwood was running without any trouble on the track yet he was not ready to play against Richmond.
Instead, Geelong will look to bring the midfielder back in Round 18.
“He is training unencumbered and has been for some time,” Scott said.
“[We are being] just really conservative. He has been managing issues over the last couple of years actually. “Last year we played him when in retrospect we probably shouldn’t have, so we are doubling down on our decision this year.
“We have a plan that we think is going to leave him in the best place to play well in the finals series, so that is the extent of the detail I am going to give you right now.”
The call to hold him back gives Selwood only one match to find form before finals — when Geelong plays Sydney next Sunday. He has shown an ability to perform off limited preparation, but he and veteran Gary Ablett will be forced to come into the finals with one game under their belts.
This year will be the first of his 14 seasons the durable Selwood will have played fewer than 20 games.
Despite this, Scott said there was “no doubt” his captain would be able to perform when it counts.
“He has been training really well and, if anything, we think there’s a fair chance for him to get some extra sessions in and to improve,” he said.
“I guess the proof will be in the pudding.
“I can understand if you didn’t believe me on it, but I wouldn’t be speaking so confidently if there was doubt.”
While Selwood will miss the blockbuster meeting with Richmond Gary Rohan will be fit to play after sitting out the final quarter against Essendon on Sunday.