STANLEY BACK IN MIDDLE FOR CATS
GEELONG ruck Rhys Stanley is expected to return to face a dual St Kilda threat in a tagteam role with Mark Blicavs.
Blicavs was thrust into the No.1 ruck duties after Stanley and back-up big Esava Ratugolea both went down with ankle injuries before last weekend’s clash with the GWS Giants and he polled a perfect 10 coaches’ votes.
He will need Stanley’s big body for support this weekend against Saints pair Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall and will also need to help Sam De Koning stop giant forward Max King.
Cats coach Chris Scott said the “evidence is in” that Blicavs – who is often swapped between defence, wing and ruck – plays best on the ball.
“It is always a really interesting topic of discussion,” Scott said. “I think it’s safe to say the evidence is in, in terms of his best position.
“He has always been a hybrid player for us but it has been obvious to us for a number of years that when he is up through the middle of the ground, he has his biggest impact for us.”
Scott said Stanley was “tracking well” to recover from his ankle injury for Saturday’s top-eight clash, and the ruck was running smoothly to start Geelong’s main training on Wednesday. Skipper Joel Selwood is set to return from a corked quad to face the Saints.