HAWKINS CLEARED TO FACE MAGPIES
SUPERSTAR Geelong forward Tom Hawkins has had a “ripping month” of training and is set to line up against Collingwood on Friday night as the Cats start their campaign for back-to-back premierships.
Ollie Henry will also get to face his old team after crossing from Collingwood and former GWS Giant Taylor Bruhn will join him in making their Geelong debuts against the Magpies at the sold-out MCG.
But Cats coach Chris Scott confirmed veteran midfielder Mitch Duncan and Gold Coast recruit Jack Bowes wouldn’t play as they continue to recover from calf problems.
Hawkins, a five-time AllAustralian, had foot surgery a month after his team’s premiership last year and had been under an injury cloud heading into the season.
But Scott confirmed that after a strong month of training, the 34-year-old would join fellow superstar forward Jeremy Cameron in the Geelong line-up, with Cameron anxiously awaiting the birth of his first child.
The last time the two teams met was in last year’s qualifying final, which the Cats won by six points.
On Wednesday, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said his team would go in as underdogs but stole a line from his old coach Leigh Matthews – one his former Brisbane teammate and Cats coach Scott would be aware of – to give his team a chance.
“Leigh Matthews used to say, ‘If it bleeds, we can kill it’,” McRae said. “It might be too early to say that, but Chris (Scott) might get a laugh at it. But we‘re in a position, like they are, where we’re ready to go. I‘ve been watching (Geelong) and it’s hard to get a gauge on teams this year, but I know when they bounce the ball on Friday night both teams will be ready.”