A calf issue will Geelong be without Bailey Smith for tomorrow night’s Community Series clash with Carlton, but the club expects the gun midfielder to be right next week’s Opening Round.
In releasing its team for the meeting with the Blues, the Cats revealed Smith “reported low-grade calf symptoms during training last Friday.”
Also missing from the 30-man squad are reigning Coleman medallist Jeremy Cameron, running machine Gryan Miers, and crafty forward Tyson Stengle.
Geelong expects Cameron to overcome his quad problem before next Friday’s clash with the Suns, while Miers, who underwent surgery on a thumb issue suffered in last week’s intraclub, will be a test.
Stengle isn’t likely to be seen at AFL level this side of the club’s Round 2 bye after spending time away from the club during the pre-season.
The Cats say veteran ruck Rhys Stanley, the versatile Jack Bowes, and young forward Oli Wiltshire won’t play at either AFL or VFL level as they manage their loads.
However, uncapped pair Mitch Edwards and Jay Polkinghorne will be part of the 26 players that take part in the match and will get a chance to push their case for an AFL debut.
In his first appearance in the Hoops in more than 12 months, Tanner Bruhn and State of Origin quartet Lawson Humphries, Max Holmes, vice-captain Tom Stewart and captain Patrick Dangerfield have been named after missing the match simulation against Hawthorn.
Draftees Hunter Holmes and Nick Driscoll, second-year player Lenny Hofmann, and Irishman Cillian Burke are part of the extended squad and will play in the VFL curtain raiser.
Also appearing in the VFL match is premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij, who didn’t feature at AFL level at any stage in 2025.
K rock is live from 6:05pm tomorrow (Wednesday) night via K rock 95.5, krockfootball.live, and the AFL app.
GEELONG AFL SQUAD
2 Jay Polkinghorne
4 Tanner Bruhn
7 Shaun Mannagah
9 Max Holmes
10 Mitch Knevitt
11 Mitch Edwards
13 Jyhe Clark
14 Connor O’Sullivan
15 George Stevens
16 Sam De Koning
17 Lawson Humphries
19 Jack Martin
22 Hunter Holmes
23 Lenny Hofmann
24 Jed Bews
27 Nick Driscoll
28 Ollie Dempsey
29 James Worpel
30 Tom Atkins
32 Gryan Miers
33 Shannon Neale
34 Oisin Mullin
35 Patrick Dangerfield
36 Ollie Henry
38 Jack Henry
39 Zach Guthrie
41 Cillian Burke
44 Tom Stewart
45 Brad Close
46 Mark Blicavs
GEELONG VFL SQUAD
8 Jake Kolodjashnij*
22 Hunter Holmes*
23 Lenny Hofmann*
25 Jesse Mellor*
27 Nick Driscoll*
37 Joe Pike*
41 Cillian Burke*
47 Jed Henderson (Leopold)
48 Jesse Hart (Lavington)
49 Rory Gunsser (Redan)
50 Dan Capiron (Chelsea)
51 Jack Costello (Lavington)
53 Darcy Edmends (Heidelberg)
54 Mason Williams (Leopold)
55 Jay Rantall (South Warrnambool)
56 Hunter Wright
57 Jamieson Ballantyne (Portland)
62 Marcus Herbert (South Warrnambool)
63 Ben Pennisi (Newtown & Chilwell)
66 Tanner Lewis (Geelong West Giants)
67 Kobe George (Bell Park)
72 Will Sheahan (Leopold)
73 Taj Bond (Redan)
77 Hunter Gottschling (Surf Coast Suns)
78 Zach Stevens (Newtown & Chilwell)
84 Charley Green (Geelong Amateur)
INJURY UPDATE
Bailey Smith (calf) Bailey reported low-grade calf symptoms during training last Friday; his loading will be modified during training this week, and we expect him to be available for Opening Round.
Gryan Miers (thumb)
Gryan sustained a thumb injury during last week’s intraclub match and has since undergone surgery. He will miss Wednesday’s match against Carlton and will be a test for the Club’s Opening Round match against Gold Coast.
Jeremy Cameron (quad)
Jeremy is training well following a low-grade quad strain sustained in pre-season training. He won’t play against Carlton but remains on track to play against Gold Coast in Opening Round.
Jacob Molier (foot)
Jacob suffered a broken foot in last week’s match sim against Hawthorn, he didn’t require surgery, however the timeline at the moment is that he’ll be sidelined for the next few months.
Keighton Matofai-Forbes (foot) Keighton is progressing well post-foot surgery and is continuing a modified program across pre-season.
Toby Conway (foot and knee)
Toby is progressing well with his strength and has been on a modified program during pre-season.
Harley Barker (knee)
Harley is currently building his strength capacity as he progresses back towards running.
