GEELONG will name Patrick Dangerfield in its squad for Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium; however, the star midfielder is no certainty to take on the Roos.
The 2016 Brownlow medallist injured a medial ligament early in the Cats’ win over Essendon and was didn’t take part in Thursday’s main training session.
“It’ll depend a little bit on how he goes today with some of the stuff they put him through,” coach Chris Scott said. “A lot of that will be inside, so you won’t have much visibility over that.
“I think it’s likely he’ll be a day before the game proposition.
“But it’ll be clear cut for us: he’ll either be able to function, or not. It’s not a matter of him risking further injury.
“So, that’s the reassuring part … if there were serious doubts that he might do further damage or risk his chances of playing in subsequent weeks, he would have been ruled out already.”
CATS: BEWS AND FOGARTY TO RETURN
Scott hasn’t ruled resting veteran great Gary Ablett after successfully challenging the Match Review Officer’s grading of an incident with Bomber Dylan Shiel.
After being classified as intentional contact to the head, he was offered a one-week suspension, which he had downgraded to careless contact and a fine at the AFL Tribunal.
“We’re still considering our options, but the likelihood is that he’ll play,” Scott said.
“But, again, I’ll reiterate, I’ll be staggered if he plays every game this year.
“There are a lot of things that go into it, but what I will say is the upcoming opposition is a small part of it; there are much bigger things to consider.
“But, as a club, we tend to prioritise later in the season than the short-term.”
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