Geelong defender Sam De Koning won’t play in Saturday’s crucial clash with Fremantle, but the Cats hope he will be right for next week’s meeting with St Kilda.
Coach Chris Scott confirmed a knee injury suffered during last week’s narrow win over Adelaide would prevent De Koning from making the trip west.
“We won’t take him,” Scott said. “He’s going pretty well.
“We think that (he’s) very, very likely to play next week with a good preparation.
“So, we’re just going to take the bird in the hand (approach) there.”
Mitch Duncan will return after being managed out of last week’s win over Adelaide.
The clash with the Dockers will be his 292nd in the Hoops, moving him to a share of seventh all-time at the Cats alongside Darren Milburn.
Dynamic forward Gary Rohan is also “likely” after missing the Crows clash after suffering a concussion in the previous week’s win over North Melbourne.
“He’s fine. (He’s) trained really well… the last couple of weeks,” Scott said.
(He) went through the process, but he’s been looking good.”
The top-four defining meeting with Fremantle – Geelong’s first trip west since losing to the Dockers in Round 10 last year – doubles as game 250 for Jeremy Cameron.
The former GWS Giant has been at Geelong since 2021, adding 202 goals from 78 games to the 427 he kicked in 171 games in nine seasons in Sydney.
“I haven’t really reflected on it too much; it’s probably something I’ll do towards the end of my career or after I’ve finished,” he said.
“It is a lot of games. I’ve had an interesting sort of journey.
“Starting at the Giants… and then coming down here and really settling in now’s been great.
“To be honest, (I’ve) looked at it as just another game.
“It’s an important one for the club and the team, so we’re going over there, and it’s going to be business as usual.”
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