Geelong star Max Holmes has reached a stage in his recovery from a syndesmosis injury and ankle fracture that he could play in Friday night’s elimination final against Carlton, according to coach Chris Scott.
But whether the two-time Carji Greeves Medal winner runs out on to the MCG to take on the Blues seven weeks after suffering the injury is still to be determined.
Scott says he is “thinking hard without having come to a conclusion”.
“It’s getting to the point where he just keeps doing what has been asked of him,” he said.
“We’re a long way from making that decision, but, look, it’s been really positive… and he keeps hitting those milestones that the performance staff have been asking for.
“We’re training again today. I expect him to look really good, and then we’ll have to make an assessment after that.”
Scott has long held the philosophy that just because a player is right to play doesn’t mean he should play, and he won’t be changing that approach for Holmes.
“I think he’s at the stage where we say, ‘Yeah, he could play’, but there’s just a lot more to consider in that decision-making,” Scott said.
“It’s an elimination game… It’s a huge game for us. I’d be disappointed if it’s the biggest game Max is ever going to play.
“And we are, as we always do, sort of thinking about short, medium, long term and trying to balance all that along with performance.
“I could go for hours on this because it’s very complicated, which is why it’s a slow decision for us. We’re going to take our time and do everything we can to make the right decision.
“And then even in hindsight, we won’t even know whether we were right or not. That’s what makes these things complex.”
Dynamic forward Oli Wiltshire is available after missing the Round 24 win over Richmond with a minor foot issue, while midfielder James Worpel is at least another week away with a hamstring injury suffered against North Melbourne in Round 23.
If Holmes and Wiltshire are recalled, and with Mark Blicavs expected to return after being managed against the Tigers, there could be a trio of unlucky players who miss out.
“It’s still the hardest thing for me as a coach,” Scott said. I’m really quick to find 28, 30 players that we’d love to play and really slow to find the ones that have to make room.
“So it’s the old adage of it’s a good problem to have. I guess it sort of holds true, but it doesn’t make it easy.
“I think that’s just stating the obvious. I get there’s the old sort of traditional view that, ‘Well, no, you make your own luck’ and all that sort of stuff.
“But, no, my guess sitting here now would be when we pick the team, we’ll go ‘, Gee, it’s hard to believe we haven’t got that guy in the team’.
“I guess it’s a sign of strength. But I find the interpersonal stuff as challenging today as I did in 2011
“It’s just I was told that it’d get a little bit easier; that hasn’t been my experience.”
X: @krockfootball
