SCOTT Selwood is facing several weeks on the sidelines after scans confirmed the luckless Geelong midfielder injured his right hamstring in last week’s VFL practice match against Werribee.
The 28-year-old, who has managed just 32 of a possible 72 games since arriving at GMHBA Stadium from West Coast at the end of 2015, hadn’t played until that point of the pre-season due to hamstring tightness.
He was visibly dejected when he came from Avalon Airport Oval after pulling up sharply during the third quarter of Friday night’s match.
“(It is) very difficult to work out with any great clarity exactly how that’s going to play out, but we do know he won’t be back in the short-term,” coach Chris Scott said.
“So, it’s really disappointing for us all.”
Scott said Jed Bews, who underwent off-season shoulder surgery, is making progress “albeit slowly” as he battles groin soreness.
Meanwhile, the Cats are not rushing the return of Nakia Cockatoo, who after missing most of 2018 with a knee issue, has battled a range of issues over pre-season.
“Nakia Cockatoo, as I’ve said previously, we are just ultra-cautious with,” Scott said.
“He’s coming back from a PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) injury and some hamstring history that we’re really careful of.
“So, the signs are good that he’s making progress, but every time he has a little bit of a hiccup, it tends to be magnified with Nakia.
“Our intention with him is to make sure he’s absolutely cherry ripe, not only to come in and perform well at AFL level but to put all these injury issues behind him and have a really sustained period of footy.
Esava Ratugolea (dislocated finger) and Jake Kolodjashnij (groin soreness) will be right to take on Collingwood on Friday night if selected.
Ruckman Zac Smith (knee) is a chance to play in the Cats’ VFL practice match against the Magpies.
Twitter: @tom_king79
