Geelong fans will have to wait until at least when the team for tomorrow night’s qualifying final against the Brisbane Lions is lodged early tonight to find out whether Rhys Stanley plays.
Speculation has mounted over the past 48 hours that a hamstring issue will sideline the veteran ruck.
However, Cats coach Chris Scott wasn’t buying into the chatter at his weekly media conference.
“This is a little bit of an unusual situation for us in doing this press conference before the teams go in,” he said.
“We’re just going to let that play out… we’ve got a few minor things we’re still working through.
“I think you know me well enough to know that I tend not to give a running commentary on these things.
“I’m sure it will become clearer once we pick our team, but as I said, it’s been pretty stable; it’s unlikely to be too different (to Round 24).”
Shannon Neale (suspension) and Mark O’Connor (leg) will return after missing the win over Richmond.
Ollie Henry, who has spent the majority of the second half of the season outside of the AFL team, was part of today’s captain’s run.
Henry was a standout in Geelong’s preliminary final loss to the Lions last year, with his four goals almost dragging the Cats over the line.
“He’ll certainly be in our squad,” Scott said.
“I don’t think last year’s prelim has come into our thinking all that much, but he has had a couple of really good weeks on the track, looking energetic.
“We’ve got a few players, in particular, that we’d be very confident could come in and play well for us, even though they haven’t had much match practice over the last couple of weeks.
“He certainly fits into that category.”
Jed Bews played just his fourth match of the season against the Tigers after replacing O’Connor.
He has been a match-up for Lion Charlie Cameron in the past, but Scott says the livewire forward isn’t the only forward threat Geelong has to worry about.
“For a long, long time now, they have been a team that have got deep weapons in their arsenal,” Scott said.
“Zac Bailey’s an All-Australian now.
“As highly as everyone rates Charlie Cameron and Lachie Neale, it’s almost to the stage where some of the guys that play next to them are as important to them, which speaks to their depth.”
Meanwhile, Geelong’s non-selected players will take on Collingwood in a scratch match at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
X: @krockfootball
