Injury-free for the first time after missing two complete seasons, Chloe Scheer is a chance to make her first AFLW appearance in nearly three years when Geelong faces North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The star forward has sat on 49 career matches since the 2023 preliminary final as a result of toe and knee issues.
Coach Mick Stinear said this morning that training today would give the Cats a better indication of whether the former Crow would be available for selection.
“All going well, her getting through training this afternoon, that’ll be a decision for us at match committee, which is a great position for us to be in,” Stinear said.
“She played some minutes against Carlton in the match sim. She’s feeling ready to get back out there and play footy.
“Fingers crossed if we don’t see her this week that won’t be too far away,
“But she’s certainly right in the mix, and credit to her and the medical team and the club for enduring a fair bit of adversity over the last few seasons, and I know the footy community will be thrilled when she’s back out on the ground.”
Chantel Emonson is also set to play her first match since the final round of the 2024 season after missing last season following the birth of her first child, while recruit Nicola Stevens, who has played with Carlton, Collingwood and most recently St Kilda, will make her Geelong debut.
“Chantel’s been brilliant down back,” Stinear said
“Calm, composed. Probably one of the more elite kicks in the competition. So she’ll play a big part in setting up our offence from down back.
“Nic Stevens and her experience down back, I think that’s important given the talent that had left our defensive unit.
“So I’d expect she’d be playing her first game for the Cats this week.”
Draftees Evie Cowcher and Priya Bowering are in the mix, with Stinear hinting at debuts for the talented pair.
“Evie’s brought us some good intercepting strength down back, really calm and composed and a fierce competitor,” he said.
“And Priya’s actually shown a lot forward as well.”
Geelong has never beaten North Melbourne, with a draw in 2024 the closest the Cats have come to knocking over the two-time reigning premier.
Part of a double-header with the Cats and Kangaroos men’s teams, it will be Geelong’s first appearance under the roof.
“I know North are pretty unforgiving if you don’t use the ball well or you make basic errors,” Stinear said
“Their ability to score from turnover’s pretty high, so I think probably our capacity to control the ball will be more important.
“We won’t be able to rush and blaze away and feed their turnover game, but overall in terms of how we want to play, hopefully (Marvel Stadium) just enhances the way we want to play and the brand of footy we want to play.
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