By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Geelong will hope for an injury-free game as it completes its NAB Challenge series against Fremantle at Domain Stadium tomorrow.
While performances have been encouraging the Cats have been rocked by knee injuries to emerging young defender Jackson Thurlow and promising mature age recruit Sam Menegola.
Thurlow faces a lost season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while Menegola faces up to 10 weeks on the sidelines with posterior cruciate ligament damage.
Geelong has been taking close to full strength teams into the pre-season in a team bonding bid as it faces reigning premier Hawthorn in an Easter Monday blockbuster.
Geelong’s coaches were heartened by a better defensive showing against Essendon.
But the quality of the opposition left a question mark over Geelong’s defensive mindset. Fremantle will provide a sterner test.
Key defenders Tom Lonergan and Lachie Henderson were subbed out early after suffering leg knocks but the Cats coaching group would be keen to see them with another game under their belts in the retooled defence.
Veteran defender Andrew Mackie was rested from the game against Essendon but is expected to be recalled for the clash with Fremantle.
Likewise Daniel Menzel was spared the trip to the heat of Shepparton but will benefit from more game time.
With Thurlow out, Jed Bews is a chance to return provided he has overcome shoulder soreness suffered against Collingwood in NAB one.
But current VFL best and fairest Tom Ruggles did not look out of place in Geelong’s backline last week and should have done enough to retain his spot.
Fremantle has confirmed Gold Coast Suns recruit Harley Bennell will play in his first NAB Challenge hit-out.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon said skipper David Mundy, ruckman Zac Clarke, Bennell and youngster Alex Pearce would also play in the final NAB Challenge game.
Fremantle came away with a two-point win against Adelaide in week two of the pre-season, having the bye last weekend.
Staying injury-free at this stage of the season was also high on Lyon’s mind, as well as a two-year extension to his contract.
“We didn’t play very well but we’ve basically come out of it unscathed,” Lyon said.
“Certainly (Michael) Johnson and (Zac) Dawson who played a half, and (Matthew) Pavlich, we’ll look to play them full games.
“We’re getting a number of players back.”
