By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
The Cats go up country in their second NAB challenge hit out taking on Essendon at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve tomorrow afternoon.
Geelong coaching staff promised to keep the line-up settled but veterans Jimmy Bartel and Tom Lonergan will be among the notable inclusions.
Lonergan should be able to help recruit Lachie Henderson settle some nerves and midfielder Josh Caddy will be keen to get some run into his legs.
There will be one forced change with promising mature age recruit Sam Menegola facing a layoff after suffering a knee injury against the Magpies.
Defensive assistant coach Matthew Scarlett said the Cats would field a strong team.
“With so many new players into the team it’s important they spend some time playing together,” Scarlett said.
He said the coaching group was hoping the chemistry would form quickly.
“We need it really quick because we’ve got a tough start to the year so we’re hoping it’s really early.
“The longer you play with people, it becomes instinct and you know how they go about it.”
Midfield gun Patty Dangerfield will suit up for his second hit out with only skipper Joel Selwood and bother Scott missing from what Geelong hopes will become the leading midfield in the league.
Defence was high on Scarlett’s agenda and he admitted he was getting annoyed at the avalanche of Collingwood goals in the third quarter of Geelong’s first NAB Challenge.
“I got pretty angry in the third quarter, especially when that ninth goal went through,” Scarlett said.
“It was pretty tough sitting in the box in that third quarter.
“We didn’t change a helluva lot in the box. We sort of let the players try and figure it out themselves.
“There are certainly things we’ll do a bit different next time we play Collingwood.
“There are a couple of little things we’ll tinker with this week and I’m really confident we can fix that up.”
Scarlett welcomed the possibility of coming up against former Geelong players now with Essendon.
The Bombers have James Kelly and Mathew Stokes as top-up players as well as ex-Cat Jonathan Simpkin who went to Hawthorn, and Mitch Brown, picked up by Essendon after impressing in the VFL.
“I hope they play, it’s pretty funny and good fun for the boys. I’m not sure they (Kelly and Stokes) are going to be ready. I’m not sure how much training they have done but I hope they are.”
Scarlett said Essendon had played strong free flowing football in its last game against Carlton.
“They have a lot of young players in the team trying to forge an AFL career and they were pretty desperate.”
