By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
CHRIS Scott is adamant Geelong will not be a lame duck finalist should it make the top eight.
The Geelong coach said the team was “fighting and scrapping” to make the finals for a record ninth consecutive time.
“If we do make it are we going to be a walkover in the first week of the finals? That’s not my view,” Scott declared this week.
“With the percentage the way it is given Adelaide’s game against Brisbane, it appears the two points was as good as the four.”
Last Saturday’s draw with St Kilda was widely seen to be a setback for Geelong but even a win would have left the Cats – ironically – at the mercy of the Crows.
A Crows win against a safely ensconced West Coast will spell the end of the Cats, leaving the Dangerfield Cup in the last round at Simonds Stadium a dead rubber.
But first things first: Geelong needs to beat Collingwood on Friday night before embarking on the nervous wait until Sunday.
Scott agreed: “For all the possibilities our focus is on playing well on Friday night. We’ll be desperate and ready to play our best”.
The broadcast of the Crows Eagles game from Adelaide Oval will have most Geelong fans engrossed – not to mention the players and coaches.
Scott said he would watch the match the same as he would with any approaching opposition side.
“We’ll watch the game closely.
“If we don’t get the job done on Friday night it won’t matter.
“Assuming we do, we’ll put a lot of work into Adelaide and make sure we knock them over.
“If Adelaide win that game and we can’t make the finals, as professionals we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure we beat Adelaide the next week.”
The game against Collingwood will have a highlight all its own, however, when Daniel Menzel makes his long-awaited return to senior football.
Scott all but confirmed the move on Tuesday, saying Menzel was “likely”.
“We’re not in a position this early in our preparation to have certainty around our selections but, given his last fortnight in particular, he’s well and truly in the frame.
“If everything goes well he’s likely but we’re just not in a position to guarantee it, so I don’t want to get people’s hopes up.“
Menzel had a break at the weekend due to a scheduling quirk between the AFL and VFL draws but played a solid six games beforehand.
The successful return of ruckman/forward Nathan Vardy last week signalled a continuing changing of the guard, with stalwart defender Jared Rivers conceding the battle of his wounded knee.
Geelong has offered injury plagued out-of-form utility Billie Smedts another two year contract.
