Rhys Stanley will again take on one of the AFL’s best ruckmen when Geelong faces North Melbourne on Sunday.
Fremantle star Aaron Sandilands belted Geelong’s ruckman last Sunday but the Cats still managed to limit his effectiveness in their 48-point victory.
“We fought hard against him all day,” Stanley said.
“(But Todd’s) a whole different beast altogether, the way he jumps and moves around the ground. It will be another challenge, we’ll just throw everything at them.”
The AFL’s controversial new third man up rule still occasionally caught Stanley off guard despite having the offseason to prepare.
“I was getting to a stoppage very late and the umpire got caught behind an opponent and Mitch sort of put his hand up as a ruckman, so I just stood and watched, I suppose.”
Cats coach Chris Scott said the AFL’s best “ex-exponent” of the third man up Mark Blicavs was still immensely valuable despite the rule change.
“We’ve always felt that he’s a unique stoppage player without the third man up.”
With Jarrad Waite out for North with a shoulder injury Majak Daw will likely come into the side.
But Scott said he would still use Harry Taylor as a forward or to run the ball out of defence despite the Kangaroo’s tall forward line.
“We’re still relatively tall without Harry. But we do respect the challenge that those North Melbourne key forwards represent,” he said.
Scott was taking no chances with star midfielder Cam Guthrie and said he was unlikely to play on Sunday.
“He’s been a very, very good player for us and we need to make sure when he comes back he’s ready to perform at 100 per cent.”
Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij will also miss out as will excitement machine Nakia Cockatoo after sustaining a thumb injury.
Cockatoo will miss up to a month after kicking an early contender for Goal of the Year against Fremantle.
Scott said the Cats would not underestimate North Melbourne who “looked to have West Coast on the ropes” in the first quarter last weekend.
Dangerfield racked up 48 possessions last year against the Roos and should again be a threat.
Scott laughed at the superstar sneaking into an opposition huddle last week.
“He’s a different cat, Danger. He’s a ruthless competitor but he does see the lighter side as well.”
Scott also saw the lighter side of his and twin brother Brad’s well-documented tantrums in the coach’s box, insisting he was the most animated of the pair.
“I’ve seen some pretty ugly vision of myself so I’d be surprised if you could match some of that rubbish.”
