Scratch match: Geelong players go through their grand final preparations.
ERIN PEARSON
GEELONG will go into this weekend’s blockbuster grand final against Collingwood prepared for a fierce contest, according to Cats coach Chris Scott.
Scott, coaching in his first grand final on Saturday, said he expected to face an unchanged Pies game plan.
He admitted to being a little “edgy” but felt good about the Cats’ potential to clinch another grand final trophy.
“(Collingwood) are a terrific side, probably statistically the best side over the last two years, so it’s good for footy I think,” he said.
“Collingwood, we would expect, wouldn’t change too much.
“This week is really about making sure the attention to detail is right.”
Speaking at the Cats open training session midweek, Scott said an injury cloud still floated over Steve Johnson who injured his left knee in the third quarter against West Coat last weekend.
The forward has spent the week in a hyperbaric chamber to aid his recovery.
Shannon Burns, Cameron Mooney, Darren Milburn, Taylor Hunt, Cameron Guthrie, and Steve Motlop could replace Johnson if he was unfit to play, Scott said.
“Steven is coming along pretty well but we aren’t going to have anything definitive until Friday. At the moment we think he’s a chance,” Scott said.
“He needs to perform at top level. The team has always got to come first.”
Should Collingwood be successful this weekend, Michael Malthouse would be the oldest premiership coach in the game’s history at 58 years.
Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell said injuries were a concern for Pies players Darren Jolly and Ben Reid as the team attempted to win back-to-back flags for the first time since 1936.
“They both think they’re fine, in the end it will come down to a decision by the coaching staff come Friday,” he said.
“If either isn’t right they’ll step down but I doubt it will get to that stage.”
