Star forward Jeremy Cameron could return next weekend, but coach Chris Scott has ruled him out of Friday night’s clash against his former side.
“He hasn’t knocked on my door because he knows he’s not playing, and he’s known for some time,” Scott told a press conference on Wednesday.
“We’ve been quite clear about that with his rehab – there’s never been any suggestion from our end that he would play this week.
“Probably the only area where there’s been some room for confusion is from the people that have watched him on the track, because he’s been performing really well.”
“I don’t think anyone needs me to elaborate too much on why we’re going to hold him back for a little bit longer.”
Cameron injured his right hamstring for the third time this year in Geelong’s round 16 win over Essendon.
While the 28-year-old will miss Friday’s game against GWS Giants at GMHBA Stadium, Scott indicated he would likely slot straight into the Cats’ AFL side the following weekend.
“I think he’ll play next week,” Scott said.
“When he’s right to go he’s likely to play in our AFL team. Don’t hold me to it though.”
The Cats are very close to clinching a top-four spot and a second-chance in the finals.
But Friday’s game and the next two rounds will be vital for securing a top-two spot for a home qualifying final.
And the Cats cannot afford to let their guard down against the Giants, who are fighting to break into the eight and keep their finals hopes alive.
Scott indicated the Cats would likely go with a similar side to that which defeated North Melbourne in Hobart last Saturday, with competition for spots heating up at the pointy end of the season.
“For the most part I think the players that missed last week will miss again this week,” he said.
“It gives the guys that came in last week another opportunity to put their best case forward.”
While acknowledging the “old cliché” that the Cats’ depth was a “good problem” to have, he expressed empathy for those missing out.
“The lack of VFL footy makes it even harder for those guys,” he said.
But Scott the Cats’ faith in their training program, in the temporary absence of VFL games, had allowed them to bring defender Zach Guthrie and first-gamer Nathan Kreuger into the side last Saturday.
The younger brother of imminent 200-gamer Cam Guthrie, Zach, gathered 28 disposals against North Melbourne, while Kreuger impressed with his bursts of speed.
“They’re just two examples that hopefully the guys that are a bit starved of opportunities can look to for a bit of inspiration,” Scott said.
The return of the VFL, with Geelong taking on Werribee on Saturday, will also provide opportunities for some players to break into the AFL side.
“It gives us a really good look at where guys are at going into the last two games of the home-and-away season,” Scott said.
