Geelong will regain its captain and reigning best and fairest winner in time for its Easter Monday clash with Hawthorn.
Joel Selwood will return to the side after being managed against Brisbane while Tom Stewart has recovered from gastro, which saw him which saw him pulled from the team just ahead of the bounce on Friday night.
In other good news for the Cats, Quinton Narkle has avoided serious damage to his ankle after his foot was caught under the leg of Patrick Dangerfield in the third term against the Lions.
However Geelong general manager of football Simon Lloyd said it was unlikely he would be fit to play against Hawthorn.
“He suffered a lateral ligament injury on the weekend. There was no fracture or syndesmosis injury,” Lloyd said.
“We expect him not to be available this week but then we’ll weigh up how he’s going across his rehabilitation markers over the coming weeks.
“His timeline will be dependent on his response to rehab as he commences reloading.”
Lloyd said Esava Ratugolea would be a test to return this week after injuring his ankle against Collingwood in round two.
“Following his left ankle sprain, he trained last week and was very close to playing against Brisbane,” Lloyd said.
“We’ll assess how he’s training this week and a decision will be made as to his availability later in the week.”
Lloyd also said Gary Rohan had impressed on the training track after returning to the main group following an extended stretch on the sidelines with back and hip sciatica.
“Gary is completing part of main football training and he’s training well,” Lloyd said.
“He’s working through a significant conditioning block.”
Lloyd said several first years Cats were also dealing with injuries.
Toby Conway is part training as he returns from a hip injury, while James Willis (knee) has resumed running and Flynn Kroeger should return to full training next week.
