Changes V Sydney

[Cattery]

If there is one thing about this match that worries me, it is the ground surface. The AFL say it is ok now, but I think we should be conservative. I'd seriously consider resting Ottens considering he has had ankle problems this year and maybe SJ as well. Ablett needs the run, so he shouldn't be left out.

Given the shit surface up there, i would be happy to see geelong rest everyone who has even the smallest injury concern.

Spot on, more concerned about the crap surface then the opposition, no way would I play Chapman even if fit; Milburn for Byrnes the only change IMO.

Is there any rule that prevents us playing our entire reserves squad and giving our seniors a hit out in the VFL?

 

[Exhale You]

For what it's worth, Southern Cross news has been reporting that all three of Chapman, Milburn and Wojcinski will return this weekend.

I'd be shocked of Woj played.

 

[bringbackdaspinks]

For mine I just couldn't understand playing Chapman this week. If my memory serves me right he has somewhat of a history of hamstring strains, or at least soft tissue injuries. Why risk a recurrence when it would mean dropping someone already in good form (Pris or Gamble, as Byrnes is a near certain omission and Milburn a certain inclusion)

The only argument would be that he needs match fitness before finals. Not worth the risk IMO.

 

[Duskfire]

For mine I just couldn't understand playing Chapman this week. If my memory serves me right he has somewhat of a history of hamstring strains, or at least soft tissue injuries. Why risk a recurrence when it would mean dropping someone already in good form (Pris or Gamble, as Byrnes is a near certain omission and Milburn a certain inclusion)

The only argument would be that he needs match fitness before finals. Not worth the risk IMO.

Because he didn't play last week as a precaution. How many matches does he miss before they wish to take the chance? Theres only three games till Finals; Chapman and Wojak need a bit of gametime under their belt.

Not to mention it is Sydney. Granted they arent playing their greatest, but this isn't the bottom side here. They will be confident after the Dockers win, playing in Sydney... the Cats will need to keep on playing well to beat them.

 

[Cattery]

Because he didn't play last week as a precaution. How many matches does he miss before they wish to take the chance? Theres only three games till Finals; Chapman and Wojak need a bit of gametime under their belt.

Anywhere else but on that surface and I'd agree, not worth the risk this close to the finals; can always give him a run in the VFL if they think he needs a run.

Not to mention it is Sydney. Granted they arent playing their greatest, but this isn't the bottom side here. They will be confident after the Dockers win, playing in Sydney... the Cats will need to keep on playing well to beat them.

Don't think Chappy will be the difference between us winning or losing, plus it will give someone who would be extremely unlucky to get dropped [ Prismall/Gamble? ] another chance.

 

[bringbackdaspinks]

Anywhere else but on that surface and I'd agree, not worth the risk this close to the finals; can always give him a run in the VFL if they think he needs a run.



Don't think Chappy will be the difference between us winning or losing, plus it will give someone who would be extremely unlucky to get dropped [ Prismall/Gamble? ] another chance.

Exactly.

And I don't think Chappy was left out last week purely as a precaution. Even hamstring strains (as opposed to tears) are usually more than one week injuries. Scarlo, who didn't have a history of soft tissue injuries was given two weeks, plus the break, earlier in the year to recover from a hamstring strain (after the Kangaroos game I think it was)

 

[madcat001]

Even if chappy is left out this week, Prismall/Gamble is going to be stiff the week after. I think the sooner we get our finals team together on the park the better. This telstra stadium surface is being overhyped in my opinion and they will keen to have it in top condition after the embaressment that was last time.

 

[madcat001]

News from the GFC site

GEELONG football manager Neil Balme says his club won’t rush back David Wojcinski, instead waiting until the lightning-quick defender is at full fitness before testing his achilles injury.

Wojcinski appears to be at least another week away as he struggles to overcome the problem, one of few concerns for Mark Thompson’s men, who are three games clear on top of the AFL ladder after 19 rounds.

The Cats don’t expect the injury to hamper the 27-year-old’s ability to hit top speed once he overcomes the complaint.

However it appears the pacy Cat might be racing the clock to make it back to senior football before the finals after Balme confirmed Wojcinski was likely to miss at least one more week – with a probable return to footy then coming through the VFL.

“He’s still a touch sore but those things sometimes are a little bit slow,” Balme said on Tuesday.

“Obviously we’re keen to play him because he’s in our best side but whether he’s right this week I’d probably doubt it.

“I don’t know that playing VFL is necessarily what we’re going to do, it depends on how he’s able to go.

“He mightn’t be able to play a full game so it may be necessary to bring him back through there but he’s no guarantee of being right this week.”

Wojcinski has missed four weeks with the injury.

Geelong’s biggest problem heading into Saturday night’s clash with the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium might be who to omit from a team that won its last match by a whopping 116 points.

Set to regain veteran defender Darren Milburn from suspension and with Paul Chapman (hamstring) a chance to prove his fitness later this week, the reigning premiers might be forced to make at least two changes to the side that thumped Melbourne in Tom Wills Round.

“You can only pick 22,” Balme said.

“That’s kind of good and bad, isn’t it? It’s a good problem to have.”

Balme said while Milburn was set to come into a team that has won its past 10 matches, Chapman was less certain.

“Chappy’s still got to train,” he said.

“We won’t know [if he’ll be right] until he does.”

 

[thegerman]

We don't want to lose anyone to injuries now due to the crappy surface. I'd be happy to see Tenace, Davenport, West, Mumford, D Johnson etc. in while some of our best 22 are rested. GAblett can resume his run next week.

Hard for DJ to play, still injured.

Disagree, don't flirt with form. Just do the job and go home.

 

[JUBJUB]

Hard for DJ to play, still injured.

and Tenace was injured in the VFL on the weekend and is out for a couple of weeks.

You don't go messing with form by resting players.Rodney Eade said last week the Dogs were going to start resting players.Hudson was a late withdrawal on the weekend [no doubt rested] and look what happened to them.

 

[Exhale You]

Hudson was a late withdrawal on the weekend [no doubt rested] and look what happened to them.

Yep, they got 'Streeted'