Ottens not playing round 8

[CF]

GEELONG’S injury worries regarding big man Brad Ottens are continuing with coach Mark Thompson revealing the star ruckman is struggling to take the final step in his return to football.

On the day the Cats revealed Matthew Egan would miss the rest of 2008, there was mixed news regarding two of the club’s other big names – Ottens and marquee midfielder Gary Ablett.

While Ablett (calf) is a chance to take on Richmond at the MCG on Saturday, Geelong fans hoped Ottens would play his first match of the season in the round eight encounter.

However Thompson poured cold water on the idea when asked about the towering No.6, who is battling plantar fasciitis in a foot.

“Ottens won’t play,” Thompson said.

“He hasn’t progressed really that much.

“He gets to a point where he can’t get any further.”

Like Egan, Thompson said the Cats weren’t rushing and had “no finish line” for a return date.

“We don’t know [when he’ll be back],” he said.

“We said he’d pretty much be right for this game but he’s not going to be right.”

Ablett’s calf, however, is responding at a better rate and might come up in time for Saturday’s clash.

“He’s got to tick a few boxes yet but he’s not being ruled out at this stage,” Thompson said of his match-winner.

“He ran yesterday, he did some strides, and he’ll do more tomorrow afternoon and then we’ll see how he pulls up.

“He’d be a 50-50 chance, 60-40 to play.”

Mathew Stokes will miss Saturday’s clash due to suspension, with Thompson naming Travis Varcoe, Shannon Byrnes and Brent Prismall as frontrunners to come into the side to replace the talented forward.

from GFC.com

 

[Renegade]

Ottens - Another bloody setback

Thompson says that Ottens leg still hasn't improved and they're reassessing.
____s sake.

 

[Cohzee]

Re: Ottens - Another bloody setback

Hopefully Ablett is OK.

 

[Purrfect Pussies]

Hope little gazza can come up. Dashers shoulder ok? All the boys did us proud saturday night!

 

[The Casey Cat]

This is getting ridiculous. We have now stuffed Eagan's injury/rehab up THREE times, Ottens is STILL not over PF despite tearing it over a month ago now (which usually means it repairs then you are fine within weeks) and Gaz Jnr could miss his THIRD week in a row with a slight Calf complaint? Not sure what our medical are up to but they are doing a fairly ####ing hopeless job with these three.

 

[biggalz23]

Re: Ottens - Another bloody setback

Thompson says that Ottens leg still hasn't improved and they're reassessing.
____s sake.

what does that mean

 

[forrrestGump]

Re: Ottens - Another bloody setback

what does that mean

the shite pre season that thompson wasnot happy about is now here for all to see

 

[biggalz23]

Re: Ottens - Another bloody setback

the shite pre season that thompson wasnot happy about is now here for all to see

were in a pit of trouble if he doesnt come good

 

[SJ]

Re: Ottens - Another bloody setback

the shite pre season that thompson wasnot happy about is now here for all to see

Good point.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

I'm worried about Ottens. Very, very worried.

I wouldn't be betting on him coming back any time soon.

 

[year of the cat]

I'm worried about Ottens. Very, very worried.

I wouldn't be betting on him coming back any time soon.

Ditto

 

[hobart cat]

ive been saying it all along.

ever since they said he "barely missed out on rd 1"

he's been a week or 2 away every week since.

everyone else here doesnt seem to mind much - but I for one am sick of being lied to.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

For a while I was in the 'hopeful, so I don't mind waiting' camp regarding both Otto and Ego. Now Ego has been written off for the year and I'm worried that

a) we're being lied to

or more worrying

b) the health & fitness team at the GFC don't have a clue about the extent of Otto's injury

The 'Blake thinks he's safe' angle is interesting. Maybe the truth is being withheld from him so that he dosen't take it too easy. Although why wouldn't Blake be burning with the desire to succeed this year after the drama of being dropped for last year's Grand Final?

 

[Cohzee]

I am still confident in Ottens coming back about round 10.

 

[BigKegs]

This could be a blessing in disguise. If Harley wasn't out for extended periods last year, Egan might not have been given a chance at CHB. Hopefully the Mummy or West can step up and take on the 2nd ruck role.

 

[scottydeewah]

Blake has replaced Byrnes as the new player to hate. One thing I have learnt about this forum is Geelong fans NEED a player to bash.

Whilst this is bad news, we still have 10-12 weeks before we need to have him back. Having a fit, firing Ottens with 4-5 games under his belt come finals could be better than getting him back round 7 and him playing 14.

I am a Geelong optimist, a bloody rare breed!

 

[Copernicus]

Not the best week for injuries thus far - I just hope that Gaz gets up and we have some good news amongst the rest of the crap.

I had a feeling that Otto wouldn't come up. All this chatter about them not knowing what's going on is worrying me a little bit. Blake has been serviceable but I don't know that he's going to be able to carry the ruck all year.

 

[biggalz23]

Blake has replaced Byrnes as the new player to hate. One thing I have learnt about this forum is Geelong fans NEED a player to bash.

Whilst this is bad news, we still have 10-12 weeks before we need to have him back. Having a fit, firing Ottens with 4-5 games under his belt come finals could be better than getting him back round 7 and him playing 14.

I am a Geelong optimist, a bloody rare breed!

doubt it mate im sure you would of had a crack at a few players over the years...but you are a supporter its normal to get frustrated to an extent

 

[catswhiskers]

I'll join Scotty.

With disappointment comes opportunity.

If Mumford continues his current rate of development - a bit of country footy- a few games of VFL - 2 games of AFL where he showed a bit - he should be pressing for AA selection by the end of the year.

 

[InsideRail]

I think the majority of you are being a bit unfair to the Cats Medical people. Most other sides may have played a 70 - 80% fit Ottens but the Cats are being very carefull with their players.

Personally I think the Cats have and are managing their list very well. Check the Herald Sun today and compare our injury list to other sides. If anything they are erring on the side of caution. Remember we are only round 8 and i would much perfer to see at fit Ottens at the end of the season than a partially fit Ottens right now.

 

[BlueNWhite]

There's also the point that we're 7 and zip at this point - give our coaching and medical staff the benefit of the doubt - 2 months into the season and we're unbeaten ffs.

Otto will be back, when he's ready.

We also had a fricking dream run with injuries last year - that's not going to happen every year.

 

[Ling Sting]

I heard bomber on SEN this morning say they might end up having to play Ottens at 80% fitness if the foot doesn't come up soon.

It is obviously a niggle and the medical staff are being ultra conservative.

As long as Otto can get up a bit before the finals to gain some form and the finals themselves I'm not to fussed. When you think about what teams like the Saints & Dons are going through we are in a pretty happy place.

 

[OldStyle2007]

I think the medical staff have been cautious and are doing a good job

Perhaps only mistake they have made was letting Egan have a crack at coming back in time for 07 GF. that might have made it worse

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

I think the majority of you are being a bit unfair to the Cats Medical people. Most other sides may have played a 70 - 80% fit Ottens but the Cats are being very carefull with their players.

Yeah, I've thought kinda harshly of them at times, even though I haven't a f*cking clue about health, fitness OR injury management meself!

It's the lot of a supporter though, to know everything better than the club insiders, hell even the players themselves!

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Bit harsh to criticise our off-field side, who have continued to be magnificent.