Tonycam*
Club Legend
Ling backs Johnson to play
STEVE Johnson appears a certain inclusion in the Geelong side for Saturday night’s preliminary final against Collingwood, with teammate Max Rooke also in contention after the pair completed the Cats’ main training session on Wednesday.
Speaking at Skilled Stadium on Thursday morning, vice-captain Cameron Ling said it would be coach Mark Thompson’s call as to whether the pair returned after missing Geelong’s qualifying final win.
Johnson had an interrupted second half of the season due to a nagging hip injury, which he had surgery to repair on the eve of round 22.
Rooke, meanwhile, suffered a quad injury in the Cats’ round 22 win over Fremantle and was a last-minute withdrawal against the Western Bulldogs a fortnight ago.
But both look likely to return, after completing the 6pm session under lights – all part of the Cats’ preparations for facing Collingwood under lights at the MCG.
“They both trained fully and trained well,” Ling said of the session.
“Stevie was running around like a little kid; he was loving being back out there and feeling good.
“It was a good quality session … I’d imagine they’d be certainly a good chance to play.
“Within the training session there was competitive work and match-like drills and he [Johnson] did all that … not a problem.”
Ling said while Johnson’s surgery would have ideally been performed earlier in the year, the club was thrilled its match-winning forward was ready to fire.
“It’s just pleasing that it went well and he’s feeling good now and got the results the medical staff was after,” Ling said.
“He’s given himself the best shot now to play.”
Rooke is also an integral part of the Cats’ make-up, the aggression he adds to the line-up considered vital to many at the Cattery.
“We’ll be keen to get him back if he’s right to go,” Ling said.
“His hardness at the ball, his hardness at the man, his competitiveness … [he’s] just a quality person who’s been through a lot of finals and a lot of years and his experience – it’d be very handy for the whole group.”
GFC.com
STEVE Johnson appears a certain inclusion in the Geelong side for Saturday night’s preliminary final against Collingwood, with teammate Max Rooke also in contention after the pair completed the Cats’ main training session on Wednesday.
Speaking at Skilled Stadium on Thursday morning, vice-captain Cameron Ling said it would be coach Mark Thompson’s call as to whether the pair returned after missing Geelong’s qualifying final win.
Johnson had an interrupted second half of the season due to a nagging hip injury, which he had surgery to repair on the eve of round 22.
Rooke, meanwhile, suffered a quad injury in the Cats’ round 22 win over Fremantle and was a last-minute withdrawal against the Western Bulldogs a fortnight ago.
But both look likely to return, after completing the 6pm session under lights – all part of the Cats’ preparations for facing Collingwood under lights at the MCG.
“They both trained fully and trained well,” Ling said of the session.
“Stevie was running around like a little kid; he was loving being back out there and feeling good.
“It was a good quality session … I’d imagine they’d be certainly a good chance to play.
“Within the training session there was competitive work and match-like drills and he [Johnson] did all that … not a problem.”
Ling said while Johnson’s surgery would have ideally been performed earlier in the year, the club was thrilled its match-winning forward was ready to fire.
“It’s just pleasing that it went well and he’s feeling good now and got the results the medical staff was after,” Ling said.
“He’s given himself the best shot now to play.”
Rooke is also an integral part of the Cats’ make-up, the aggression he adds to the line-up considered vital to many at the Cattery.
“We’ll be keen to get him back if he’s right to go,” Ling said.
“His hardness at the ball, his hardness at the man, his competitiveness … [he’s] just a quality person who’s been through a lot of finals and a lot of years and his experience – it’d be very handy for the whole group.”
GFC.com
Go Cats
