Geelong are likely to make the conservative call with Jack Steven this week, even though coach Chris Scott is confident their big-name AFL recruit is physically ready to return to the fray.
The AFL integrity unit has cleared the 30-year-old of any wrongdoing after he was stabbed in the chest last month, although a police investigation remains ongoing.
Scott told reporters on Tuesday that Steven had only missed a week and a half of training and had not been ruled out of making his Cats debut in Friday night’s big clash with Hawthorn.
“We haven’t quite decided on Jack Steven yet but Jack could play; I haven’t got any great doubt about that,” Scott said.
“It’s just whether that’s the prudent thing for him in the longer term.”
Steven took part in match simulation at training on Tuesday, as did luckless forward Nakia Cockatoo, who has only managed two AFL matches in the past two seasons due to serious knee injuries.
I’m very confident that (Steven) will get through the session really well and put his hand up to play,” Scott said.
“It’s just a matter of whether we push the button on it.
“I think if we don’t play him we’re being conservative.
“But that’s OK.”
The Cats are in much better shape now than for their round-one clash against GWS on March 21, which they lost by 32 points.
“We obviously don’t lay out our deepest, darkest feelings before every game but now we’re 11 or 12 weeks down the track, we were clearly underdone going into round one,” Scott said.
“Some of those players who made it to the line but weren’t quite at their best will be better for the extra couple of months of training.”
Midfielder Brandan Parfitt is a certain inclusion to take on the Hawks but ruck-forward Josh Jenkins (back spasm) will have to wait at least another week to make his club debut after 147 games with Essendon and Adelaide.
Defender Jake Kolodjashnij (hip) has also been ruled out.
Scott paid effusive tribute to superstar Patrick Dangerfield, who will reach the 250-game milestone when Hawthorn make the trip to GMHBA Stadium for the first time since 2006.
“He’s changed our footy club,” Scott said of the 2016 Brownlow medallist.
“He’s been transformational.
“Too often we roll out the cliche that it’s all about the team and everyone’s got to play their role.
“That’s true to an extent but also it overlooks the impact that some indvidiauls can have on the whole organisation… he’s going to go down as one of the alltime greats in my opinion.”
