Geelong’s elimination final on Friday will arrive too soon for first-season sensation Esava Ratugolea, who has all but been ruled out by coach Chris Scott.

Ratugolea battled in Geelong’s VFL finals loss to Casey on Saturday, marking his return from a broken leg suffered in round 10.

The 20-year-old was off the pace at a blustery Casey Fields, leading Scott to label a recall to senior football “unlikely”.

“The likelihood is that Sav would need at least another game in the VFL which he will get this week on the back of the team losing,” Scott told the Sunday Footy Show.

“Everyone’s timing was out at Casey Fields with the wind yesterday. It was a hard day for big forwards and a tough day for our VFL team overall.”

Scott will need to make a call on big man Rhys Stanley, who subdued Max Gawn in their most recent meeting, but has played just once in a month as he battles a calf problem.

“We brought him back after missing a week for the Hawthorn game … and didn’t get through the first quarter,” Scott said.

“Gawn is clearly a great player, so we are going to struggle enough with 22 players on the field. We can’t afford to lose one. So that’s probably the thing foremost in our thinking.”

The Cats lost by 91 points and will play a semi-final next week.

Melbourne were buoyed by the sight of captain Jack Viney at training for the first time in two months.

The Demons had several players pushing on the door for their first final in 12 years with strong showings.

Jayden Hunt, Cam Pedersen, Mitch Hannan and Tom Bugg impressed, while Joel Smith returned from a collarbone injury.

“They all in various ways had a big impact on the game,” Demons VFL coach Jade Rawlings told the Herald Sun.

On Saturday night, Dan Butler kicked the first goal of the game as he proved his fitness from an ankle injury.

The premiership-winning forward is in the frame for Thursday night’s qualifying final with Hawthorn.

Hawthorn runner James Cousins also threw himself into contention for that match after a three-vote performance in Box Hill’s elimination final win.

Cousins and dropped defender Taylor Duryea helped the Hawks beat Port Melbourne by 11 points in extra time.

Daniel Howe also turned out in the reserves after a five-week absence due to suspension.