Geelong are confident captain Joel Selwood will be fit for round one after his hamstring scare in Alice Springs.

Injury-plagued ruckman Hamish McIntosh is also pushing for selection against Adelaide on March 20 at Simonds Stadium after he made an encouraging comeback to senior football.

But teammate Billie Smedts is in tribunal trouble after he was booked for his crude spoil on Jimmy Toumpas.

Selwood pulled up and grabbed his right upper hamstring in the first term of Friday night’s 13-point win over Melbourne.

He left the ground immediately, but Cats officials said it was more hamstring awareness than an injury.

“For those really, really minor hamstring concerns, scans are a waste of time,” coach Chris Scott said post-match.

“The short-term prognosis is that he’ll be fine.”

Selwood had missed Geelong’s first pre-season game as he completed his recovery from foot surgery.

While the star onballer’s early exit dominated talk about the game, the Cats were also rapt with McIntosh.

It was his first game since round seven 2012, when he was still playing for North Melbourne.

“How good was that? It was really good to see him out there,” Scott said.

“We didn’t really care how he played, to be honest, so it’s a start.

“We know Hamish has got a long way to go, but I thought he competed really strongly for a guy that virtually hasn’t played for three years.”

Scott said pre-match that McIntosh would play for 30 minutes – he was on the ground for 46.

“It felt like I was going to have a heart attack early, but it’s exciting,” McIntosh told Fox Footy.

“It’s been a long road, a tough journey for the last two years, but it’s great to be out there playing footy.

“I was excited, I felt like a kid.

“Hopefully it’s the start of a good year ahead.”

McIntosh has added importance for Geelong after fellow big man Nathan Vardy was ruled out for the season a few days ago with a knee reconstruction.

Scott said McIntosh is a contender for round one, but they are still working out their ruck combination.

Smedts might not be available for the season opener after his roundhouse spoil collected Toumpas across the head.

Several Melbourne players remonstrated with the young Cat, but Toumpas was able to play out the game.

Much-hyped Melbourne teenager Jesse Hogan produced an eye-catching performance on Friday night in his first senior game.

Hogan showed good poise and took seven marks, as well as kicking a goal.