Geelong have resisted the urge to recall Tom Hawkins for his or her do-or-die preliminary remaining conflict with Brisbane.
Coach Chris Scott confirmed on Wednesday night time that the 36-year previous triple-premiership champion, who has performed only one VFL match since sustaining a severe foot damage in June, has not been deemed match sufficient for a recall.
Fellow veteran Cameron Guthrie may also miss out on choice, who additionally performed within the Cats’ VFL semi remaining loss to Southport a fortnight in the past on the comeback path from foot accidents which have restricted him to simply 4 video games in 2024 and none since Spherical 10.
“We don’t assume that Hawkins and Guthrie and match and obtainable this week,” Scott mentioned on Seven’s Speaking Footy.
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“They’ve performed a exceptional job, actually, from the place they got here from to get themselves within the place the place we had to consider it loads – however we’ve simply made the decision up to now that they’re not going to be fairly prepared.”
The decision is ready to finish Hawkins’ glittering profession, with the important thing ahead nice having booted 796 objectives from 359 video games since making his debut in 2007, with 5 All-Australians, the 2020 Coleman Medal and 11 Cats main goalkicker awards amongst a string of honours to his identify.
Nevertheless, Scott wouldn’t rule out recalling both Hawkins or Guthrie for the grand remaining, ought to the Cats defeat the Lions and e-book their spot on the final Saturday in September for the third time in 5 years.
“That [not selecting Hawkins and Guthrie for the preliminary final] actually doesn’t preclude them from being obtainable subsequent week, in order that’s thrilling for us – if we’re adequate,” Scott unhappy.
“It was a detailed name, however not shut sufficient that we weren’t assured to make the decision by now.”
With Hawkins dominated out, Scott’s curliest choice dilemma is now whether or not to recall younger swingman Sam De Koning, who was surprisingly unnoticed of the Cats’ qualifying remaining line-up regardless of being cleared to play following a knee damage.
The 23-year previous, who was instrumental within the Cats’ 2022 premiership as a key defender, has been used usually as a ruckman in 2024, although veterans Rhys Stanley and Mark Blicavs are anticipated to tackle these duties in Saturday night time’s preliminary remaining.
Scott confirmed De Koning was closely within the choice combine on Speaking Footy, whereas on Fox Footy’s Midweek Sort out, Information Corp journalist Josh Barnes revealed a unprecedented stat in his favour: that in three video games towards the Lions against Joe Daniher, the Lions star and semi remaining hero has only one aim to his identify.
“He’s performed on him 3 times up to now three years; Joe Daniher has kicked one aim in 237 minutes against Sam De Koning,” Barnes mentioned.”
“They must play him,” co-host Jay Clark added.
Tom Hawkins (Picture by Quinn Rooney/Getty Photos)
Petracca slammed for name to skip Dees’ B&F
Melbourne star Christian Petracca may need confirmed he’ll be remaining a Demon for 2025 regardless of shock current commerce rumours – however his choice to skip the membership’s upcoming greatest and fairest night time has raised eyebrows.
The 2021 Norm Smith Medallist has reportedly raised the ire of teammates for his repeated absences across the membership since struggling horrific, life-threatening inside accidents within the Demons’ King’s Birthday loss to Collingwood.
He revealed on Wednesday that he will probably be attending a Crimson Bull coaching camp in Austria in lieu of the Dees’ greatest and fairest night, including additional gas to rumours fences between the membership and their greatest star are but to be mended, regardless of the Demons giving it their approval.
“This coaching camp is essential for Christian, each from a efficiency and psychological wellbeing perspective,” Melbourne health boss Selwyn Griffith mentioned.
Petracca additionally appeared in a function video on the Dees’ web site on Wednesday speaking by his arduous restoration course of, with the damage damaging him each bodily and mentally.
“It’ll be superior in all probability from a psychological perspective, getting again to that confidence in myself and my physique, able to assault day certainly one of pre-season,” Petracca mentioned.
“For me it’s simply been probably the most wonderful expertise, with the ability to use their [Red Bull’s] services and have entry to among the greatest excessive efficiency folks on the earth.
“I would like to have the ability to compete and get again out on the ‘G in spherical 1 for the followers, and be actually excited to run again on the market.”
Talking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Gerard Whateley described the Petracca footage as ‘like hostage movies’, whereas co-host Mark Robinson was not sure whether or not lacking the night time was the correct name.
“Individuals assume it’s a fractured soccer membership,” Robinson mentioned of the Demons.
“To have Christian Petracca stroll in on greatest and fairest night time and make a speech to the trustworthy – not in a hostage state of affairs – however standing up in entrance of 1000 folks, I believe that might have been actually highly effective.
“However he’s going away and going to get himself proper, he’s going to come back again and play good soccer subsequent 12 months.
“I’m a bit torn on that one to be trustworthy, I perceive either side. I’m not being condemning or congratulating both.”
Former nice Matthew Lloyd was even much less impressed, saying Petracca confirmed ‘an actual lack of knowledge’ together with his choice.
“He will get paid his cash to characterize Melbourne,” Lloyd mentioned.
“It’s certainly one of their main features for the 12 months.
“Think about the following participant that turns up and says to the membership ‘one thing has popped up for me, are you proper if I miss the most effective and fairest?’. That’s why you have got issues inside a membership, if there’s guidelines for some and guidelines for others.”
Petracca’s reported eagerness to hunt a commerce was a late-season bombshell amid the Demons’ poor on-field run that noticed them miss the finals for the primary time since 2020.
Nevertheless, with the 28-year previous contracted till the top of 2029, it quickly turned clear no membership was ready to supply something as a part of a commerce the Dees could be pleased with.
