Smith set for quick return to bolster red-hot Cats

The Advertiser

9 hours ago

Geelong coach Chris Scott expects superstar Bailey Smith to miss just one match with his hamstring setback, but must wait to learn the full extent of Shannon Neale's ankle injury.
Smith was put through a fitness test before the Cats' 9.7 (61) to 5.7 (37) win over Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday and was a late withdrawal.
Midfield partner Max Holmes shone in his absence, tallying 40 disposals and 10 clearances, while Tyson Stengle kicked four goals in the low-scoring contest.
A fourth straight victory lifted Geelong into the top four with a 9-4 record ahead of a clash with Essendon at the MCG next Saturday night.
Scott said Smith had lingering hamstring tightness and a corked quadriceps out of the Cats' win over West Coast in round 12, and was not worth risking against the Suns.
But he is "very, very confident" the 24-year-old midfielder will return against the Bombers.
"He had a fitness test a few hours before the game and just didn't feel confident," Scott said.
"Our tolerance for that sort of situation with any player, much less one like Bailey who depends so much on his running, is generally low.
"It was a pretty easy decision to pull him out, but then I'm told he went and did a 6-7km session.
"It was a situation where he was good enough to train but not good enough to play, which leads us to believe he'll be fine for next week."
Neale rolled his left ankle while contesting a boundary throw-in in the second quarter against Gold Coast and was substituted out before halftime.
The 203cm key forward had kicked 14 goals in 12 appearances this season, becoming increasingly important to the Cats' attacking set-up.
"He may well have a scan and be pretty good, but there was enough doubt there that it wasn't one that they wanted him to play through," Scott said.
Stengle was the game's only multiple goal-kicker, his four goals proving the difference in a match played in difficult conditions.
"He is right up there with the best wet-weather small forwards that I've seen," Scott said.
"He is just so clean and so clever, and for his size he's just so strong over the ball as well.
"He was a real threat all night."
Geelong coach Chris Scott expects superstar Bailey Smith to miss just one match with his hamstring setback, but must wait to learn the full extent of Shannon Neale's ankle injury.
Smith was put through a fitness test before the Cats' 9.7 (61) to 5.7 (37) win over Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday and was a late withdrawal.
Midfield partner Max Holmes shone in his absence, tallying 40 disposals and 10 clearances, while Tyson Stengle kicked four goals in the low-scoring contest.
A fourth straight victory lifted Geelong into the top four with a 9-4 record ahead of a clash with Essendon at the MCG next Saturday night.
Scott said Smith had lingering hamstring tightness and a corked quadriceps out of the Cats' win over West Coast in round 12, and was not worth risking against the Suns.
But he is "very, very confident" the 24-year-old midfielder will return against the Bombers.
"He had a fitness test a few hours before the game and just didn't feel confident," Scott said.
"Our tolerance for that sort of situation with any player, much less one like Bailey who depends so much on his running, is generally low.
"It was a pretty easy decision to pull him out, but then I'm told he went and did a 6-7km session.
"It was a situation where he was good enough to train but not good enough to play, which leads us to believe he'll be fine for next week."
Neale rolled his left ankle while contesting a boundary throw-in in the second quarter against Gold Coast and was substituted out before halftime.
The 203cm key forward had kicked 14 goals in 12 appearances this season, becoming increasingly important to the Cats' attacking set-up.
"He may well have a scan and be pretty good, but there was enough doubt there that it wasn't one that they wanted him to play through," Scott said.
Stengle was the game's only multiple goal-kicker, his four goals proving the difference in a match played in difficult conditions.
"He is right up there with the best wet-weather small forwards that I've seen," Scott said.
"He is just so clean and so clever, and for his size he's just so strong over the ball as well.
"He was a real threat all night."
Geelong coach Chris Scott expects superstar Bailey Smith to miss just one match with his hamstring setback, but must wait to learn the full extent of Shannon Neale's ankle injury.
Smith was put through a fitness test before the Cats' 9.7 (61) to 5.7 (37) win over Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday and was a late withdrawal.
Midfield partner Max Holmes shone in his absence, tallying 40 disposals and 10 clearances, while Tyson Stengle kicked four goals in the low-scoring contest.
A fourth straight victory lifted Geelong into the top four with a 9-4 record ahead of a clash with Essendon at the MCG next Saturday night.
Scott said Smith had lingering hamstring tightness and a corked quadriceps out of the Cats' win over West Coast in round 12, and was not worth risking against the Suns.
But he is "very, very confident" the 24-year-old midfielder will return against the Bombers.
"He had a fitness test a few hours before the game and just didn't feel confident," Scott said.
"Our tolerance for that sort of situation with any player, much less one like Bailey who depends so much on his running, is generally low.
"It was a pretty easy decision to pull him out, but then I'm told he went and did a 6-7km session.
"It was a situation where he was good enough to train but not good enough to play, which leads us to believe he'll be fine for next week."
Neale rolled his left ankle while contesting a boundary throw-in in the second quarter against Gold Coast and was substituted out before halftime.
The 203cm key forward had kicked 14 goals in 12 appearances this season, becoming increasingly important to the Cats' attacking set-up.
"He may well have a scan and be pretty good, but there was enough doubt there that it wasn't one that they wanted him to play through," Scott said.
Stengle was the game's only multiple goal-kicker, his four goals proving the difference in a match played in difficult conditions.
"He is right up there with the best wet-weather small forwards that I've seen," Scott said.
"He is just so clean and so clever, and for his size he's just so strong over the ball as well.
"He was a real threat all night."