Geelong’s preparations for this week’s highly anticipated qualifying final against Brisbane have hit a potential snag, with veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley’s participation in doubt. The Cats are set to face the Lions at the MCG on Friday night, but Stanley’s absence from training sessions this week has raised concerns about his fitness.
According to 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, Stanley is dealing with a hamstring issue, a recurring problem that has plagued him in the past. Cleary reported on “The Agenda Setters” that despite speaking with multiple sources within Geelong, there was no confirmation of Stanley’s availability for the critical match.
“This is really interesting … speaking to four different people at Geelong, they were unable to confirm Stanley’s spot against Brisbane,” Cleary said. “I understand he is dealing with a hamstring concern. He has dealt with hamstring concerns in the past. Watch this space on Rhys Stanley with the Cats unable to guarantee he will be there on Friday night.”
Geelong’s Strategic Options
The Cats released their injury update on Tuesday afternoon, notably omitting any mention of Stanley. Throughout the season, Stanley has been a key player, appearing in 18 games and performing admirably in the ruck. However, should he be unavailable, Geelong has several alternatives to consider.
Versatile utility Mark Blicavs is a strong candidate to fill Stanley’s role, while Sam De Koning and Shannon Neale are also capable of stepping in. Neale is set to return to the side after serving a suspension that kept him out of the final-round victory over Richmond. His inclusion is expected to be one of two changes, with Irish player Mark O’Connor also in line for a recall.
Additionally, Mitch Knevitt, who began the last match as a substitute, and Jed Bews are on the brink of selection, contingent upon any further injuries.
Max Holmes: Overcoming Past Challenges
Meanwhile, Geelong’s star midfielder Max Holmes is preparing to play his 100th game, facing a familiar opponent in the finals. Holmes has been candid about not carrying the mental burdens that affected his previous finals performances. Last year, he was sidelined from Geelong’s grand final win due to a hamstring injury sustained in the preliminary final against the Lions, and he was substituted out of the previous year’s preliminary final loss to the same team with another hamstring issue.
“Actually, I think a little bit last year I did, and going into that game, I was a bit of a wreck,” Holmes admitted. “I got sick before the game. I don’t know how much my mental stuff going into the game affected that. It might have, I don’t know. This year, I’ve been a lot more comfortable with that, and I’ve been pretty open moving into this game with how I felt last year. I feel pretty comfortable this week.”
Holmes emphasized his focus on not overemphasizing these games, stating, “I haven’t wanted to put an over-emphasis on these games. So there hasn’t been too much work into it, because I don’t want to work on it just for the finals and then panic because of all I’ve worked it up to be.”
Holmes’ Stellar Season and Team Dynamics
Holmes, who enjoyed a career-best season last year, has maintained his impressive form, averaging 26.9 disposals and 619 meters gained, alongside kicking 11 goals. His performance has met his own high expectations, further bolstered by the addition of high-profile recruit Bailey Smith.
“He’s been great for my game,” Holmes said. “At the start of the year, especially considering I had a better year last year, I got a bit of a breakout year, I kind of put a lot of expectation on myself this year. And I think that was really eased by the fact that Bailey went well, and I felt like it was less necessary for me to play out of my boots.”
Smith, who recently opened up about his time in a mental health facility last year, has been a supportive presence for Holmes. Holmes recalled their initial meeting over coffee when Smith joined Geelong, appreciating Smith’s openness about his personal challenges.
“He was real open about all the things he’s been through through his life, and he’s on a platform a lot, and he’s in the spotlight a lot,” Holmes said. “That stuff’s hard, and it was really brave of him the other day to talk about that stuff. He’s been really vocal with us, and I think that was part of him thinking that we were concerned with some of the off-field antics, which wasn’t the case anyway. But he was really keen to speak to us about what he’s been through and how he’s working towards it going forward. He’s been really good like that. We really trust him because of that and it was really great what he did.”
As Geelong prepares for the crucial match against Brisbane, the uncertainty surrounding Stanley’s fitness adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling contest. The Cats will need to draw on their depth and resilience as they aim to secure a victory and advance further in the finals series.
