Geelong players have no injury concerns - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Geelong players have no injury concerns

By Sam Lienert 12/09/2010 03:22:54 PM Comments (0)

Geelong are confident minor injury concerns will not stop James Podsiadly and Paul Chapman playing in Friday night's AFL preliminary final against Collingwood.

The pair both left the field late in the first half of Friday night's comfortable semi-final win over Fremantle, Podsiadly after hurting his knee and Chapman after copping a knock to the hamstring.

Both played out the match and Chapman took part in a light training session on Sunday, although Podsiadly, who kicked three first-half goals against the Dockers, missed the hit-out.

But Cats assistant coach Blake Caracella said there were no doubts over either player facing Collingwood.

"Both players are fine," Caracella told reporters on Sunday.

"Chappy had a bit of a sore leg. We used a bit of caution with him as he's got a history of doing hamstrings over the past three or four years and Podsy is fine."

The lack of notable injury concerns will make it difficult for either dual premiership defender Andrew Mackie or back-up ruckman Mark Blake, who played in last year's flag, to force their way in.

Both were dropped for the clash with the Dockers, after being regulars throughout the season.

Coach Mark Thompson indicated after Friday night's match it would be tough to find a spot for Mackie.

He guaranteed tall defenders Matthew Scarlett, Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan, Mackie's replacement, would all play against Collingwood.

He also praised Josh Hunt, who along with Lonergan was seen as the most likely selection casualty if Mackie returns to the Cats' defence.

"We feel that Josh has had a great year, he didn't have a great week last week (against St Kilda), but to do what he's done in a year coming back from a knee reconstruction has been outstanding and I've got a lot of confidence in Josh," Thompson said.

Caracella said Mackie's attitude had been "fantastic" at training despite his shock demotion.

The Magpies won by 22 points when the two sides last met, in round 19, thrashing Geelong in winning the contested ball and almost doubling them in entries to their forward 50m arc.

Caracella said the Cats had learnt from that contest, with ball movement a key, after the majority of Collingwood's goals resulted from turnovers.

"Collingwood put a fantastic amount of pressure on their opposition and we've got to make sure we don't turn the ball over as much as we did last time," he said.

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