TheBendigo Bank Cats could welcome back up to four AFL-listed players in their ABCTV match against Werribee at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.
Coach Leigh Tudor confirmed last night Henry Playfair,Liam Bedford and Nathan Djerrkura were strong chances to return from injury,while a last-minute decision will be made on the fitness of Ryan Gamble.
“All havegot to get through training tomorrow and all being well we should have, Ithink, all of them back,” Tudor said.
“Gamblemight be another week - Gamble’s the biggest test of the lot - but the otherthree, if they get through training, they’ll be right to play.”
Rookie-listedTodd Grima will miss after accepting a one-match ban for striking in lastweek’s comeback win over the Northern Bullants.
Geelong sits on top of the VFL ladder,entrenched in the top four and will play finals this season.
The Catshave implemented the same enterprising, free-scoring brand of football that hasbeen reaping the rewards for the AFL side this season.
They arethe most prolific scorers and boast the competition’s healthiest percentage, ahigh standard that Tudor says the Cats will be desperate to sustain.
“We’vehad some pretty high standards that we’ve set this year so we just want to makesure that we put in a good performance,” Tudor said.
“We needto use the ball well, win the contested ball and use it well, that will be ouraim again.”
Werribeehas overcome a sluggish start to the season to emerge as one of thecompetition’s dark horses.
With twowins in excess of 100 points, and last week running rings around Casey, theTigers have been intent on obliterating teams when they grab the ascendancy.
Tudorexpects a similar mindset this week, with the Tigers – who are the secondhighest scoring team in the VFL - likely to jump out of the starting blocks todeclare themselves early in the match.
“It will be a really big test,” Tudor said.
“The Bulldogs haven’t got a lot of injuries, they’ve got alot of their AFL players playing so there’s just quality there to startwith.
“Their VFL-listed players have all hit form in the lastthree or four weeks, so they’ll come down here ready to play, we’re going tohave to match their intensity and then increase (our intensity) as well.
Several high profile Western Bulldogs players could play,including returning veteran Chris Grant.
Werribeecoach Simon Atkins said former Geelong rookie Nick Batchelor “did not have agreat influence on the game” against Casey last week, while 2005 rookie JarrodGarth is teetering on senior selection after averaging six goals per game inthe VFL reserves this season.
The match will be telecast live into Victoria on ABC TV from 1pm, while Double X1611AM will broadcast the match live from midday.
Geelongmembers receive free entry.
Theaction gets underway from 1.10pm on Saturday.
