Geelong could welcome back ruckman Rhys Stanley this Thursday according to General Manager of Football Simon Lloyd, while young guns Tanner Bruhn and Oisin Mullin will also be available for selection.
Stanley has been missing since the Round 5 clash with West Coast but returned through the VFL on Friday night, picking up 12 touches, 30 hit outs and four clearances.
“Rhys played three quarters of football and did a bit of top up running at the very end and we expect Rhys to be available this week,” Lloyd told geelongcats.com.au
“Obviously it's been a long period of time with Rhys's recovery from a facial fracture but great to have him back.”
Bruhn and Mullin are also expected to be in the mix after recovering from shoulder and adductor issues respectively.
“Tanner suffered a shoulder injury and was able to play out the game and Oisin missed with an adductor last week as well, so both those players have trained strongly today and we expect them to both be available this week.”
In further positive news, Sam Menegola and Shannon Neale will both see VFL action this Friday night against Casey and GMHBA Stadium.
“Sam's obviously come back from a long lay off with knee arthroscopes and Shannon Neale with ankle surgery, but they'll both return this week and play some VFL football," he said.
“It's really exciting for our fans, our supporters and our members and exciting for the club as well to have both Sam and Shannon return in the hoops this week.”
Big men Esava Ratugolea and Jonanthan Ceglar have both been training this week, but according to Lloyd it’s too early to tell as to when they can be expected back, other than to say Ratugolea is ‘very close’.
“Esava is training really well and hitting all of his high speed markers, so the decision will be made between Chris Scott and the coaching team, working very closely with the medical department, as to when he's available but he's very close.”
Finally, inspirational skipper Patrick Dangerfield’s return to play timetable is yet to be determined as the Brownlow Medallist makes his way back from rib and lung injuries suffered against Port Adelaide last Thursday night.
“We'll be guided by our medical team," Lloyd said.
‘He was obviously quite ginger post game but he's moving around freely now but it we will be guided by our medical team as to all of the results that they receive throughout the course of the week and we'll judge his availability in due course.”
