With an 11-day break and plenty of movement on the injury front, this week’s team selection will be an interesting discussion for the club’s selection panel.

With five games in 19 days on the horizon for the Cats, how the club manages its playing stocks could have a big impact on the outcome of the season.

Joel Selwood is doubt after injuring his hamstring against the Magpies last Thursday night, while Jordan Clark will make way after dislocating his shoulder.

Geelong was unable to play a Reserves inter-club scratch match last week due to its Perth quarantine, so could be forced to make selections based on training form. 

Tom Stewart

Cats GM of Football Simon Lloyd labelled Tom Stewart ‘highly likely’ to be available for selection earlier this week and after a strong week on the track, last year’s All Australian hasn’t hurt his chances for a rapid recall from a broken collarbone.

Mitch Duncan

Duncan was left out of the team to take on Collingwood after injuring his hamstring in the opening stages of the club’s Round 6 encounter with Brisbane.

With an extended break and a strong week of training in his legs, Duncan will be putting his hand up at the selection table.

Charlie Constable

With Selwood under an injury cloud, Constable could offer a like-for-like positional swap for the Skipper. This could be the opportunity the inside mid has been waiting for, after being on the outs since early last year after playing seven of the first nine matches in 2019.

Francis Evans

Evans was rewarded for his strong scratch match form with an emergency spot for the club’s matchup with Collingwood last week. The progression suggests last year’s pick number 41 can’t be too far from the mark.

Tom Atkins

Continuing to work his way back from a rib injury, the pressure forward is progressing and will be aiming to return to the side sooner rather than later.

Brad Close

The mature-aged small forward draftee impressed during the Cats' pre-season and hasn’t done anything to hurt his selection chances since the Cats took the show on the road in early July. A smoky to make his debut with plenty of opportunities likely to become available during the compressed back half of the season.  

Lachie Fogarty

Fogarty has overcome the injury troubles that plagued his pre-season and has been impressing through the midfield in the club’s scratch matches. With 17 AFL games to his name, Fogarty continues to put his hand up and is ready to go should an opportunity fall his way.

Zach Guthrie

Guthrie has been on the cusp of selection for an extended period of time now, consistently featuring in the emergencies week in and week out. Looks to have settled down back after playing Round 1 on the wing.

James Parsons

Similar to Guthrie, Parsons is ready and waiting for another crack at AFL level.