Prized recruit Tanner Bruhn will return to Geelong’s beginning line-up in opposition to Adelaide because the reigning premiers search to increase their AFL successful streak to 5 matches.
Bruhn, a former first-round draft decide traded in from GWS final yr, performed the opening three video games of the season for his new aspect because the Cats fell right into a 0-3 gap.
The 19-year-old sat out for 3 weeks however labored his approach again because the substitute in opposition to Essendon in spherical seven, kicking two targets from 11 disposals in little greater than half a recreation.
Geelong coach Chris Scott confirmed Bruhn will begin in opposition to in-form Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
“He didn’t go out of our team because he had some deficiencies that he needed to go and work on,” Scott stated.
“It was more a matter of we’ve got a pretty deep midfield and there is no disgrace at all at being moved out of our midfield because Patrick Dangerfield came back in, or those sort of guys.
“Tanner goes to be a very good long-term prospect for us however greater than that I’m actually assured that he will assist us so much within the quick time period.”
Ruck Jon Ceglar and Zach Tuohy also return to the Cats’ 22, with the veteran Irish defender overcoming back spasms that kept him sidelined last week.
Jack Bowes (calf), Gary Rohan (hamstring) and Sam De Koning (nose) are out injured.
Interestingly, Oisin Mullin (soreness) was withdrawn from the extended squad late on Friday and replaced by No.8 draft pick Jhye Clark, who could make his debut.
Scott has been keen to protect highly-rated Clark from the media spotlight, shutting down questions about the talented midfield prospect, who had 29 disposals in a strong VFL showing last week.
“Jhye’s going to be a gun and we’re so enthusiastic about him, and I can perceive why you are enthusiastic about him too,” Scott instructed reporters on Friday.
“But we will let when he is enjoying with loads of discover and till I carry it up, I’m not going to speak about him.”
Adelaide have been one of the competition’s biggest surprise packets this season, climbing into finals contention on the back of an exciting brand of football under fourth-year coach Matthew Nicks.
The Crows enter Saturday’s contest with an identical record to Geelong (4-3) and while it has been almost 20 years since they won at Kardinia Park, Scott dismissed Adelaide’s historical travel woes as irrelevant.
“What is extra related is how they’ve gone during the last month and so they’ve been excellent, so it is going to be a problem,” Scott stated.
“But on the opposite aspect, we really feel like we’re enjoying significantly better footy than we had been early within the season.
“Every club around the competition has got their challenges right at the moment, mainly because the competition is so even and there’s not much room to move if you get a few injuries.
“If you are a little bit bit off in anybody recreation you possibly can actually get damage, particularly in opposition to good opposition, which the Crows clearly are.”
Adelaide have named an unchanged line-up after having their four-match winning streak snapped in a heartbreaking one-point defeat to Collingwood last round.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a most temperature of 14C and thunderstorms, together with doable hail, for the Crows’ go to to inhospitable Geelong.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
