Geelong has a history of taking a cautious approach with senior players returning from injury, and Scott prefers to give Tom Hawkins and Cam Guthrie more time to regain their fitness. However, he acknowledges that it’s time to take a chance on the veteran duo, while managing expectations for their performances upon return.
“When players have been out for a significant period, it’s unrealistic to expect them to perform at their best right away,” Scott explained. “Ideally, we want them to play well, but more importantly, we need to see how they move and handle the game.”
He added that even if they do well in the VFL, it doesn’t guarantee they’ll play in the AFL the following week, especially since the fixture details are still pending.
Scott emphasized the importance of their training following their VFL games. While he is hopeful that the three-time premiership player Hawkins and his 2022 premiership teammate Guthrie will return successfully, he remains cautious about selecting them based solely on their past achievements.
“We’re optimistic and leaving options open, but we must avoid getting distracted by their reputations,” he said. “Both have been pivotal players for us over the years, but we need to focus on the reality of their current situations. There are too many uncertainties to predict the outcomes clearly.”
Hawkins, 36, has been out for over two months due to a foot injury and announced in August that he will retire at season’s end. Meanwhile, Guthrie has played only ten games since the 2022 premiership, with four this year, and has been sidelined since round 10 due to an Achilles issue.
On another note, Scott is keeping quiet about versatile tall Sam De Koning, who is set to return from a knee injury against Port Adelaide. De Koning impressed as a ruckman in his recent VFL match but can also play in defense.
Scott also reassured fans about Tom Stewart (hamstring tightness) and Lawson Humphries (calf tightness), both of whom missed the second half of the round-24 victory over West Coast. He confirmed that both are available to play against Port Adelaide.