Geelong coach Chris Scott says premiership pair Mitch Duncan and Rhys Stanley will have a role to play during the 2025 season despite being named as emergencies for tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon’s Round 1 meeting with Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium.
Duncan, who sits on 296 games, will play a half in the VFL practice match against Port Melbourne tomorrow morning at Deakin University, while Stanley won’t feature, instead likely to be an AFL carryover.
“Probably the best way to describe it would be that it’s a series of ongoing conversations that have been going on over a period of almost years with that cohort, not just those two in particular,” Scott said.
“So it wasn’t a case of radio silence and then hit with a sledgehammer before Round 1.
“I wouldn’t like to elaborate too much in terms of the way we’re thinking there, only for fear that things will change and it will look like I haven’t given accurate information.
“But, those two guys in particular, we think are going to be a really important piece of our squad over the course of the year, but they won’t play every game.
“We’re certain that they’ll play AFL footy, you know, this year, but we’re going to be selective.”
Premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij will also be missing as he battles a groin injury.
Listed as three weeks away by the Cats earlier in the week, Scott says the club is taking a conservative approach with the 29-year-old, who is just two games away from joining the 200 Club.
Every situation is unique when it comes to injury, in particular,” Scott said. “But if you wanted to bucket this one a little bit, it is in the category of us wanting to be a little more conservative early in the year.
“My feedback from our performance team is that they may have handled it a little bit differently if we were towards the end of the season.
“But this is a situation where just taking a little bit longer than you may need and getting this right would give him every chance of having an uninterrupted season.
“So my guess, watching him train, is that he’ll be sitting there thinking, ‘Why aren’t I playing?’
“But it’s a bit of an investment in our medium-term future.”
Yes – that is Toby Conway doing some ruck work at Geelong training this morning.
— Kingy (@tom_king79) March 13, 2025
CC @rodashman pic.twitter.com/S0AE4OuykM
In some positive news, big man Toby Conway appeared to move freely in craft and running drills as he continues to put a back issue behind him.
“He’s making really good progress,” Scott said. “But I feel like I’m a broken record with Toby – and put Mitch Edwards in that category as well.
“We’re really optimistic about both of them. But it is going to be a cautious sort of build with them.
“Mitch is pretty close to being ready to be let go and get really good minutes at VFL level; Toby’s a bit behind that.
“But, yeah, it is nice for all of our people to sort of see two 208-centimetre guys who are going to be available at some point soon.”
X: @krockfootball
