Why Geelong coach Chris Scott says he could live to regret axing veteran Zach Tuohy for preliminary final
Geelong coach Chris Scott has admitted he may be making a mistake axing veteran Zach Tuohy for their preliminary final against Brisbane on Saturday evening at the MCG.
The Cats earned the week off after a stellar 84-point qualifying final win over the Power in Adelaide, with Tuohy the sub in that match.
However, Scott made the call to omit the veteran, who has already confirmed this season will be his last, to make way for five-time All-Australian defender and vice-captain, Tom Stewart.
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Stewart missed Geelong's win in the first week of September, due to an illness that forced him to fly back home.
But it seems Scott was pretty keen to get the 2022 premiership player back in.
Zach Tuohy at training before Geelong's preliminary final against Brisbane. Getty
It came at the cost of Tuohy.
And Scott did not take the decision lightly, admitting they could been making a big mistake not having Tuohy available to them against the Lions.
"It was one of the harder calls that I think we've had to make in a long, long time," Scott said on Friday.
"I'm not even sure it's the right call. But it's a call we made."
Chris Scott looks on during Geelong's qualifying final against Port Adelaide. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Geelong also opted to leave out key defender Sam De Koning, who only returned via the VFL two weeks ago from injury.
"The obvious one with Sam is, that he hasn't had the preparation that some of our other guys have had," Scott said.
Veterans Tom Hawkins and Cam Guthrie trained with the main group on Friday, despite the pair missing out on selection again.
Scott declared that Hawkins, who is retiring at the end of Geelong's campaign, and Guthrie, who hasn't played a full season since the end of 2022, would both be considered if a grand final was reached.
Zach Tuohy and Tom Hawkins train at GMHBA Stadium ahead of Geelong's preliminary final against Brisbane. Getty
"If we're good enough on Saturday night, then the conversation changes again," he said.
"We go back to square one and work through that painstaking process again."
The Cats head into their 13th preliminary final in 18 years at the MCG on Saturday night against Brisbane.
The winner faces Sydney in the grand final next week.
