Geelong senior coach Chris Scott has confirmed the club will likely make just one change for their clash against the Bombers on Friday night, resting captain Patrick Dangerfield as they prioritise his workload ahead of September action.
As a result, 22-year-old midfielder Mitch Knevitt will make his return to the senior side for the first time since Easter Monday in what will be his sixth AFL game of the year.
Knevitt comes into the side off a strong patch of form in the VFL, collecting at least 20 disposals five times in his last six matches at reserve level. It includes a 30-disposal, six-mark and six-tackle outing against GWS in July.
"We will take [Dangerfield] out tomorrow," Scott told the media on Thursday.
"It gives him a chance to have a good training block, but obviously we have a shorter break going into tomorrow. Then we have a longer break, we don't play until Sunday week in Sydney. That was what we thought was the best plan for him.
"Knevitt will be in the 22."
There are several other players knocking at the door for an AFL recall, however, with youngster Jhye Clark also impressing Scott.
"Clark is right on the edge [of playing AFL] as well. He has been in great form on the training track and in the VFL," Scott said.
"He has played a slightly different role; we are excited that he is a little bit closer to the team."
Three key veterans will make their returns to football from injury via the VFL in the next fortnight too, with Jake Kolodjashnij, Cam Guthrie and Mitch Duncan making a pre-Finals selection crunch inevitable for the Cats.
"It is good for all three of them. They are all on the verge of playing," Scott said.
"Kolodjashnij will certainly play, he would have been right last week, so it is exciting to get him some VFL minutes.
"Mitch Duncan, we will just hold back for another week, off the back of that shoulder, but he is in good running form, as tends to happen with upper body injuries.
"With Cam Guthrie, we are still a little uncertain as to whether he will play or not. [He is] close, but the decision is yet to be made."
