Two-time Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron appears likely to return for Geelong this weekend, in ominous signs for Richmond - the club's under-manned opponent.
Cameron hasn't been sighted at any level since gruesomely injuring his AC joint on July 11th in a clash with the GWS Giants.
His coach, Chris Scott, offered that his spearhead was a chance to feature in last week's win over the Kangaroos, when asked if he "expects" Cameron to return for Round 24 action.
“I am, actually," Scott said.
"Even this early in the week, based on the last couple of weeks he's had. There was a discussion last week, as to whether he might play that game. It's simplistic, but if he was in consideration last week, I'd expect him to play this week."
Nearing his 300th game, there are no expectations the popular figure will experience managed minutes in his return.
“We're in the position now where, with him in particular, we wouldn't play him unless he was ready to go. In my mind, the conversations we were having in the past fortnight lead me to believe that this is potentially a little bit later a return than he could have had, but it leaves me more confident - he's got more training under his belt and he's ready to play normally," Scott said.
After a fortnight of headlines, Jake Kolodjashnij will once again abstain from football this week, Scott offered, when answering questions around the progress of the AFL's investigation.
“There may well have been (an update from the AFL), but it hasn't come through to me, and I don't expect it to," Scott said.
"Like a few things in the AFL at the moment, I would assume that you, the media, would hear before me. Maybe you're more willing to speculate than I am, maybe that's the reason."
Kolodjashnij's premiership teammate and backline colleague, Sam de Koning, missed the club's win over the Kangaroos, but is likely to feature against the Tigers.
“He had a knee issue; they tell me it's a bursa. Available this week, assuming that training goes well enough," Scott said. James Worpel and Oliver Wiltshire appear to have escaped major injury, too, with Scott offering the former's hamstring injury will be the "standard" two to four week recovery.
The latest scandal engulfing the AFL, that being the alleged behaviour of certain Sydney Swans on Sunday night, has raised questions around the introduction of a 'no-fault stand down policy', similar to the one employed by the NRL.
Scott called Tanner Bruhn's suspension from AFL activities an "egregious injustice" last year, but was more nuanced in his assessment of this latest scandal.
“In the context of that investigation, I've got nothing to say; I know nothing about it," Scott began.
“More broadly, I'd have to think about it a little bit more. My initial response to that proposal - I know the NRL have a similar policy - is it seems to me that there's pros and cons.
“Depending on the situation, you could look at it and say “well that actually fits this situation,” and then you could look at another situation and say “well no, that's a really limiting factor, that seems to be an injustice,” and then there's a whole range of situations that fall in between. It's an interesting discussion for others to have."
Finding his most potent mix of weapons is high on the dual premiership coach's agenda as yet another finals tilt arrives, and he refused to rule out a debut for any of the club's strong VFL team members.
“I still remember, vividly, (Brisbane's) Darcy Wilmot making his debut in a final, in a really good team," Scott said.
"It can be done. We're open to the idea, but it's one of many considerations we have; I just don't feel comfortable outlining exactly how we're thinking about the next two weeks."
Potential debutants aside, Scott encouraged fringe players to keep their chins up while plying their trade in a high-flying twos outfit.
"(James) Worpel, George Stevens has been really good for us all year, Jack Bowes is in that category, Mitch Knevitt's in that category. Hopefully it's encouraging for those guys that Jhye Clark and James Worpel, who were in a similar boat to those guys, have come in and played really well at AFL level.
"It should give them the confidence that we're thinking about them.”
“We're relatively positive about the shape we're in.”
