MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Tom Stewart of the Cats runs onto the field during the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 24, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
All-Australian Geelong defender Tom Stewart could reportedly make a surprisingly early return to senior action against the Gold Coast Suns this weekend, just two weeks after suffering an initially-feared-serious knee injury during the Cats' Round 1 bout with Collingwood.
Stewart, Geelong's defensive general, succumbed to a Grade 2 MCL strain following an incident against the Magpies, subsequently missing the Cats' Round 2 loss to Carlton last Thursday night, and was expected by many to be rubbed out for up to a month.
However, according to the Geelong Advertiser's Josh Barnes, we could potentially see Stewart named among coach Chris Scott's side to battle the Suns on Sunday.
Despite Stewart's possible return this weekend, the Cats, after starting its premiership defence with two losses, prepare to go into Sunday's crucial clash without Jack Henry, who continues to spend time on the sidelines as he recovers from foot surgery in February.
Geelong is scheduled to battle Gold Coast at Heritage Bank Stadium on Sunday, April 2 at 2:10 PM AEDT.