Geelong coach Chris Scott understands the interest in the injured Tom Stewart, who failed to overcome a grumbling knee issue to face GWS on Sunday at GMHBA Stadium.
Stewart's season to date has been marred by persistent injuries, which started when he was subbed from the Round 2 loss against St Kilda with a PCL injury.
The five-time All-Australian has been in and out of the side since, and now has missed two consecutive weeks with what Scott revealed as having nothing to do with the Saints injury.
"I'd be very surprised if Tom Stewart isn't available next week," Scott said.
"The takeaway for everyone is we think it's best to be more conservative with him, and have him play only when he's really right to go.
"Our impression was Tom wouldn't miss at all post the Carlton game, and now he's going to miss two, which seems a bit different to the expectation."
Premiership defender Jed Bews will feature in his first senior game of 2025, who will be joined by Gryan Miers and Ted Clohesy, with Lawson Humphries (concussion) and Rhys Stanley (hamstring) out with injury and Oli Wiltshire dropped.
Scott revealed that Bews has kept his fitness up during his finger injury, meaning when he was called upon, he was ready for the rigours of AFL football.
"He could run very quickly, a matter of days, post-surgery, so he's in really good shape, we feel like we're bringing in a fresh player who is ready to play well as opposed to one who has missed quite a bit of footy even though that is the reality," Scott said.
However, the news isn't as positive for fellow defender Jake Kolodjashnij, who was ruled out of the Cats' VFL curtain-raiser on Sunday with injury.
Scott revealed Kolodjashnij's issues were more to do with his back than his previous groin issue.
"He's just been managing it on an ongoing basis," he said.
"He's just pulled up a little bit sore here and there โฆ he was going really well, looking like he was going to have a really good session, woke up with a back spasm.
"Sort of unrelated (to the groin), but if you've ever had pelvis, lower back issues, nothing is unrelated down there."
