Geelong captain Joel Selwood will not play against GWS on Saturday night at Spotless Stadium following the concussion he suffered last weekend against Fremantle.

Selwood was helped from the field after an incident in the opening minute in which the Cats skipper clashed heads with Fremantle small forward Hayden Ballantyne.

Geelong's general manager of football Steve Hocking said Selwood's health and safety was always the club's number one priority.

“Player wellbeing is always first priority and in this case, club medical staff have advised against Joel taking to the field tonight,” Hocking told the club's website.

The Cats will blood debutant Sam Simpson against the Giants, who was selected by the club in last season's National Draft as a father-son selection.