Geelong coach Chris Scott has quashed fears that star midfielder Cam Guthrie’s return from injury has been rushed.
Guthrie, who hasn’t played a senior game since round six of the 2023 season due to toe and foot troubles, made his return during a pre season match against Carlton, where he went down with a quad injury just seconds into the match.
He was subsequently ruled out for 8-10 weeks after the injury in late February.
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Now, after just over eight weeks, the 2022 premiership star has been named to face the Blues in their round seven clash at the MCG on Saturday.
On the surface, it seems like an un-Geelong move.
The club is known for extending time on the sidelines for players to ensure they can peak at the perfect time, keeping the risk of re-injuring themselves as low as possible.
Geelong also utilise the VFL to get game time into players’ legs without the added pressure of senior-level football.
However, Scott says the plan to bring Guthrie back into the AFL side, bypassing the VFL, was always the plan from the moment he injured his quad.
“It’s been a well thought through process and this has been the plan all along,” he said.
“He’s been in full training for well over a month with a plan to get him straight back into the AFL team.”
Scott was quick to shut down suggestions that Guthrie is entering the top-of-the-table clash with the Blues underdone.
“You could say he hasn’t played AFL football for a long time, but that would be ignoring the pre season and the preparation he’s had over the last six weeks,” the coach said.
Guthrie is a 2022 premiership player as well as a two-time Carji Greeves best and fairest and an All-Australian.
