GEELONG has been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster against Hawthorn with young midfielder George Horlin-Smith being withdrawn from the selected team.
The young midfielder was originally named in the selected side for the MCG blockbuster on Thursday night but was withdrawn by the Cats on Friday due to groin soreness.
He has been replaced by youngster Brad Hartman who will play just his fifth career game.
The move comes after the Cats regained star utility Jimmy Bartel and young gun Jordan Murdoch from injury for the crucial clash.
It means the Cats have made three changes from the team that narrowly defeated Carlton last week, with Horlin-Smith injured and Jed Bews and Billie Smedts omitted.
It is a blow for the Cats given the improvement of Horlin-Smith this season into one of the sides consistent midfielders.
He has averaged 16.5 disposals and managed to impact the scoreboard with 13 goals in 18 games this season.
But his loss is probably outweighed by the vital inclusion of Bartel.
After missing just one week with a corked thigh, Bartel returns to strengthen the Geelong line-up.
He was named among Geelong’s best in the Easter Monday win over the Hawks this year with 25 disposals, nine marks and six tackles.
The Hawks know the value of the triple premiership player and sought to stop his influence on the contest in last year’s Preliminary Final.
Alastair Clarkson successfully devised a plan to restrict Bartel to just 16 disposals in Hawthorn’s only win over Geelong since the 2008 Grand Final.
It was his equal third-lowest possession count against the Hawks in his career after managing just 10 touches in his debut season against them in 2002 and twice picking up 15 disposals in 2012.
Murdoch is also a key inclusion given he has caused headaches for the Hawks in the past by booting six goals in four games against the Hawks including three in the Round 15 victory last year, each of which came in the final term.
He also kicked two critical goals in the Round 5 Easter Monday victory.
The Cats will also be without gun midfielder Steve Johnson through injury.
Round 22
Hawthorn v Geelong
Saturday 23 August
MCG, 7.40pm
HAWTHORN
B Brian Lake, Josh Gibson, Matthew Suckling
HB Shaun Burgoyne, Ben Stratton, Grant Birchall
C Bradley Hill, Sam Mitchell, Isaac Smith
HF Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston
F Paul Puopolo, David Hale, Luke Breust
FOLL Jonathon Ceglar, Jordan Lewis, Liam Shiels
I/C Matt Spangher, Will Langford, Brad Sewell, Jonathan Simpkin
EMG Taylor Duryea, Ryan Schoenmakers, Billy Hartung
IN: Jarryd Roughead, Jonathon Ceglar, Matt Spangher, Brad Sewell
OUT: Ryan Schoenmakers (omitted), Ben McEvoy (omitted), Taylor Duryea (omitted), Tim O'Brien (omitted)
GEELONG
B Andrew Mackie, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB Harry Taylor, Jared Rivers, Cameron Guthrie
C Mathew Stokes, Joel Selwood, James Kelly
HF Steven Motlop, Mark Blicavs, Travis Varcoe
F Jimmy Bartel, Tom Hawkins, Allen Christensen
FOLL Hamish McIntosh, Mitch Duncan, Josh Caddy
I/C Shane Kersten, Jordan Murdoch, Jackson Thurlow, Brad Hartman
EMG Jed Bews, Mitch Brown, Darcy Lang
IN: Jimmy Bartel, Jordan Murdoch, Brad Hartman
OUT: Billie Smedts (Omitted), Jed Bews (Omitted), George Horlin-Smith (groin soreness)
