GEELONG defender Andrew Mackie is in doubt for the Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn after suffering hamstring soreness in the Cats' big win over West Coast on Saturday night.
Mackie was subbed out of the match in the third quarter and he could be seen icing his leg during the final term.
"It was a really precautionary substitution, so we're hopeful that we got it early enough," Cats coach Chris Scott said.
Five talking points: Geelong v West Coast
"But there's something there. There was a reason to sub him off.
"So I'm told it's minor. What that means, I'm not too sure."
Although Scott was adamant that Joel Selwood was best on ground in the thumping victory over the Eagles, he was also keen to praise emerging midfielder George Horlin-Smith.
In one of the best performances of his short career, Horlin-Smith gathered 23 disposals and kicked three goals.
"He was good tonight, and he has been good whenever he has played at AFLlevel, in my opinion," Scott said.
"He has had to bide his time behind some pretty good inside midfielders, but we're really confident he can get to the stage where he's forcing other guys out of the side."
In contrast to the polish and efficiency that featured in Horlin-Smith's effort, veteran ball-magnet Steve Johnson was erratic to say the least.
Johnson finished with 37 disposals, but they went here, there and everywhere.
Asked if he thought Johnson's performance was a tad strange, Scott said: "It's not the first or the last time we'll say that.
"He's a beautiful kick. Not all of them were beautiful tonight.
"He was in position to get the ball a lot, he won the ball a lot, and he was still a dangerous player. Some just didn't come off for him.
"That's the way he plays a little bit, and we embrace it to an extent."
As for whether he thought Johnson was among his team's best contributors, Scott said, "We had some players who were better than him tonight."
A positive for the Cats was the performance of big men Hamish McIntosh, Dawson Simpson and Mark Blicavs, who had the better of Eagles trio Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett.
"We're happy with our big guys," Scott said.
"Just purely by the numbers, they didn't kick a goal from stoppages, which is a remarkable performance when you consider the quality of their big guys.
"But it also goes to show that they were missing some of their really high quality midfielders."
Geelong will now turn its attention to the huge clash with the Hawks.
Both sides are undefeated after winning their opening four matches, so it promises to be yet another classic contest.
"The Geelong and Hawthorn supporters should really embrace this era," Scott said.
"I was a Hawthorn supporter myself as a kid, and the rivalry with the Cats goes back that far, which is a fair way.
"We look forward to it. Our guys love playing the best on the big stage.
"Clearly … they're a pretty good team.
"We don't feel like we're completely on top of our game, but we'll soon find out, won't we?
"I think everyone that plays the Hawks has a clearer picture of where they're at."
