GEELONG has confirmed its fifth debutant this season and is yet to make a call on potentially unveiling a sixth against Carlton on Saturday night at GMHBA Stadium.
Small forward Jamaine Jones will take on the Blues after an impressive month in the VFL, while second-year ruckman Ryan Abbott is in the frame for selection.
Scott Selwood (back) and Lachie Fogarty (groin soreness) will both miss for a third week, while Brandan Parfitt is a chance to return after being sidelined for four matches with a foot complaint.
Eyebrows were raised in the early parts of Thursday's main training session when dual All Australian defender Harry Taylor left the track alongside club doctor Drew Slimmon for treatment.
As the Cats look to put their insipid display against Essendon last week behind them, coach Chris Scott was excited at the prospect of Jones' debut.
After being named an emergency for the past two weeks, the 19-year-old will become Geelong's 13th new face since the start of 2017.
"It's really exciting for our football club," Scott said on Thursday.
"The way he's been able to make such giant strides in the last four or five years to get to the point where he's playing AFL footy for Geelong, it's a rare story.
"He was our last pick in the rookie draft, they're as speculative as they come. He's a small forward, he's dangerous with the ball and he's got some energy."
Young gun Esava Ratugolea will play after missing last week with a corkie while his ruck partner remains up in the air after Zac Smith carried the bulk of the load against the Bombers.
Smith (five games) and Rhys Stanley (three) have been in and out of the side this year, Abbott looming as a potential inclusion after strong VFL form.
"The conversation's a little more broad than just Stanley or Smith, Ryan's certainly in the frame. We haven't made the absolute decision which way we'll go this week," Scott said.
Daniel Menzel failed to train again, his fifth week without conditioning after a reaction to an injection to his groin following round five.
Scott tipped Gary Ablett to bounce back after he was criticised following 17 disposals last week – his quietest game of the season.
"I don't really have any interest in defending Gary. Gary will let his actions do the talking," Scott said.
"In the interest of having a balanced conversation about it, if you go back and look at his preparation, I don't think that it's a huge surprise that he wouldn't quite be at his best. It doesn't mean he can't find his best pretty quickly."
Scott said the club's leaders had again provided strong input into the week's preparation, as they did following the round six loss to Sydney.
Meanwhile, first-year midfielder Charlie Constable, who is close to re-signing, will be given another week off after concussion on May 13.
Geelong's recent debutants
2018:
Tim Kelly
Esava Ratugolea
Lachie Fogarty
Jack Henry
Jamaine Jones*
2017:
Tom Stewart
Brandan Parfitt
James Parsons
Zach Guthrie
Jordan Cunico
Wylie Buzza
Sam Simpson
Mark O'Connor
