EVEN A poor game from Sydney Swans' forward Lance Franklin on Saturday night would cause the Cats the odd problem, according to Chris Scott.
With Franklin coming off a goalless game against Melbourne – just the 17th time in 210 games he has failed to kick a major – the gun forward is expected to be in a dangerous mood against the Cats.
Franklin was far from disgraced against the Demons, collecting 22 disposals and gaining 375 metres for his team. He has only twice been held goalless in consecutive games.
Franklin earned two Brownlow votes and kicked four goals the last time the Swans met the Cats (in round 11, 2014) and has kicked 45 goals in 17 games against Geelong during his career.
Scott had no hesitation heaping praise on the former Hawk.
"If Lance has a poor game on the weekend, he'll still be pretty good," Scott said.
The Geelong coach was less committal when asked whether Franklin was more dangerous roaming far from goal or creating his unique brand of chaos in the forward 50.
"I'm not going to give them any clue as to what we would prefer. It's a pretty line ball one," Scott said.
He said skipper Joel Selwood’s hand, left horribly swollen after the win over Collingwood, was in good shape.
"It's better than it was during the game on the weekend," Scott said.
He was hopeful rather than certain that veterans Andrew Mackie (quad) and Mathew Stokes (Achilles) would be available for selection.
Scott said the team had more rucking options since Rhys Stanley and Mitch Clark joined the club but they were not set on having mobile rucks playing every week.
He said the Cats still had confidence in Dawson Simpson and the way they used their tall timber would evolve.
"If nothing else, we have flexibility," Scott said.
"The opposition is pretty good at working out what you do well and trying to find a way to stop you."
The coach also said he was seeking a better showing in the third quarter this week.
The Cats have won just one of their third quarters in 2015 – against Gold Coast – and have been outscored 169 to 102 in those quarters.
"The third quarter is something we would like to fix. We have talked about a few things internally that we might adjust,' Scott said.
