CHRIS Judd and Joel Selwood are the two players that come to mind when Geelong coach Chris Scott thinks of Gold Coast midfielder Matt Rowell.

BARRETT Could a four-game star upstage two of the greats?

The gun Sun has racked up three consecutive perfect games in the AFL Coaches' Association voting, so expect to see a tagger hanging off the 18-year-old as the Cats host Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

"My mind does go back a little bit to Chris Judd and Joel Selwood when they started in the competition," Scott said of Rowell on Tuesday.

"As a first-year player, albeit the number one draft pick, to come into a side and be your team's number one midfielder right from the word go is a remarkable achievement."



Scott confirmed he'll go with a "hard tag" on Rowell, but he's not certain that will stop the strong-bodied midfielder.

"It's a mistake to say 'they're just a young player and they’re playing well but when they get a bit more attention they won't perform to the same level'," Scott said.

The Cats will have to consider how they manage some of the older players in the side, with a five-day break set between rounds five and six.

Defender Harry Taylor had a break in round four and didn't face the Demons, but he's the "obvious" potential replacement for Tom Stewart, while Lachie Henderson is also in the mix.

Ruckman Rhys Stanley has been ruled out for this week, but the athletic big man has returned to running.