GEELONG will look at ways of maintaining the fitness levels of those not involved in finals in the event they are called upon later in September.

With Geelong’s seconds, reigning VFL premiers, missing the finals of the state league competition this year, it has left the Cats with a far different scenario to its 2007 premiership campaign.

Instead of having their entire playing list training throughout the finals, the Cats have already sent many players off on their break, while others have gone in for post-season surgery.

Several will continue to train with the senior squad, not only to boost numbers during the week at Skilled Stadium, but also in the hope of a call-up should Geelong strike injury trouble during the finals.

Ahead of the first qualifying final against St Kilda on Sunday, skipper Tom Harley said this week the Cats had a squad of “about 30” that would continue to train.

Among this year’s VFL regulars still training with the Cats are Simon Hogan, David Johnson, Kane Tenace and ruck pair Trent West and Shane Mumford.

Of those five, only Hogan hasn’t played AFL this year, although he has been named an emergency on several occasions.

Powerful forward Tom Hawkins is also training with the main squad in the hope of earning a recall in coming weeks.

Geelong football manager Neil Balme said the Cats would look at ways players not in the senior line-up would do their normal training loads, although club fitness staff would look at other measures to ensure they would be ready to play should they be called on.

“They’re training like everyone else is training,” Balme said.

“We’ll do something with them to make sure that if they’re lucky enough to play they’re ready to go.”

IN THE MIX – Cats’ September Squad
Gary Ablett; Jimmy Bartel; Mark Blake; Shannon Byrnes; Paul Chapman; Joel Corey; Corey Enright; Ryan Gamble; Tom Harley; Tom Hawkins; Simon Hogan; Josh Hunt; David Johnson; Steve Johnson; James Kelly; Cameron Ling; Tom Lonergan; Andrew Mackie; Darren Milburn; Cameron Mooney; Brad Ottens; Brent Prismall; Max Rooke; Matthew Scarlett; Joel Selwood; Mathew Stokes; Harry Taylor; Kane Tenace; Travis Varcoe; Trent West; David Wojcinski; Shane Mumford.