The Coon Dog
17-09-2008, 12:05 PM
GEELONG star Paul Chapman has been ruled out of playing in Friday night's preliminary final against the Bulldogs with a hamstring injury.
The Cats decided this morning that they would not risk the small forward after assessing how he pulled up after yesterday's training session.
Geelong coach Mark Thompson had said Chapman would need to test out his hamstring in a full-on session to be considered a chance to take on the Bulldogs.
Doubts have surrounded Chapman since he left the field with a back-related hamstring strain during the third quarter of Geelong's qualifying final win over St Kilda 10 days ago.
Chapman's injury will open up two senior spots in the team after midfielder Brent Prismall had already been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
James Kelly is expected to return from a quad injury, while Chapman's spot may be contested between David Wojcinski, who has not played since round 15, Shannon Byrnes or Ryan Gamble.
Meanwhile, the Western Bulldogs have declared star midfielder Adam Cooney will definitely play _ despite him suffering from a virus and knee soreness.
While the Bulldogs' key onballer did not train yesterday, assistant coach Leon Cameron said Cooney was ordered to rest up at home not only to shake off his head cold, but also so he did not infect his teammates with the illness.
``He'll be playing on Friday night _ 100 per cent, guaranteed,'' Cameron said.
``It's not as if he's been bedridden for three or four days. He'll be over it by tomorrow (Wednesday) sometime hopefully.
``You don't want to take a player into a final, especially against Geelong, at 90 per cent because they'll be exposed, but he'll be ready to go. ... he (Cooney) has got a little patella tendinitis (knee soreness), but four or five players at each club have that so he's fine.''
Paul Chapman ruled out of preliminary final (http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/09/17/18356_news.html)
The Cats decided this morning that they would not risk the small forward after assessing how he pulled up after yesterday's training session.
Geelong coach Mark Thompson had said Chapman would need to test out his hamstring in a full-on session to be considered a chance to take on the Bulldogs.
Doubts have surrounded Chapman since he left the field with a back-related hamstring strain during the third quarter of Geelong's qualifying final win over St Kilda 10 days ago.
Chapman's injury will open up two senior spots in the team after midfielder Brent Prismall had already been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
James Kelly is expected to return from a quad injury, while Chapman's spot may be contested between David Wojcinski, who has not played since round 15, Shannon Byrnes or Ryan Gamble.
Meanwhile, the Western Bulldogs have declared star midfielder Adam Cooney will definitely play _ despite him suffering from a virus and knee soreness.
While the Bulldogs' key onballer did not train yesterday, assistant coach Leon Cameron said Cooney was ordered to rest up at home not only to shake off his head cold, but also so he did not infect his teammates with the illness.
``He'll be playing on Friday night _ 100 per cent, guaranteed,'' Cameron said.
``It's not as if he's been bedridden for three or four days. He'll be over it by tomorrow (Wednesday) sometime hopefully.
``You don't want to take a player into a final, especially against Geelong, at 90 per cent because they'll be exposed, but he'll be ready to go. ... he (Cooney) has got a little patella tendinitis (knee soreness), but four or five players at each club have that so he's fine.''
Paul Chapman ruled out of preliminary final (http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/09/17/18356_news.html)