Geelong ruckman Hamish McIntosh will miss three weeks after minor knee surgery. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun
GEELONG is taking a long-term view on ruckman Hamish McIntosh, whose start to the season is threatened by a knee injury.
McIntosh will be out for about three weeks after having surgery this week on the same knee that limited his season to only seven games at North Melbourne last year.
Cats coach Chris Scott said yesterday the surgery was only minor.
"He understood and we understood that it wasn't going to be smooth sailing with Hamish," Scott said.
"He came in with an existing injury that was significant. There was always a little bit of a risk taking him and we accepted there might be some minor setbacks.
"We're still extremely confident that over the medium-term, a period of years, he's going to be a very valuable acquisition."
Scott said arthroscopic surgery to remove fluid from the back of McIntosh's knee was "loosely related" to his problems last year.
"It's the same knee, different problem. Very minor though, something that the surgery can fix quite quickly, the surgeon tells us," he said.
"He could have put up with some discomfort for a long time or we could have nipped it in the bud and tried to give him some relief short-term, so we think that's going to be the best outcome for him."
With Dawson Simpson also out after back surgery and young ruckman Nathan Vardy not making the trip to Perth this weekend for the Cats' NAB Cup opener, Geelong's ruck stocks look thin.
"Two ruckmen who aren't in ideal shape right at the moment is a little bit concerning," Scott said.
"We'll take a couple of rookie ruckmen over (to Perth), plus Trent West.
"It's almost vindication for our policy of having four ruckmen on our list. It's not ideal having a couple injured but we do have some cover."
Scott also ruled out James Kelly and Paul Chapman for the trip west, but said Jimmy Bartel and Travis Varcoe would be among a large squad for the weekend.
Kelly had post-season surgery on his hip, but has been back in full training, and Bartel was wearing a moonboot at the end of the season.
Varcoe played only one game last year, his season ruined by a foot injury.
"He's had a lot of bad luck in the last year and a half and he's starting to look really good on the track," Scott said.
"I think he's just keen to get out and play a real game. He's trained well and he's looked good on the track, but it doesn't mean much until you can put that good form into practice on the field in a real game."
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