Max Holmes will make his return from ankle surgery via Geelong’s VFL team. (Sports Media Image/Marcel Berens)
THE return of several AFL-listed players from stints on the sidelines will see Geelong field its strongest VFL team of the season when it makes the short trip to Werribee on Saturday afternoon.
However, of the 11 named to the Cats’ side, four won’t play, with Geelong understood to have taken each AFL emergency – Shaun Higgins, Ollie Dempsey, Francis Evans and Shannon Neale – to Perth.
The clash with the Bees will see Jack Henry, Max Holmes, and Esava Ratugolea take their first steps toward returning to the AFL team.
Henry hasn’t played since the Easter Monday loss to Hawthorn due to a foot problem, while Holmes and Ratugolea both had surgery on ankle issues.
Holmes hasn’t played since the defeat by Fremantle in Round 7, while Ratugolea’s last appearance was the win over Collingwood in Round 3.
The uncapped Nick Stevens is also back after being sidelined since late April with a foot issue.
Midfielder Quinton Narkle will also play after being left out of the AFL squad after starting the win over the Western Bulldogs as the medi-sub and coming on to replace Tom Stewart.
Twitter: @tom_king79
VFL ROUND 13
WERRIBEE (10th) vs. GEELONG (9th)
Avalon Airport Oval
Saturday, June 18, 1:05pm
| GEELONG VFL | |
| B: | 50. Dan Capiron, 81. Angus Byrne, 74. Ben Lloyd |
| HB: | 47. Matt Ling, 38. Jack Henry, 21. Nick Stevens |
| C: | 19. Quinton Narkle, 9. Max Holmes, 10. Mitch Knevitt |
| HF: | 31. Francis Evans, 85. Lachie Waddell, 52. Jackson McLachlan |
| F: | 17. Esava Ratugoles, 33. Shannon Neale, 28. Ollie Dempsey |
| R: | 6. Toby Conway, 57. Jye Chalcraft, 4. Shaun Higgins |
| I/C: | 65. Jack Evans, 68. Tom Feely, 64. Tom Pannucio, 41. Zane Williams, 49. Ryan Abbott |
| EMG: | 58. Kade Chalcraft, 53. Charlie Sprague, 63. Ben Worme, 92. Dan Weigl, 62. Marcus Herbert, 54. Ollie Tate |
| INS: | Jack Henry, Shaun Higgins, Esava Ratugolea, Max Holmes, Quinton Narkle, Ollie Dempsy, Nick Stevens, Mitch Knevitt |
| OUTS: | Sam Menegola (AFL), Dan Weigl, Charlie Sprague, Mitch Herbert, Ben Worme, Liam Fiore, Scott Carlin, Ollie Tate |
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