BOMBER WARY OF BLUES; BELIEVES HIS CATS WON'T STRAY
Mark Heenan 12 May 2005

DESPITE the Blues’ 85-point thrashing at the hands of the Tigers last Saturday, Geelong coach Mark Thompson is only too weary of Carlton’s ability to return to form, when it has it’s backs to the wall.

And with glamour forward Brendan Fevola returning from a two-match suspension and defender Luke Livingston set to be named, Thompson won’t be treating the Blues’ lightly tomorrow night at the Telstra Dome. “I’ve got no doubt they’ll (Carlton) certainly bounce back. Our boys really got themselves up for the St.Kilda game and just being able to back it up, there’s no point beating St.Kilda in a good physical game of footy and coming up a week later and losing.”

Carlton’s most recent recovery from a big loss was in round 20 last year, when West Coast thumped the Blues by 62-points, and then followed up the next week with a 31-point victory over Melbourne.

Thompson has confirmed Steve Johnson will return from a calf, while goal sneak Paul Chapman remains doubtful of playing, after sustaining an ankle injury in Geelong’s 18-point victory over the Saints at the Telstra Dome, last Saturday. “He’s not ruled yet, but he (Chapman) is not probably more of a chance not to play, six days is fairly short,” he said.

“Look he had scans, the scans have come up really clear, so there’s no structural damage. Next week he’ll be definitely right, whether he gets up for tomorrow night he is going to have to do a fair bit of work and a fair bit of improvement.”

Meanwhile Thompson, is not worried that the club is yet to re-sign some of its key personnel, and says a number of AFL clubs face the same predicament on a yearly basis.

BOMBER CONFIDENT OF RE-SIGNING CATS

As many as seventeen players are out of contract with the Cats, a list that includes James Kelly, Jimmy Bartel and Cameron Ling, as the club is likely to force itself down the same path as the Brisbane Lions to squeeze its players under the salary cap.

“We are fairly confident, all clubs have that amount of players out of contract, it’s a yearly thing and we are dealing with it and we’re getting through it and we’re already down the track with some of the boys,” Thompson said.

“I think the players enjoy playing here and with one another, and hopefully it’s a enough incentive for them to stay together, ultimately it’s up to each player.

“All players could get more money at most other clubs, in the end there’s not really many players who move clubs.”

EDITOR NOTE: The Cattery has no doubt the bulk of the current side will be retained in 2006 and well beyond; such is the united spirit and professionalism at Geelong. Brian Cook, Mark Thompson, Frank Costa and last but certainly not least the players themselves have done a great job building up such a skillful and determined side; but they all know the job's not even half done yet. Here's to a flag in the next year or two.