RISING STAR NATHAN ABLETT IN DOUBT FOR SUNDAY'S CLASH AGAINST TIGERS
Mark Heenan of AAP 26 August 2005

Young Geelong forward Nathan Ablett remains in doubt for Sunday's AFL clash against Richmond at Skilled Stadium.

The nineteen-year-old, who was the talk of the town after kicking four goals in Geelong's seventy-six point home thrashing of West Coast last Saturday, left the training track clutching his left knee on Wednesday.

However Ablett, named as the Round 21 Rising Star medal nominee earlier this week, did train with the main group on Friday.

"At this time, we're not sure," Cats coach Mark Thompson said.

"Like we said ... he's got a bit of a sore knee and sore body basically."

The Cats coach knows it's unrealistic to expect too much from the younger son of superstar Gary Ablett after only two AFL games.

"We probably played him (Nathan) a bit long last week, to be honest," he said.

"What we probably needed to do was not to put that expectation on him, that he's going to kick four every game, it's truly not what to expect of him.

"It would be great if he plays and hopefully he comes through.

"He has certainly performed that well on the field, off the field he's still struggling to cope with a few things and that's probably more of what I was talking about, not being ready."

Geelong will ensure its elimination final will be played in Victoria if it downs Richmond on Sunday.

The Cats currently sixth on the AFL ladder and could move up to fifth, if Carlton defeats the Kangaroos.

Richmond will hope to send former skipper Wayne Campbell out on a winning note in his 297th and last AFL game.

Geelong defender Cameron Mooney, who plays his 100th AFL game, failed to train on Friday and could be suffering the after-effects of the back injury he sustained against Essendon in round 18.

Mooney played one of his best games of the season last Saturday accumulating 13 kicks, 13 handballs and five marks.

Meanwhile, forward Paul Chapman trained strongly and has been selected to play after missing the past two games with a hamstring strain.

Chapman injured his hamstring in Geelong's 41-point loss to St Kilda in round 19.

Geelong has won its last seven encounters against Richmond at Skilled Stadium by an average margin of 48 points