Former North Melbourne and St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo has questioned the depth of Geelong’s list after their disappointing JLT Series loss to Gold Coast on Sunday.
While the 322 gamer says the Cats’ 56 point defeat in Townsville is not a huge surprise due to the calibre of big names that didn’t play - including star trio Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett - Dal Santo worries for the club’s depth should the three gun on-ballers hit trouble this season.
“What I saw yesterday only concerns me if one of their big three, or multiple out of those three or six, that weren’t there yesterday are injured or out of form,” the three-time All-Australian told SEN Afternoons.
“Those players are just miles ahead of everyone else. That unfortunately makes everyone else look second rate.
“What happens if Ablett does his hamstring again, or Dangerfield doesn’t find the ball 30 times and kicks two or three goals a game and Selwood doesn’t put the team on his back in the last quarter and get them over the line? That’s my concern.”
Midfielder Scott Selwood and veteran defender Harry Taylor were also notable absentees from the Cats team at Riverway Stadium, who took on a Suns side that bolstered the majority of the team’s best 22.
Geelong’s final tune-up will take place in Colac on Sunday against Essendon where all the club’s stars are expected to feature, while the Suns will host Brisbane later that day at Southport’s Fankhauser Reserve.