Geelong youngster Max Holmes has been withdrawn from the Cats’ grand final team.
The 20-year old has been battling a hamstring injury suffered in the Cats’ preliminary final win over Brisbane, but was named in their starting 22 on Thursday night and given every chance to prove his fitness.
However, according to the Herald Sun, a secret training session on Friday morning in which Holmes was able to move unencumbered by the injury wasn’t enough to convince Chris Scott, who is taking no risks heading into the grand final.
Holmes has been replaced in the 22 by Mark O’Connor, who was the Cats’ medical sub in the preliminary final, while Brandan Parfitt has been named medi-sub.
“It’s desperately unlucky for Max because he was so close,” coach Chris Scott told Seven.
“This was one of those calls where in my mind he’s probably 98 per cent there, but we just needed certainty for the team
“It’s really hard on him. I think he probably could have done it but this was the right decision we think under the circumstances, and Brandan [Parfitt] and Mark O’Connor have been so good for us all year.
“We’re just going to go with the fit guys.”
The wingman’s grand final dream appeared dashed when he left the field clutching his hamstring in the third quarter against the Lions, and was clearly devastated on the interchange bench.
But scans early in the week revealed good news, with Holmes suffering only a neural injury and not a strain or tear.
The brutal call is the first late change for a grand final since Collingwood’s Simon Prestigiacomo made the selfless decision to withdraw himself in 2010, having deemed he’d not sufficiently recovered from a thigh injury.
Sydney, meanwhile, have officially green-lighted Sam Reid and Justin McInerney for the match, despite their own injury niggles through grand final week.
Reid was subbed out in the Swans’ preliminary final win over Collingwood with a groin injury, while McInerney has been on light duties with an ankle problem.
However, Swans coach John Longmire confirmed on Friday both would be right to play.
“He [Reid] got some scans on Monday and that was really encouraging, so we were confident from that point,” Longmire said.
“He did some training on Thursday and did exactly what he needed to do.
“Our medical staff have been terrific, we were always confident that [McInerney] would be right. He finished off the game strongly last week so he’s right to go.”
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