In the lead-up to round three, the team sheets are out for the geelong vs adelaide clash at GMHBA Stadium, with Geelong omitting Brad Close and Adelaide naming four replacements as injury problems bite. Geelong has recalled Ollie Henry and Ollie Wiltshire while James Worpel is named only in the emergencies. Adelaide has brought in Hugh Bond, Zac Taylor, Luke Nankervis and debutant Finnbar Maley for the injured quartet.
Geelong Vs Adelaide: teams, ins and outs
The most immediate takeaways for the geelong vs adelaide fixture are clear: Geelong has made the surprise omission of half-forward Brad Close after limited touches in early rounds, and the club has managed its list with short-term form and fitness in mind. Forwards Ollie Henry and Ollie Wiltshire have been recalled to the Cats’ selection, while Patrick Dangerfield has been ruled out earlier this week with a calf injury. James Worpel, the off-season recruit who recovered from a finger injury, is listed as an emergency.
Adelaide’s response to a mounting injury list is four changes. Hugh Bond, Zac Taylor, Luke Nankervis and Finnbar Maley — the latter making his club debut — come into the Crows’ side to replace Jordan Dawson (calf), Callum Ah Chee (hamstring), Taylor Walker (managed) and Rory Laird (calf). The Crows’ selections underline the depth being called upon as they navigate early-season setbacks.
Immediate reactions and coach comments
Chris Scott, Cats coach, set out the rationale behind the Geelong changes and framed Close’s omission as a proactive reset: “We don’t think he’s had an optimal sort of preparation to this point, and we’d like to make the most of these long breaks between games to get some more training in, ” Scott said. “He’ll get a little bit of VFL game time as well – unlikely that it would be full game time. “But we think we can put a program together for him to get back to his best pretty quickly, physically, and have him available for the Hawthorn game. “It’s quite a proactive move in our opinion. “
Those words were delivered as part of the selection explanation for the geelong vs adelaide contest and make clear the club’s view that managing preparation and workload is the priority over holding a run of consecutive appearances.
Quick context
Close had played 53 consecutive games and had not missed for the Cats since round nine, 2023, when he was suspended. His recent output – four disposals in the win over Fremantle and eight touches against Gold Coast – is cited in the selection decision. Adelaide had already confirmed the four notable omissions before naming the replacements that now feature in their round three squad.
What’s next
All attention now shifts to how the listed personnel perform on game day at GMHBA Stadium and how both clubs handle ongoing fitness questions. Geelong’s program for Close points to targeted VFL minutes and a short-term training block aimed at getting him ready for the forthcoming Hawthorn clash; Adelaide will monitor the integration of Bond, Taylor, Nankervis and Maley as they attempt to steady their list. The immediate outcome of the geelong vs adelaide selection moves will be judged on form and fitness over the next matches, and supporters will watch closely for any further changes ahead of the next round.
