Injuries strike Cats ahead of AFL season openerAnna HarringtonAAPThu, 5 March 2026 3:50PM
Geelong will be without captain Patrick Dangerfield and gun forward Jeremy Cameron against Gold Coast in a hammer blow to their hopes of a winning start to the AFL season.
Elsewhere, the Western Bulldogs have named budding superstar Sam Darcy to face Brisbane despite concerns over his fitness ahead of their AFL season opener.
The Cats will be up against it on Friday night at People First Stadium.
Cameron, who has missed all pre-season action due to the broken arm suffered in last year’s grand-final defeat followed by a quad strain, always looked unlikely while Dangerfield battled a calf problem this week.
Neither trained in Geelong’s captain’s run on Friday, though star midfielder Bailey Smith (calf) featured and has been named to play along with Gryan Miers (thumb), while former Hawk James Worpel will debut.
The Suns opted against handing a club debut to former Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, despite Jed Walter missing through suspension.
But boom recruit Christian Petracca will feature while prized draftee Zeke Uwland will make his AFL debut.
Ugle-Hagan’s ex-teammate Darcy has been named to play against Brisbane on Saturday night at the Gabba.
Darcy pulled up sore in his back after playing for Victoria in State of Origin and didn’t play in either of the Bulldogs’ pre-season matches.
Coach Luke Beveridge had been cagey on the talented young forward’s fitness, which will clearly be a watch until he actually lines up at Engie Stadium on Saturday evening.
“He’s having a strong pre-season. We looked after him to make sure he could play full noise in the rep game and he came out of that a bit sore, so has had some interruption,” Beveridge said.
“He really came on last year.
“The outcomes as far as goals go, he’d love to kick (more) … he’s just a huge threat that creates huge headaches for the opposition, but he helps others play well.”
The Bulldogs have also named Bailey Dale despite fitness concerns over the running defender while former Sun Conor Budarick and fellow backmen Lachie Jaques and Michael Sellwood will debut.
Former West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen is locked in to make his Brisbane debut.
It will mark the key forward’s first game since last June, after Allen’s final months as an Eagle before joining the reigning premiers as a free agent were wiped out through injury.
Dynamo Cam Rayner has overcome a groin issue and has been named while ruckman Zane Zakostelsky will debut.
GWS have named Finn Callaghan to face Hawthorn after the gun midfielder recovered from a hip flexor injury in time to pair with ex-Demon Clayton Oliver.
Hawthorn key back Tom Barrass has overcome a back issue.
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