Geelong has professed they remain "optimistic" that the hamstring of line-breaking Cat Max Holmes could yet be given the green light ahead of next week's grand final.
Holmes was subbed-out of the Pivot City side's 71-point preliminary final rout of Brisbane on Friday night at the MCG, leaving the 20-year-old visibly frustrated following his bright opening to the all-important affair.
The former first-round draftee was taken from the ground during the third term after clutching at his right tendon following an inboard kick.
After slapping the boundary turf in exasperation and resting face down for an agonising minute, the Olympian's offspring headed into the Cats' rooms for treatment and what many expected would be a bitter pill of truth.
Still, returning a half-hour later to toast his side's cruise through to next Saturday's decider, Holmes appeared buoyant - a mood shared by head coach Chris Scott during his post-game press conference.
โThey are optimistic that heโll play,โ Scott said his medical team's appraisal.
โIt didnโt look like that to me so that made a good night better.
โI went down there thinking the worst. And I bounced out of the rooms as well at three-quarter time.
โItโs not a sure thing, but my understanding is when the guys Iโm talking about, and the quality of our medical staff, when they say theyโre optimistic, it gets me up on my toes.โ
Fox Footy and News Corpย journalist Jon Ralph added a further kernel to what will be the biggest talking point from Geelong's camp this week, claiming that hamstring pain was nothing new for the youngster.
โIโve spoken to the clubโs football boss Simon Lloyd in the last couple of minutes - he tells me that Holmes has had neuron hamstring pain before, heโs had these kinds of episodes. Itโs basically back and hip related," Ralph said as the dust settled.
โHe was walking up and down the boundary line pretty quickly afterwards feeling reasonable ... (but) if those scans tomorrow show that he has muscle damage, he is done. Isnโt it so bizarre?โ
Holme's influence in what became a simple victory was impossible to deny, racking up 12 touches, a goal and 359 metres gained.
Should the Sandringham Dragons product fail to prove his fitness ahead of what would be his first grand final appearance, capable replacements await in the Cats' wings.
With the ability to call on the whip of Brandon Parfitt, Friday's medical sub Mark O'Connor or the nous of Sam Menegola, Scott has plenty of cards available to him ahead of next Saturday afternoon.
Yet, as has become customary across his tenure at Kardinia Park, punters, pundits and supporters alike may only learn of the final choice at the eleventh hour, with the late change a well-tested tool in the premiership coach's arsenal.
In every season there are tales of grand final heartbreak, however, for Holmes, the ability of Demons defender Steven May to take part in Melbourne's drought-breaking flag following his own hamstring complaint last September will warm the cockles.
The Cats are expected to place their paws up on Saturday, taking in the final preliminary final between Sydney and Collingwood. The club will reconvene on Sunday for the premature Brownlow count before turning out at the Cattery for an open training session on Monday.
Holmes is unlikely to hit the track for the early-week session, with the midfielder certain to seek highly-guarded scans on Saturday.
