Geelong star Paul Chapman has been ruled out of playing in Friday nights preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs with a hamstring injury despite getting through a training session on Tuesday.
Chapman, 26, injured his hamstring in the qualifying finals again St Kilda earlier this month.
When the Cats released an updated injury list today Chapman’s status was still listed as being a week from playing.
“There’s nothing much to say apart from we’ve made an early decision that he’s not going to be conditioned sufficiently to play on Friday night,” football manager Neil Balme said.
“(The injury) is stemming from his whole year really, I suppose, but it is a bit from the St Kilda game, yes.
“He’s trained this week and will continue to train, it’s a decision the club has made that we don’t think he’s conditioned sufficiently to play the game.”
It is not known yet whether Chapman will be brought back in to the side if the Cats do progress to the Grand Final, a tough decision looms for the Geelong match committee if the Cats do make the Grand Final.
