From Geelong Advertiser
Reported by Nick Wade
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GEELONG will learn today the extent of a knee injury sustained by rookie defender Jack Weston in the Cats' 33-point loss to a beefed-up Collingwood in the VFL on Saturday.
Weston did not take any further part in the game after injuring his knee in the second quarter of the 15.14 (104) to 10.11 (71) loss at Victoria Park.
The Cats were blown away in the second quarter, conceding seven goals to one, but were otherwise competitive for three quarters against a strong Magpies unit featuring John Anthony, Leigh Brown, Tarkyn Lockyer, Simon Prestigiacomo and Anthony Corrie.
Defender Taylor Hunt was the pick of the Cats' AFL-listed players, while VFL captain Matt Firman starred through the midfield and Jon Simpkin kicked four goals.
VFL coach Dale Amos said the strong Collingwood contingent provided a great opportunity for his younger players to learn first-hand playing on AFL experience.
"It was a really good learning experience, we played some of our younger guys on their older guys and they did a good job," he said.
"Ben Johnson got to play on Prestigiacomo, Taylor Hunt played on Lockyer, Ryan Gamble and Tom Gillies got an opportunity to play on Jack Anthony.
"Jeremy Laidler spent most of the afternoon on Leigh Brown, then Brown went into the ruck and Dawson Simpson had a run with him.
"It was great for our young guys and hopefully it's something they can learn from."
Mathew Stokes played mainly across half-forward, preparing him for a likely return to a specialised forward role in the AFL next week. Draftee Allen Christensen, who has been named in the AFL squad twice this year, was again among the Cats' best.
