WHAT does Geelong have to do to find a fair-dinkum opponent in the NAB Cup?
Ahead of tonight’s grand final against Collingwood, both coaches stressed yesterday that they were taking the pre-season competition seriously. But only one Geelong’s Mark Thompson will be in the coach’s box. After three hit-outs against undermanned rivals, Geelong faces a strong Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, but Magpie coach Mick Malthouse will watch from the bench as assistant coach Brad Scott calls the shots. Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell and forward Paul Medhurst return for the clash, but ruckman Josh Fraser will be rested, as will Heath Shaw. Malthouse refused to say if Shaw would be fit for the season proper. “I don’t look too much further than this weekend,” he said. Asked if Shaw’s problem was back-related, the coach said: “I don’t think I’m in a position to talk about his injury.” Cameron Mooney will miss for the Cats, with Thompson describing him as “a bit old and tired”, and suffering soreness. But he said Mooney would have taken the field if tonight’s clash were a regul
