GEELONG has been dealt a big blow an hour before its clash with Gold Coast on Friday night, with versatile mid Jack Bowes a late withdrawal.
The 28-year-old has been replaced in the side by George Stevens, who comes in for just his third AFL game and first of the season.
Bowes has been battling hamstring tightness and was seen undergoing a fitness test under the watchful eyes of medical staff in the hours before the game, but the Cats opted not to risk him for the clash at GMHBA Stadium.
Coming off another narrow loss, Geelong will be keen to bounce back as it hosts the Suns.
The Cats (8-5) have lost touch with the top two after a one-point loss to Adelaide made it back-to-back narrow defeats, and three times this season that they have been beaten by under a goal.
They will be out to get their campaign back on track at their home fortress where they have won their past nine matches by an average 45 points, while they have never lost to the Suns in nine meetings at the venue.
Gold Coast (7-5) missed an opportunity to turn the screw on its out-of-sorts arch-rival Brisbane and slipped out of the top six as it returned from a bye to be smashed at clearance in a second straight defeat.
The Suns have failed to live up to the hype this season but will now get a better idea of where they sit across a six-week stretch when they face the Cats, Hawks, Dockers, Pies, Crows and Dogs.
Geelong v Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
LATE CHANGE
Geelong: Jack Bowes (hamstring tightness), replaced in the selected side by George Stevens
Gold Coast: Nil
In addition to the late change, the Cats have regained Lawson Humphries and recalled Mitch Edwards, with Tom Stewart out injured and Gryan Miers managed.
The Suns have made four changes with Charlie Ballard, Zeke Uwland, Ben Jepson and Sam Clohesy in for Wil Powell, Will Graham, Lachie Weller and Jarrod Witts.
