Cats make most of early start

Geelong recruit Hamish McIntosh (right) has started running in his comeback from knee surgery. Picture: Glenn Ferguson Source: Herald Sun

GEELONG says its early exit from this season's finals will give its players the opportunity to produce their most complete pre-season in years.

The Cats returned for the start of pre-season training yesterday - the team's earliest start to their summer preparations in more than five years.

After a shock exit to Fremantle in the first week of the finals this year, Geelong football manager Neil Balme said the ensuing early return would provide the platform for a strong summer of work.

"It's the earliest start for a long time, since 2007 (pre-season),'' Balme said.

"It's probably not a position we would like to be in as it means we're starting back earlier because we finished earlier.

"But given that has happened, it's certainly a real opportunity to put in the best pre-season we have put in for a while.

"It certainly does change things a little bit for us. It gives you time to do everything and give everyone a decent rest.''

Balme said recruit Hamish McIntosh had already been at work at the club as the ruckman continued his recovery from LARS surgery on his right knee in August.

"He has to do a lot of work on that leg, so he won't be at the front of the group for a little while,'' Balme said.

"They are pretty happy with it. I think he has probably started doing a little bit of running, but it is just a matter of how long it is before he starts doing it all.

"He's got to develop some muscle mass and all that sort of stuff that he has got to do to get it right.''

Daniel Menzel, recovering from a second knee reconstruction, has also been building up his workload before his teammates' return - but the Cats are in no hurry to rush the 21-year-old.

"He's starting to work pretty hard,'' Balme said.

"He is pretty happy with where he is at the minute, but he has got a lot of work to do.

"There's no rush. Whatever it takes, it takes, especially having had two knee recos already.''

Balme said the Cats planned to send a young group to train in Falls Creek in December.
 

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