MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Jeremy Cameron of the Cats leaves the field with a cut near his eye during the round two AFL match between Carlton Blues and Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on March 23, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
MINOR CONCERN FOR INJURY-HIT KOLODJASHNIJ AS CATS WRAP UP 2025 TRAINING
Scorching session at Deakin University sees premiership defender in discomfort, but two stars show promising signs ahead of 2026
A minor concern for injury-plagued Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij has taken the shine off an otherwise strong final training session of 2025, held in sweltering conditions at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus.
The premiership Cat – whose career has been repeatedly interrupted by setbacks in recent years – was seen experiencing discomfort during drills, prompting club medical staff to monitor him closely for the remainder of the session. While officials have downplayed the issue as “nothing significant”, the sight of Kolodjashnij struggling will raise eyebrows among fans who have watched him battle to maintain fitness since his 2022 flag-winning contribution.
Despite the brief scare, there were encouraging updates on two other key players working their way back from long-term injuries. The pair – who the club declined to name formally but are understood to be among Geelong’s most decorated stars – completed a full set of light to moderate drills, including controlled ball movement and conditional running. Their successful participation in the end-of-year session has boosted hopes they will be ready for the opening rounds of the 2026 AFL season.
Several notable absentees were also recorded at Wednesday’s training, with three senior players granted early leave to attend family commitments interstate. Two more were sidelined with planned minor procedures, which the club confirmed were scheduled to ensure they are fully fit for pre-season preparations kicking off in January.
In separate comments, Cats forward Jeremy Cameron offered a bullish assessment of rivals Collingwood, predicting the Magpies will be genuine contenders again in 2026. “They’ve got a strong list and a great culture – you can never count them out,” Cameron said. “We’ll be keeping a close eye on them, that’s for sure.”
Geelong’s football department head praised the squad’s commitment throughout the final session, describing the group’s attitude in the extreme heat as “testament to their professionalism as they head into the off-season break”.
