GEELONG is hopeful speed machine Steven Motlop hasn't done any damage to his hamstring despite being subbed off at half-time of Saturday night's 66-point win over West Coast.
Motlop, who had time to put in an earring before being interviewed after the game, said he was removed from the field as a precaution after pulling up tight.
"It is all good, I've never done one (hamstring) in my life. I was due to get subbed off in the next couple of weeks and rest," Motlop said.
"So we just thought we would do it tonight."
Coach Chris Scott and the Geelong brains trust got together at the long break and decided to err on the side of caution with a player fast becoming one of the keys to the Cats' premiership chances this season.
“We had plans to warm him up post half-time and see how he went, but we’ve been caught out a few times this year with those line-ball decisions and there was clearly no need to risk him," Scott said.
“Josh Caddy came on and had 21 touches in the second half, so that’s the upside. We were keen to give Josh a bit more game time.
"I don’t mind telling the whole world what I told Josh, he wasn’t our 22nd player picked tonight. There were a lot of things that contributed to the selection of the sub. It was good he took it the right way and played well.
“Back to Motlop, we’re confident he’s fine. There just didn’t seem to be any reason to push him through the second half with a suspect hamstring.”
Motlop had set the wet Patersons Stadium alight in the first half, booting two goals, having two goal assists, and being the Cats' equal-leading possession getter with 16.
His first goal of the night after just two minutes highlighted his running ability and skills, finishing a lengthy sprint with a clever snap from 50m that skidded through at the Subiaco end.
The Cats had one other injury concern with big man Josh Walker leaving the field with a wrist issue in the third term. However, he was able to return and play out the match and Scott was unconcerned.
