Geelong coach Chris Scott has hit out at medical professionals who have questioned the club regarding Tom Stewart’s injury.
Dr Peter Larkins touched on Stewart’s lisfranc ligament issue on SEN last week, suggesting it would be an “extraordinarily” high risk if the All-Australian defender were to make it back for a potential Grand Final appearance.
That opinion was singled out by Scott at his press conference ahead of Friday night’s Preliminary Final against Melbourne.
Scott accused Larkins of perhaps being an “entertainer” first ahead of a medical professional.
“I should say that we’re confident that we have the very best people in Australia certainly, but maybe even the world who are across this,” Scott told reporters.
“So someone in the medical profession who hasn’t had the opportunity to look at the situation in detail, throwing haymakers like that from the cheap seats I think is highly unprofessional.
“But maybe he doesn’t consider his role in the game now to be one of a medical professional first. Maybe he’s an entertainer.
“I’d take it in the context of that.”
Scott insists Stewart is ticking off exactly what he needs to as his timeline towards September 25, provided the Cats get there, becomes clearer.
“Tom is on a program that was laid out by the very best medical experts and anyone that questions that, especially when they’re a level below that expertise, doesn’t really know what they’re talking about,” he added.
“He’s following a plan that was laid out right from the start, and he just keeps ticking off those days. That’s the process we’re going to walk through. If he makes it, he makes it and if he doesn’t he doesn’t.
“There’s not going to be much room for grey there. It will be a really binary decision.”
The Cats will also be without Brandan Parfitt for the clash with the Demons because of a hamstring injury, with Scott stopping short of revealing who the midfielder’s replacement will be.