Cat's comeback looms, with AFL an immediate option

Stengle returned to the club in late January after needing time off during the off-season for personal reasons.

His return would be a major boost for the Cats, who have won their past two games.

Initially, Scott said in his Sunday media conference that Stengle would return through the VFL, potentially at home on April 17 against Footscray.

But the Cats also play the Western Bulldogs that night and Scott is bullish that Stengle might be ready for an immediate senior recall.

"It's on the table, the next VFL round. But - a bit of water can flow under the bridge between now and then," Scott said.

"We might just bring him straight back into the seniors, because he just would have had so much training.

"That might be an option. I'm certainly not guaranteeing it.

"It (Stengle's progress) is really positive. He's put together a really strong block of training."

Former Hawthorn midfielder James Worpel will not return against his old club, while the Cats also left out Jhye Clark.

Mark O'Connor was managed, with Brad Close and Jack Bowes to return.

Hawthorn lost Karl Amon and Cam McKenzie to knee problems. Midfielder Jack Dalton will be their first AFL debutant this season and former North Melbourne defender Flynn Perez will play his first game for the Hawks.

Dalton, who turned 19 on Sunday, was recruited at pick No.34 in last year's national draft.

Scott said Worpel, who has recovered from an infected finger, would be needed over the next fortnight as Geelong manage short breaks before the West Coast and Bulldogs games.

Asked about supposed added motivation when players meet their former clubs, Scott said, "I don't believe in that stuff" and added, "It's certainly a luxury to have a few guys like James on stand-by."

Scott said the Cats wanted Clark to return to the VFL and work on his game as an inside midfielder.

"We're still really bullish about the player," he said. 

"If you think that our 23 we pick in any given week is a referendum on who we think our best 23 players are, you're not reading the way we think about things."

Geelong have won eight of their last 10 games against Hawthorn, but Scott downplayed the significance of the Easter Monday clash.

"The main thing is it's two good sides going at it," he said.

"It won't be a disaster for the team that loses."

Scott reacted to speculation last week that star Bailey Smith was in negotiations with the Cats about a pay rise.

"I guess if the implication is that he's happy here and looking to cement his time at Geelong, that would be a posiitive thing ... or does he just want some more money. Don't we all?" Scott said.