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AAP
AAP
Sport
Shayne Hope

Cats' runners out to expose Sydney talls

Geelong's Jake Kolodjashnij (r) says the Cats will try to expose Sydney's tall forwards on Saturday. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Geelong will attempt to run Sydney's tall forwards off their feet in the AFL grand final, targeting injury-clouded Sam Reid as a possible weakness.

Reid was named for Saturday's season decider despite an adductor issue he picked up during the preliminary final, which has put him in doubt all week.

He was selected in attack alongside superstar Lance Franklin, with the returning Hayden McLean offering another tall option.

McLean replaced unlucky youngster Logan McDonald, who was dropped but remains on stand-by as an emergency.

Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij said the Swans have few weaknesses but feels their tall forwards could be exploited.

"(Reid) is looking like he's going to play and we've got a really good running back six," Kolodjashnij told reporters on Friday.

"We'll probably try to run off our opponents as best as possible and really test him out.

"We've got a back six that can float around and mix and match, which is a good luxury to have.

"They're a quality unit and we're going to play a team defence sort of approach."

Kolodjashnij has no fears over crossing paths with goal-kicking legend Franklin but has his sights on another opponent.

Isaac Heeney was a match-winner with five goals the last time the teams met - in round two - and looms as a major threat.

"He's a quality player and he's probably the match-up most likely for me when he goes forward," Kolodjashnij said.

"He had a really good game against us last time so if I can limit his influence as best as possible, that's going to go a long way to helping us win."

Kolodjashnij had an injury battle of his own leading into the preliminary final, eventually shaking off a knee issue to play a key role in the thumping of Brisbane.

The performance gave him confidence heading into the grand final.

"I was sort of under an injury cloud going into the game so I just had the mindset to leave everything out there and just enjoy the moment," he said.

"You don't get opportunities to play in prelims that often so I just put my best foot forward and took it in my stride.

"I got told I might be 50-50 to play so I had the approach to just take it day by day and tick all the boxes.

"I put my best foot forward and was lucky enough to make selection and played OK.

"It was an awesome result in the end and we gave ourselves an opportunity at the grand final."

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