Buckley flags more Grundy forward time, Duncan update, Ely debut?
Talk of a Brodie Grundy role change created plenty of discussion on Monday, while there was some big news for potential debutants Lachlan Jones, Ely Smith and Heath Chapman. And Buddy’s back!
UPDATES
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley sparked plenty of alarm when he posed a potential role change for Brodie Grundy (AF $849k SC $648k RUCK) with more forward time.
Buckley said: “We want Brodie to be supported by a second ruckman, whether it’s Mason or Darcy Cameron or another option and we’d like that to be legitimate tandem ruck role.
“We believe that Brodie can do some damage for us in front of the ball and we will be looking to explore that.”
He also discussed the role of Jordan De Goey (AF $593k SC $435k FWD). Buckley said: “We want him to be able to help us in the mids and we need him forward of the ball as well so we will keep that balance quite even and then make decisions in games where we feel we can utilise him best.”
While he said Steele Sidebottom (AF $841k SC $588k MID/FWD) was likely to return from injury for Thursday’s game against Carlton.
There was more news from Collingwood with the club putting out their weekly injury report with Will Kelly (AF $172k SC $135k FWD) likely to return sooner than expected.
Collingwood High Performance manager Kevin White: “Progressing very well from collarbone surgery. Has joined the main group this week, expected to return fully next week. A chance to play a VFL practice match next week.”
Another debutant hopeful Trent Bianco (AF $170k SC $123k D/M) suffered an injury playing VFL. White said: “Knee contusion sustained in the VFL practice match. Diagnosis and rehabilitation is currently unknown. Assessing swelling which will determine next steps and timeline.”
Jordan Clark‘s (AF $421k SC $241k DEF/MID) job security is a hot discussion, and some other Geelong injuries had some implications.
Mitch Duncan (AF $809k SC $556k MID) may not be ready to return from a calf injury in Round 2, while Sam Menegola‘s (AF $760k SC $579k MID) shoulder injury isn’t as bad as first expected.
Geelong Football General Manager Simon Lloyd said: “Mitch continues to build his conditioning. He has not yet been ruled out of Friday’s game and we will monitor his progress throughout the week.
“Sam is not as bad as first thought with an x-ray showing an AC joint injury. Menegola hasn’t been ruled out of Friday night’s game as yet and we will wait to see what the next few days bring.”
Sydney coach John Longmire declared Lance Franklin (AF $377k SC $312k FWD) is set to return to action in Round 2 although he’ll likely be in-and-out of the side moving forward as they manage him.
After Franklin played in the reserves on Sunday, Longmire said: “Lance pulled up fine and we expect him to play this week. It’s good to get him back in the team… We will train here this week and he will be right to go on Saturday.”
North Melbourne revealed Luke McDonald (AF $692k SC $512k DEF) will miss “the next couple of weeks” with a quad injury after scans revealed a slight strain.
Port Adelaide confirmed hopeful debutant Lachlan Jones (AF $240k SC $139k DEF) will miss a few weeks after straining his hamstring playing in the SANFL trial game on Friday night.
Port wrote in an update: “He will resume running this week and is expected to remain on the sideline for around a fortnight.”
Riley Bonner (AF $488k SC $318k DEF) has been ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury, which is good for Miles Bergman‘s (AF $189k SC $123k FWD) job security.
Fremantle have lost key defenders Alex Pearce (AF $217k SC $235k DEF) and Joel Hamling (AF $249k SC $271k DEF) to injuries, with the club revealing the latter’s ankle problem will rule him out for several weeks, which may open the door for rookie Heath Chapman (AF $244k SC $148k DEF).
Dockers Executive General Manager of Football Peter Bell said: “He’ll be in a moon boot for a couple of weeks and then we’ll reassess from there.”
Carlton confirmed Jack Martin (AF $608k SC $446k FWD) would be available for Thursday’s game while Jack Silvagni‘s (AF $391k SC $257k FWD) shoulder isn’t as bad as first thought, but he’ll likely miss Round 2.
Finally, potential debutant Ely Smith (AF $170k SC $123k MID/FWD) won praise after a dominant half for the Brisbane Lions’ reserves side.
Brisbane’s VFL coach Mitch Hahn said: “He was fantastic, he got plenty of the footy and was very dangerous in the forward half, kicking 3 goals, it was a really strong contribution from Ely.”
TOMORROW
Luke Beveridge and Chris Scott are both due to speak to the media, while we’ll learn Patrick Dangerfield‘s (AF $776k SC $611k MID/FWD) fate at the Tribunal.