Stay up to date throughout the round with our rolling injury report from the coaches post-game. With the nine-game round extending from Thursday night through until Sunday night, these snippets of info will be key.
Fremantle v St Kilda
Sean Darcy (AF $750k SC $642k RUCK) was subbed out for Freo. Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said: “He’s rolled his ankle. We have to wait for his scan but bad enough to sub him out.”
Paddy Ryder (AF $627k SC $455k RUCK) played in the reserves as he closes in on a senior return. Saints coach Brett Ratten said: “He’ll be close next week. We just want to see how he pulls up from today.” This may impact Jack Hayes’ (AF $319k SC $102k F/R) role/selection
Richmond v GWS Giants
Dustin Martin (AF $676k SC $503k M/F) missed the game for personal reasons. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said: “Same as the Thursday press conference. No clarity (on his availability). It’s a personal issue and we’ll leave it at that.” Hardwick said Dylan Grimes (AF $484k SC $389k DEF) didn’t play due to soreness.
GWS coach Leon Cameron confirmed Phil Davis (AF $373k SC $285k DEF) had a hamstring injury and Daniel Lloyd (AF $508k SC $354k FWD) had a shoulder/arm issue.
North Melbourne v West Coast
Tarryn Thomas (AF $659k SC $459k M/F) went off with a rib injury. North coach David Noble said: “Not sure about Taz, I haven’t had an update from our medicos yet… He has gone to hospital.” Kyron Hayden (AF $302k SC $199k DEF) was a late out with gastro.
Luke Davies-Uniacke (AF $682k SC $462k MID) has entered concussion protocols, while Noble was happy with rookie Jason Horne-Francis (AF $351k SC $207k MID). Noble said: “He continues to build. He’s so clean around the ball, happy to put his body on the line. I’ve been really pleased with what he’s done in the first couple of weeks. He’s settled into the level and speed.”
Eagles coach Adam Simpson said Jackson Nelson (AF $461k SC $283k DEF) was a late withdrawal with a knee injury and Brayden Ainsworth (not added to AF/SC) tweaked his knee which was “not major” but forced him to be subbed out.
Simpson provided an update on Andrew Gaff (AF $818k SC $496k MID): He said: “Just a sore foot. I don’t think it’s anything major. Hadn’t recovered in time… I thought he’d play this week.”
The Eagles coach also praised Willie Rioli (AF $358k SC $225k FWD), when he said: “He’s been a long time out. Interrupted pre-season. Very good today. He was a real shining light especially in the first half.”
Gold Coast v Melbourne
Izak Rankine (AF $468k SC $299k FWD) missed the game due to a corked quad. Suns coach Stuart Dew said they hope the issue won’t linger.
Jake Bowey (AF $367k SC $265k DEF) impressed for the Dees. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said: “He played an outstanding game last week, but it was more defensive, and he didn’t get rewarded with ball in hand, and tonight he played exactly the same game and got some reward with the ball.”
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn
Port subbed out Trent McKenzie (AF $579k SC $456k DEF) with a rolled ankle, while the Hawks replaced Chad Wingard (AF $718k SC $501k M/F) due to a hamstring issue given his history, with coach Sam Mitchell unsure if he’ll be available next week.
Second-gamer Josh Ward (AF $284k SC $180k MID) won some praise from Mitchell who said: “They’ve (Ward and Connor MacDonald) still got a fair bit to learn. Wardy, I love his mentality and how he goes about his footy, he’s happy to play to his strengths, even when they don’t work.”
Essendon v Brisbane Lions
Zach Merrett (AF $933k SC $625k MID) was injured late and did not return, along with Nik Cox (AF $465k SC $308k MID). Dons coach Ben Rutten said: “Coxy’s had a reasonably solid rolled ankle, standard rolled ankle. Zach is an ankle as well but I think more on the minor end of it at this stage but that’s the information I’ve got at the moment. Not sure (if he’ll miss games), don’t know, hopefully not.”
Essendon GM of football Josh Mahoney since said: “We will look at surgery as an option for Zach but it is likely he will miss around six to eight weeks.”
Tex Wanganeen (AF $190k SC $102k FWD) was the unused medi sub for Essendon despite Merrett and Cox’s late injuries. Rutten added: “He’s not far away. The thing with Tex, we really like a lot of things that he brings but he’s also missed a lot of footy over the last few years. We’ve got to make sure we’re setting him up to succeed.”
Dylan Shiel (AF $773k SC $361k MID) had a side strain worry too. Rutten said: “Not a long term thing. He’ll have to get through training and we’ll go from there.”
On Nic Martin (AF $266k SC $102k FWD), Rutten said: “We’ll get Nic Martin back from COVID protocols (next week).”
Lachie Neale (AF $810k SC $543k MID) dominated for Brisbane earning praise from Lions coach Chris Fagan who said: “It was an astonishing performance. He just lifted & drove us across the line. It was a special game by him. He’s had a very, very good pre-season & he’s very determined this year.”
Dayne Zorko (AF $860k SC $595k MID) appears hampered but had plenty of footy. Fagan said: “The injury that he’s got is not really an injury. it’s the leftover from the surgery he had which is scar tissue. it hurts a bit and can swell a little bit but it wont last forever. it’s better he keeps playing.”
Jarrod Berry (AF $724k $268k MID) didn’t get huge numbers but was forced into a tagging role. Fagan said: “It would be fair to say he did a terrific job. Zach Merrett still got a bit of the ball, but he wasn’t slicing us like he was in the first quarter.”
Fagan also flagged Darcy Wilmot (AF $260k SC $139k DEF) for a possible debut soon. He said: “We’ve got some other guys that can play at half-back as well, young Darcy Wilmot has shown some promise in the reserves, Jaxon Prior, we’ve got a few options up our sleeve.”
Collingwood v Adelaide
Nathan Kreuger (AF $287k SC $198k DEF) was subbed off late with a shoulder issue. Pies coach Craig McRae said: “It’s probably too early to tell. He’s going to have to get a scan. I think he might have subluxed his shoulder.”
McRae said Taylor Adams (AF $826k SC $516k MID) had lower TOG due to a migraine.
Rory Sloane (AF $720k SC $528k MID) was subbed out for the Crows with an adductor issue, with coach Matthew Nicks not confident he would play next week with a six-day turnaround for Friday’s Showdown versus Port.
“It’s a six-day break we’re on. Bit of soreness to his adductor,” Nicks said. “He tried to push on. In the end, it was just getting worse for him. Fingers crossed it pulled up well.”
Sydney v Geelong
Neither side used their sub.
Western Bulldogs v Carlton
Hayden Crozier (AF $575k SC $379k DEF) was subbed off in the third term and fainted in the changerooms but is OK.
Bailey Smith (AF $781k SC $472k MID) was a surprise absentee due to a hip injury. Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said: “I think so (he’ll be available). He just pulled up a bit marginal after our main session. He was just tight in the hip flexor. hopefully he comes up, we’ll see.”
Oscar McDonald (AF $358k SC $201k FWD) had a lower back problem and subbed at half-time.
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