Max Gawn, Luke Jackson and Sam De Koning will all return to play in Thursday night’s blockbuster, while there were updates on Port duo Zak Butters and Dan Houston and Andy McGrath is available which may impact Massimo D’Ambrosio.
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In the morning, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin confirmed the dual returns of ruck pair Max Gawn (AF $845k SC $587k RUCK) and Luke Jackson (AF $586k SC $396k F/R) for Thursday’s clash with Geelong.
Gawn hasn’t played since Queen’s Birthday due to ankle syndesmosis, while Jackson missed the win in Adelaide with a knee complaint.
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said: “Maxy will be back and Jacko will be back. I wouldn’t be playing them if they weren’t 100 per cent. They’re ready to go.
“Both guys were really touch and go to get up for last week. Max had an incredibly strong session on Saturday in Adelaide and Jacko was very similar back in Melbourne.
“They’re itching to get out there and play. They’re a big part of our footy team and to get them both back in at once is really exciting.”
Geelong coach Chris Scott had also confirmed Sam De Koning (AF $435k SC $359k D/F) will return his round after being a late out due to a cork last weekend.
Port offered an update on Zak Butters (AF $614k SC $471k M/F) who has missed two games with a knee issue. The club update said: “Trained well on Tuesday and is expected to be available for selection as long as he progresses through training on Thursday and Friday.”
The Power also offered an update on Dan Houston (AF $727k SC $517k D/M). The update said: “Will be assessed… Houston is expected to play despite suffering a knee hyperextension in the loss to the Dockers.”
Andrew McGrath (AF $651k SC $462k MID) is set to return from an adductor injury which may impact the role of Massimo D’Ambrosio (AF $284k SC $159k DEF). Essendon Head of HP Sean Murphy said: “He’ll train fully across this week and we expect him to be available this weekend.”
Kaine Baldwin (AF $231k SC $157k FWD) will be out in the short term. Murphy said: “‘Balders’ had a bit of calf tightness. They (Baldwin and Aaron Francis) didn’t play on the weekend and will enter a rehabilitation block now and hopefully we’ll see them back over the next couple of weeks.”
West Coast confirmed Elliot Yeo (AF $552k SC $417k MID) will miss 3-4 weeks with his hamstring strain which may open up an opportunity for Alex Witherden (AF $781k SC $498k DEF). Eagles Head of Health Mark Finucane said: “In the next day or two we’ll hopefully start him jogging and build through the hamstring program from there.”
The door isn’t closed on Hugh Dixon (AF $370k SC $246k F/R) after calf and ankle injuries. Finucane said: “We’ll see him with the group next week. Then we’ve just got to look at how much conditioning he’s had with those disruptions as to whether he’s in next week or the week after when he gets a bit more training under his belt.”
Jason Horne-Francis (AF $503k SC $292k M/F) is available again after suspension but North coach David Noble said he was “not sure yet” if he’d come straight back in.
