Thursday’s team news brings loads plus debutants from Brisbane, Hawthorn, Adelaide and Gold Coast, while Geelong are set to play some new recruits, and Adam Simpson speaks on Elliot Yeo’s injury.
TEAM NEWS
Key ins: Bruhn, Ratugolea, Goater, Sheezel, Long, Ginbey, Chesser, Ashcroft, Wilmot, McKenna, McVee, Laurie, Baker, Uwland, Constable, Pedlar, Milera, F.Greene, Mackenzie, Meek, A.Davey, Stocker
Extended ins (26): Michalanney*, Menzie, Windhager, Campbell, Phillipou, Caminiti, M.Johnson, Sturt
Key outs: Bowes, Duncan, W.Phillips, Culley, Yeo, Boak, Zorko, May, McLean, Humphrey, McAndrew, Cadman
Relevant possible subs/emgs: W.Phillips, Joyce, Van Rooyen, McLean, Moyle, McAndrew
*Debut announcement made, but could be sub
UPDATES
Hawthorn rookie Cam Mackenzie (AF $288k SC $180k MID) will officially make his debut against Essendon on Sunday. A 188cm ball magnet, Mackenzie racked up 24 disposals, five marks, three tackles and a goal vs Collingwood, scoring 92/99 (AF/SC).
Fergus Greene (AF $200k SC $123k FWD) will also play his first game in a Hawks uniform, after previously playing five games with the Western Bulldogs in 2018. Greene was one of Hawthorn’s best during the practice matches, against Collingwood he had eight disposals, five marks, two tackles and three goals, scoring 67/84 (AF/SC).
Adelaide rookie Max Michalanney (AF $268k SC $135k DEF) will make his debut against GWS. A 190cm key defender, Michalanney tallied seven disposals and two tackles in the Crows’ practice match vs West Coast, scoring 33/38 (AF/SC).
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks also spoke on Sportsday SA about Luke Pedlar (AF $213k SC $173k FWD) and his progression through growing pains.
Nicks said: “It was his body really, it took him some time to get to the level required to perform at AFL level and he’s struggled with some groin issues in the past. He’s really turned himself into a professional. If we can get his body right and he can perform, he’s quite a dangerous forward at the moment. Long term we see him as maybe getting in as a full-time midfielder.
Gold Coast have announced that Bodhi Uwland (AF $200k SC $123k D/M) will make his debut against Sydney this weekend. Uwland was the 2021 SUNS Academy Player of the Year, and spent all of 2022 rehabilitating a stress reaction to his back. He played limited minutes in their practice match vs GWS, with three disposals, a mark and a tackle on just 24% time on ground.
Geelong coach Chris Scott spoke to the media ahead of their clash against Collingwood, confirming they will unleash some new faces, with Tanner Bruhn (AF $471k SC $311k M/F) and Ollie Henry set to make their Geelong debuts.
Prized trade acquisition Jack Bowes (AF $607k SC $277k DEF) will miss due to a minor calf injury, but Scott has confidence that he will be in the 22 next week against Carlton. Scott said: “He’s really had a flawless pre-season right up until the point where he had a little bit of a calf issue. We’re confident he could play this week as well, so much so that he’ll definitely play next week.”
Scott also confirmed that Esava Ratugolea (AF $332k SC $174k R/F) will play a role as a key defender, with Jack Henry (foot) and Jake Kolodjashnij (concussion) out.
“He did play one game against West Coast here last year (R23 in Geelong) as a key back and performed really well, and gave us the confidence that if a spot opened up in a final that he could do that,” Scott said. “Across the pre-season, when I watched him he looks like a back to me. I ask myself did we make a mistake by persisting with him for too long in other positions?”
A conservative approach will be taken with Mitch Duncan (AF $820k SC $486k DEF) and his recovery from a calf injury. He will miss the early part of the season. Scott said: “Mitch won’t play for the next few games. It is quite conservative. We could bring Mitch in now, but it’s a good example of treating players individually based on their specific situations.”
West Coast coach Adam Simpson spoke to the media today about Elliot Yeo (AF $625k SC $337k DEF) and his calf injury, and the new faces set to debut against North Melbourne.
On Yeo, Simpson said: “It’s just unfortunate, the last two minutes of training Yeoy had a little bit of a niggle in that calf, hopefully it’s just a short-term thing. The good thing about Yeo is that he’s had a really good preseason, so this is a minor setback, albeit at the eve of the season and we’re going to miss him for a couple of weeks. He’s fit, unfortunately it was just at the last hurdle,” Simpson said.
Rookies Reuben Ginbey (AF $284k SC $171k D/M), Campbell Chesser (AF $200k SC $123k D/M) and Noah Long (AF $200k SC $117k M/F) are all set to debut, while ex-Melbourne recruit Jayden Hunt (AF $379k SC $285k DEF) will also play his first game for the Eagles.
“Noah is a forward. Reuben is a mid that can play back. Chess is a mid that can play on the wing or on ball. And Hunt will play,” Simpson said.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir spoke to the media about some key selection news. While the team is quite set, there are some young players knocking on the door.
Sam Sturt (AF $200k SC $123k FWD) performed strongly in Freo’s practice match against Port Adelaide, with eight disposals, four marks, three tackles and two goals, boosting his round one chances. He said: “He’s a chance. Really happy with his preseason form. He seems to have unlocked the intensity required and effort required. He’s been super, not just with ball in hand, but with pressure. We’ll wait and see.”
Matthew Johnson (AF $200k SC $123k MID) is a key part of Freo’s future plans, but with the strength of their current lineup, he will unfortunately miss out this week against St Kilda. Longmuir said: “It’s unlikely they (Johnson and Erasmus) would play AFL this week given our midfield depth. It doesn’t change my long term vision of the impact they will have on our club.”
Luke Ryan (AF $756k SC $531k DEF) is set to return to the side after dealing with a back injury, which kept him out of their last practice match. “We’re on top of it (Ryan’s recovery). He should be right (to play),” Longmuir said.
