Hawthorn announced Will Day’s two-game suspension will be appealed, while there were updates on Jarrod Witts, Jack Steele, Josh Fahey and Reuben Ginbey along with a worry for Jacob van Rooyen.
TEAM NEWS
Ins: Pedlar, Fogarty, Walsh, Acres, Kennedy
Outs: McHenry, Gollant, Schoenberg, L.O’Brien, Honey, Carroll, Docherty (inj)
Key holds: Cowan, Hollands
Key absences: Cincotta
Luke Pedlar returns from suspension for Adelaide, while Sam Docherty is out, as we knew, injured but Alex Cincotta isn’t in the mix to take his spot at half-back.
DEBUTANT ALERT
Sydney confirmed Corey Warner (AF $200k SC $123k M/F) will make his debut this weekend. He went pick 40 in the 2021 AFL Draft and is a 19-year-old 182cm midfielder, who can play inside or out. Warner had 22 disposals, eight marks and five tackles in the VFL last weekend.
Swans coach John Longmire said: “We’ve given an opportunity to Corey Warner this week who will play his first game of AFL footy. He’s running capacity has always been at a really high level and he’s got a great mix of speed and endurance. He’s been playing a number of weeks at our VFL level and been consistent and running hard and doing that two-way running that we like our players to do. He’s had shots at goal and he’s been putting in a solid body of work that warrants his inclusion this week.”
UPDATES
Hawthorn have confirmed that they will challenge the two-game ban handed to Will Day (AF $727k SC $454k DEF) for rough conduct for a tackle on Geelong’s Brad Close. The case will go to the Tribunal on Thursday night where Day could possibly get off or downgraded to one week depending on Hawthorn’s argument.
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew offered an update on ruckman Jarrod Witts (AF $845k SC $616k RUC) who missed last round with soreness and didn’t train on Wednesday. Dew said: “We’ll make a decision by the time we travel. He’s still a bit sore. It’s one of those things that’s hard to put a timeline on. Some days are good, some aren’t. He’s been a bit sore all year and it’s just managing that.
“Some games he’s felt really good, and other games he’s worked really hard to get through. We were just trying to get a bit of a circuit-breaker last week, give him that week off and see what impact that had on him. We anticipate when we bring him back in, he’s at a really good level and not as sore as he has been. We know it’s a long year … we won’t risk him.”
Dew hailed Ned Moyle (AF $236k SC $123k RUC) for his debut in a sign he is almost certain to play again if Witts is unavailable. He said: “He’s a competitor. I think Ned’s number one thing is he’s a competitor. Our midfield group has full confidence in him. In his first game against Marshall he did a really good job. It allows us to not take risks with Wittsy.”
On their other debutant Bailey Humphrey (AF $299k SC $184k M/F), Dew said: “Bailey, in his first game last week, had some time in the CB (centre bounce) and he’ll do that again. I think he’s a very strong midfield centre bounce type player. We’ll continue to expose in that area.”
Charlie Constable (AF $422k SC $123k D/M) played well in the VFL, pushing his case for a Suns recall, but he wasn’t on Dew’s mind when asked about potential changes, instead flagging the likes of Mabior Chol, Sean Lemmens, Caleb Graham, Rory Atkins and Sam Day.
Jack Steele (AF $969k SC $604k MID) will be back from a shoulder injury next week according to St Kilda coach Ross Lyon with the onballer making rapid progress in his recovery. Lyon said: “He’ll play next week against the Blues.” Lyon also said Tim Membrey was in contention to return, which may impact Anthony Caminiti’s (AF $335k SC $205k FWD) selection or role.
On Rowan Marshall’s (AF $825k SC $511k RUC) substitution on Saturday, Lyon clarified there’s no injury to worry about. He said: “Not banged up at all. Most teams have one (ruck) with a second so he’s been carrying a big load. He’s a big runner. He’s important to us. It’s just if you can take little wins along the way… We just thought we’d take the win, give him a rest.”
Popular SuperCoach trade-in target Jacob van Rooyen (AF $281k SC $123k FWD) is on certainty to play this round with Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin revealing Ben Brown’s probable availability has given them a selection headache. Goodwin said: “We’re confident that (Ben Brown) will be right to go and be available for selection, that’s going to cause us a few headaches with what we do with our team. We’ve got a group of talls that are in good form… Van Rooyen has been exciting. He provides an enormous contest, his work rate has been first class & he’s given us a really good aid in the second ruck. He’s been really positive in the way he goes about his footy. We’re excited about what he can continue to bring to our footy team.”
Goodwin added they weren’t “scared” of playing three talls up forward, with Brown, van Rooyen and Tom McDonald. He said: “Yep, sure can (play Brown, McDonald and van Rooyen in same side). If you go back the last three years, we’ve generally played with three talls for the majority. There’s no doubt all those guys can play together. We’re not scared of that at all.”
The Dees coach confirmed Michael Hibberd will miss due to a sore Achilles, while they’ll assess Jake Lever and James Harmes will return via the VFL after a few games out for personal reasons.
GWS coach Adam Kingsley refused to give much away on potential debutants Josh Fahey (AF $200k SC $123k D/M) along with No.1 Draft pick Aaron Cadman (AF $300k SC $207k FWD) given they play on Sunday. Kingsley said: “There’s a chance. There’s been a chance each week. We just haven’t gone that way. Doesn’t mean we won’t this week. Certainly Cadman has been in really good form in the VFL… Josh Fahey’s last two weeks have been really strong in the VFL. Those two boys will certainly be discussed.”
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir revealed the Dockers have flown in Corey Wagner (AF $285k SC $117k D/M) and Sam Sturt (AF $200k SC $123k FWD) into their Adelaide camp as possible inclusions for their Friday game with Gold Coast. Longmuir said: “We’ve brought a back in Wagner, a midfielder in Brodie and a forward in Sturt over and we’ve brought them over for a reason. They’re all a chance to come into the team.”
Longmuir said Michael Frederick was also back in the mix after an eye issue, while Luke Ryan (AF $889k SC $578k DEF) was fine to play despite some niggles. On Ryan, Longmuir said: “He’s alright. His back clearly up pretty quick. He’s dealing with that little knee injury that he had on the weekend but he’s one of our toughest players. He’s played in a lot of pain in the past so he’ll be right.”
The Freo coach also revealed on 7NewsPerth that Andy Brayshaw (AF $965k SC $562k MID) wasn’t at 100 per cent full fitness when asked about a possible knee issue. He said: “He has an issue that he’s dealing with but he’s not far off 100%. I don’t think he’s far away from producing his best. Everyone is carrying niggles but I’m sure he won’t be using that as an excuse.”
There’s been talk about Reuben Ginbey (AF $482k SC $282k D/M) possibly missing West Coast’s Round 5 game due to a rest after comments from Eagles coach Adam Simpson after Sunday’s game, but he clarified that’d likely be through management during the week. Simpson said on 7NewsPerth: “He looked a bit tired at stages throughout the day. It’s been a big month for him. We need to look after him, in particular during the week.”
With the McCartin brothers out with concussion for Sydney, Will Gould (AF $200k SC $123k DEF) looked set for an opportunity but he may have an untimely injury. Sydney coach John Longmire said: “Unfortunately Francis and Gould didn’t finish the training session we had on the weekend, not great timing.”
