Laird misses training, Dew on Fiorini, Longmire on Daicos tag & Longmuir on Johnson JS
Rory Laird missed Adelaide training creating some more doubt on his availability, while there was an injury scare for Sean Darcy and updates on Brayden Fiorini, Matthew Johnson and Jacob van Rooyen.
UPDATES
Rory Laird (AF $921k SC $633k MID) didn’t train on Wednesday, creating doubt around his availability for Saturday’s game with Geelong after recent knee and calf issues. Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said: “Lairdy is just management. He pulled up well from the weekend. Ongoing management for a number of players. There’s always a little bit (of doubt) with Lairdy at the moment. Just general soreness but I think we’re confident and he’s confident that he’ll be right for the weekend.”
Nicks also hinted at Ben Keays (AF $646k SC $411k M/F) tagging Tom Stewart (AF $776k SC $610k DEF).
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew offered an insight into popular trade-in target Brayden Fiorini’s (AF $559k SC $337k MID) role and job security. He said: “I think Brayden is playing really solid football. Good balance of inside, outside. He’s very flexible in his communication in and out of the stoppage.”
On Bailey Humphrey (AF $302k SC $177k M/F), Dew added: “Bailey got a little bit of exposure there and we’ll keep doing that.”
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir spoke about Matthew Johnson (AF $280k SC $185k MID) who has been suspended for two weeks and his potential selection when available again. Longmuir said: “We’ll miss him a couple of weeks but in the grand scheme a bit of a freshen up won’t hurt him. He’s shown plenty in the early parts of his career.”
There has been media talk of an injury concern for Sean Darcy (AF $863k SC $622k RUCK) who left training early, while Michael Frederick (AF $515k SC $335k FWD) is a chance to return from a groin injury.
Rookie midfielder Karl Worner (AF $200k SC $123k D/M) has been impressing in the WAFL, averaging 27.75 disposals per game this season, and Longmuir hinted he’s close to a debut. He said: “He’s been a pretty consistent performer for us he’s still got areas of his game he’s working on, like all our younger players but he’s been pretty consistent for a while down at peel.”
Nat Fyfe (AF $657k SC $313k M/F) is closing in on a return too. Longmuir said: No decision [on whether he plays] yet, we’ll make that once he gets through training. It’s a pretty significant hurdle he needs to jump at training today.” According to reports, Fyfe got through that session well, so he’s one to consider for Draft.
Potentially another Draft relevant one is St Kilda’s Jack Billings (AF $693k SC $405k MID) withcoach Ross Lyon flagging he is “under consideration” after recently returning from injury in the VFL. Lyon said Billings is the “fittest he’s ever been”. Lyon added Max King (AF $551k SC $381k FWD) is still a week away and won’t play in Round 8.
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin spoke about his forward line and not feeling any need to settle on their best mix, which keeps Jacob van Rooyen’s (AF $341k SC $235k FWD) job security uncertain. He said: “From a personnel perspective, we’re certainly not settled. We’re open minded about how we get better, whether that’s with our rucks, whether that’s with Jacob van Rooyen, Harry Petty, Ben Brown, Tom McDonald, we’re very open minded.”
Sydney coach John Longmire was asked about Ryan Clarke (AF $423k SC $313k FWD) tagging Nick Daicos (AF $987k SC $634k DEF). He said: “That’s an option. The option is do you try and hurt him or do you try and stop him? Everyone has different philosophies. He’s a player that can really hurt you no matter what happens. He certainly has a licence to go about his business which can pull your structure apart. We’ll work on that.”
Longmire said Tom Hickey (AF $602k SC $465k RUC) was homing in on a return from injury and they were weighing up playing him alongside Peter Ladhams (AF $701k SC $423k RUC).