Collingwood confirmed a debutant along injury news for two players, while an Essendon young gun moved a step closer to his AFL debut, plus the latest from the Tribunal and Mid-Season Draft.
DEBUTANT ALERT
Harvey Harrison (AF $200k SC $123k FWD) will debut for Collingwood. He went pick 52 in the 2021 AFL Draft and is a 181cm medium forward/small midfielder. Harrison is averaging 11.5 disposals, 1.87 marks and 4.25 tackles per game this VFL season and has kicked eight goals in eight games.
MID-SEASON DRAFT
West Coast took 193cm forward Ryan Maric from Gippsland Power with the first pick in the AFL Mid-Season Draft on Wednesday. Maric booted two goals and had 12 disposals and four marks for Box Hill Hawks in the VFL.
In terms of ex-AFL players, the Bulldogs took ex-Collingwood mid Caleb Poulter at pick 10, while ex-Geelong mid Quinton Narkle went to Port at pick 11.
Sydney picked up 23-year-old key defender Harry Arnold from Brisbane’s VFL side with pick 6 and 22-year-old 199cm key forward Jack Buller from WAFL club Claremont with pick 15. Both may come into contention for a debut given their issues with talls, potentially impacting Lachlan McAndrew.
UPDATES
Dayne Zorko’s (AF $707k SC $464k M/F) one-game suspension for contact to the eye region of Luke Pedlar was upheld by the AFL Tribunal, meaning he misses Brisbane’s Round 13 game after the Round 12 bye. Jaeger O’Meara’s case is next to be heard.
In the daily pressers, GWS coach Adam Kingsley indicated Harry Himmelberg would likely be the only player they get back from injury, having missed last round with concussion.
Collingwood confirmed Steele Sidebottom will miss six to eight weeks having strained his MCL in his right knee on the weekend.
The Pies have also ruled out Jamie Elliott with a shoulder injury, hence Harrison’s debut. Pies assistant coach Justin Leppitsch said: “It’s not too bad at all. He’s been managing it for a month. Given the six-day break, travel and it hadn’t pulled up as well as previous, we decided this is the west it’s best he doesn’t play.”
Essendon revealed 2022 AFL Draft fifth pick Elijah Tsatas is expected to play VFL this weekend following an acute meniscus tear, meaning he’s not far from pushing for an AFL debut.
Dons GM of Performance Daniel McPherson also said he expected Dylan Shiel to be “available to play” after missing their past two games, which may impact Ben Hobbs’ role.
