Geelong confirmed Irish youngster Oisin Mullin will not play in Thursday’s clash with Port Adelaide due to injury, while there were updates on Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan and Sean Darcy.
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The AFL Tribunal upheld the three-game suspension for James Sicily (AF $934k SC $649k DEF) for rough conduct on Hugh McCluggage, meaning he’ll be out for the next four weeks, including Hawthorn’s bye.
Geelong revealed in its weekly injury update that Oisin Mullin (AF $244k SC $102k DEF) was “unavailable for selection with an adductor injury.”
Cats coach Chris Scott held his weekly press conference and expanded on the injury. He said: “Oisin is one (who’ll come out), because he’s just had a little bit of an adductor issue over the break. Even without that, we were starting to think this is around the time we might hold him back. The bye week off and then an extra week seemed logical anyway. He just had this little bit of an adductor issue that some players could play through but were not going to do that with Oisin, given we want to think long-term with him. Because he’s such a physical player, great speed, power, mechanical work, his loads have been through the roof, so it seemed logical to hold him back.”
Scott added that Patrick Dangerfield will return from a hamstring injury, while he said Mitch Duncan, Max Holmes, Jack Bowes and Rhys Stanley would be available. He added that they’d need to consider their ruck set-up with Stanley and/or Jonathan Ceglar, meaning the former isn’t certain to return.
On Dangerfield, Scott said: “Yeah he will (play). He’s in really good shape. He’ll be one of a few we’ll bring back into the team. The bye came at a good time… Duncan, Holmes, Bowes, Stanley, they’re all looking like being available.
Cats GM Football Simon Lloyd added on Duncan: “Trained really well on Saturday, that was our big session from last one. Mitch, we know how smart a player he is. That’ll come down to him and Chris Scott, they’ll have a discussion on whether he’s ready to go this week. It’ll be very close.”
Scott also added that Esava Ratugolea will “be a matter of weeks” before he returns from injury.
GWS said Josh Kelly was a test for this weekend as he is “looking to make his return from a hamstring injury”, while Isaac Cumming is also a test with decision to be made a main training on Thursday.
Fremantle confirmed on Monday that Sean Darcy (AF $789k SC $567k RUC) will miss another game with a hamstring injury. Freo High Performance Manager Phil Merriman said: “Sean is tracking really well but he won’t play this week. He’ll be in line to play the following week.”
Brisbane confirmed on Tuesday that Hugh McCluggage has avoided a neck injury but will miss their Round 14 game due to concussion. Daniel Rich wasn’t listed in the Lions’ injury report despite being subbed out with a knock to his leg on Saturday. Rich was spotted at training with strapping on his right shin on Tuesday morning.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale confirmed Marlion Pickett won’t be available to play this week despite returning to Melbourne on Monday after being charged by WA Police over the weekend.
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Ben Somerford
