GWS coach Adam Kingsley cast fresh doubt on Harry Himmelberg’s defensive role, while he also updated on Josh Kelly’s fitness and hailed ruckman Kieren Briggs. The weekend teams are to come too.
TEAM NEWS
Key ins: Fletcher, Lohmann, Buller, Parker, J.Kelly, Taylor, Simpkin
Key outs: Rich (mng), Heeney (inj), Fahey, Angwin, Sturt, A.Jones, O’Donnell
Key holds: Robertson, Wilmot, Blakey, Sheldrick, Melican, S.Ryan, Windhager, Fiorini, T.Berry, Ford
Ext bench: Binns, Cincotta, Atkins, Humphrey, Greenwood, Spicer, Hall, O.Baker
Possible subs/emgs: Arnold, Corey Warner, McAndrew, Cumming, Fahey, Angwin, Cadman, Sturt, Worner
Absent: H.Sharp, Zorko, G.Hewett, Davies-Uniacke
Rookies Josh Fahey, Ryan Angwin, Sam Sturt, Arthur Jones and James O’Donnell all were omitted, which may leave some coaches scrambling for 18 on field. Jaxon Binns is in Carlton’s 26 and could make his debut.
DEBUTANT ALERTS
With Isaac Heeney and Lance Franklin out, Sydney named Jack Buller (AF $200k SC $102k FWD) to make his debut. Buller was pick 15 in the 2023 Mid-Season Draft and is a 199cm key forward, drafted from WAFL club Claremont where he kicked 8 goals in 5 games, averaging 16.2 disposals and 7.4 marks. Buller kicked 5 goals for Sydney in the VFL last weekend.
Brisbane confirmed a debut for Jaspa Fletcher (AF $278k SC $157k MID) who went pick 12 (father-son) in the 2022 AFL Draft. He is a 183cm midfielder/forward, who is averaging 16 disposals, 4.3 marks and 1.7 tackles per game in the VFL this season. He had 18 disposals and 2 goals last week.
UPDATES
Port Adelaide confirmed late in the afternoon that Quinton Narkle (AF $432k SC $230k MID) is a late inclusion for his club debut on Thursday night against Geelong. Narkle, who had 33 disposals, 10 marks and a goal in the SANFL last weekend, replaces Junior Rioli in their 22.
GWS coach Adam Kingsley may have stated last week he wants Harry Himmelberg (AF $545k SC $375k D/F) to play as a defender, but he almost walked that back on Thursday, with Sam Taylor and Isaac Cumming set to come back into the side after injuries.
On Himmelberg’s role, Kingsley said: “I’m probably leaning now towards more back. But as we know he’s a very capable forward. It’ll be needs dependent for us. If we need him in the front half, that’s where we’ll play him. If we need him in the back half, then that’s where he’ll play. As of this moment, he’s in the backline. But we haven’t had match committee, so I don’t know what that holds.”
When asked if that decision may depend on Taylor and Cumming’s availability, he added: “Possibly. That’s something we’ll need to go through as a match committee and work out where our best team fits. With a couple of players coming back, it feels like we’ve a lot of backs and that’ll either end up some miss out or we shift some magnets around.”
Taylor and Cumming, along with Josh Kelly (AF $908k SC $591k MID), were all listed as tests earlier in the week, with Thursday’s main session viewed as their opportunity to prove their fitness. After that session, Kingley said: “By my eye watching training they all looked fine. I expect they’ll all get ticked off but we’ll wait for official confirmation once the docs check them out post training.”
Kingsley also had praise for ruckman Kieren Briggs (AF $677k SC $406k RUC) who has been excellent in recent weeks. He said: “He’s had a really strong month. There’s no coincidence that him coming in and providing his level of versatility around the ruck, his follow-up has been really really good, our clearance game has improved on the back of it and so has our pressure game. He’s been really vital in both those components of our game. A tough challenge this week in a good in-form player in Luke Jackson. That will challenge him.”
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan revealed Daniel Rich (AF $661k SC $447k DEF) and Jack Gunston had both opted to make themselves unavailable for AFL selection after poor form, instead preferring to build up their fitness rathe than play VFL.
Fagan said: “They’re not happy with the way that they’re playing at the moment, they believe their form doesn’t warrant selection.
“There’s obviously the option to go back and play in the reserves, but at their age, I think the best thing we can do for them, to give them the best chance to get back to playing their best, is to give them a training block. For the next weeks that’s what they’ll be doing, building their bodies up, building their fitness up. I’m not sure how long they’ll be out for and when they’ll be ready to come back, but that’s the decision we’ve made.”
The Lions coach added that last week’s sub Keidean Coleman would come in for Rich in that half-back role, while Dayne Zorko is available after suspension but didn’t commit to him definitely returning after light training on Tuesday.
Fagan also said Hugh McCluggage was “on track to return next week” after being ruled out this round with concussion.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge flagged possibly one or two changes to their side although he was reluctant to commit to Mid-Season Draft selection Caleb Poulter (AF $410k SC $212k MID) getting a game.
He said: “He’ll continue to be considered. He’s a 20-year-old, we feel like he’s got a lot of growth in him, a bright future. One of the reasons we brought him in is how athletic he is, raking left foot, quite quick, can play in multiple positions. He will be considered from week to week, but whether he’s one coming in, I can’t tell you right now.”
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew similarly was reluctant to discuss changes after wins in Darwin, except possibly a structural move. He noted Sean Lemmens was available after injury, while Connor Budarick would return via the VFL. Lemmens’ availability may impact Rory Atkins.
Dew also revealed Lachie Weller would still miss out with an ongoing knee issue. He said: “Lachie is towards the end. He’s full training again. He’ll likely be another week, he won’t play this week.”
