Nat Fyfe spoke positively about his fitness after a few injury-riddled years, while Sydney coach John Longmire discussed debutant Jack Buller’s role plus Carlton coach Michael Voss confirmed an inclusion.
SUNDAY TEAMS
Key ins: Cuningham, Simpkin, Greenwood
Key outs: E.Curnow, Uwland, Hall, O’Donnell, A.Jones
Key holds: Cincotta, Atkins, Humphrey, Spicer, Ford, O.Baker
Emgs/possible subs: Binns, Hall
UPDATES
Fremantle gun Nat Fyfe (AF $449k SC $275k M/F) told The West Australian that he’s at his fittest in the past two years after overcoming a series of injuries, including a foot issue earlier this season, although noting that’s still troubling him.
Fyfe said: “I said to Andy Brayshaw at training the other day ‘this is the best I’ve felt in two years’. That was just running around at training. That’s what I felt… It’s been a while since I’ve felt this good.
“I know I’ve got a bunch more work to get this foot right. I’m still not able to jump much. My explosiveness laterally isn’t there yet, so I’ll need to train that for the next four or five months, but I’m getting some continuity and that’s the magic sauce in this industry.”
Sydney coach John Longmire explained the decision to hand a debut to Mid-Season Draft selection Jack Buller (AF $200k SC $102k FWD) along with his likely role, with Lance Franklin (knee soreness) and Isaac Heeney (concussion) out.
Longmire said: “Jack Buller hasn’t been here for long but he’s playing his first game which is great for the team. We thought he did a great job last week. It was only his first game but he was a real presence in the forward half in the VFL. He’s a competitor, and can play forward and in the ruck, if required.”
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Carlton coach Michael Voss opted not to declare a debut for Jaxon Binns (AF $238k SC $117k M/F) but he confirmed David Cuningham (AF $307k SC $163k M/F) would play his first senior game since Round 9 2021.
On a Binns’ debut, Voss said: “Possibly. The team is still to come, so I’ll keep it a little bit closer for now.
“What I can confirm David Cuningham is going to play. He’s had a long time out of the game, for him to go through what he’s gone through in the last two years. He had a really good game last week, we feel he’s ready to go. He’ll add something a bit different to what we’ve had in there recently.”
Voss also backed in skipper Patrick Cripps amid some poor form. He said: “‘Crippa’ has so much experience in this area and developed enormously as a leader and a player over time. He’s had a bit of a rough spot over the last month but he’s so valuable to us and he brings so many other intangible things to us.”
On the decision to play George Hewett in the VFL, Voss explained: ” He’s just had a couple of weeks with a concussion. We just feel like for him it’s about going back and playing a bit of midfield time, getting a bit of the ball, we feel like a week would be really beneficial for him there.”
North Melbourne interim coach Brett Ratten offered an insight into his likely midfield with Jy Simpkin and Hugh Greenwood returning, potentially impacting the CBAs for George Wardlaw, Will Phillips and Harry Sheezel.
Ratten said: “I think it’s allowing everyone to play their role. If the rotations are there, and it’s a young bloke, not an old bloke, he gets exposure. We want to find out about our younger blokes and expose them to some challenging situations. The Dogs have a star studded midfield so for our boys to go against them is great learnings for them, it’s just going to help their career.”
On Luke Davies-Uniacke’s potential return, he said: “We were (hopeful) but on the Monday he wasn’t quite where we wanted him to be. We’ve got the bye coming up, so went the conservative approach.”
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