The Thursday teams are out with Rory Laird named to return from injury, while there were updates on Patrick Cripps, Adam Cerra, Brodie Grundy, Clayton Oliver, Jayden Short and Tom Green.
TEAM NEWS
Key ins: Cripps, Cerra, Laird, Keane, Visentini, Menzie, Johannisen
Key outs: Walsh (inj), Cowan, Boak (mng), Lycett (mng), Ridley (inj), Mullin, E.Stanley, M.Johnson (mng), Ashcroft (inj), O.Baker, Fahey
Key holds: T.Mitchell, Cincotta, L.Nankervis, D.Williams, Sturt, C.Wagner, Lohmann, Fletcher, Bontempelli, Angwin, S.Mitchell, Weddle, R.Marshall, Chesser, Maric, E.Hewett, N.Long, Ford
Extended bench (26): B.Ryan, Mackenzie, Campbell, Stocker, J.Short, Coulthard, Banks, Grundy, Woewodin, Yeo, J.Williams, Ziebell, C.Harvey, Hansen
Possible subs/emergencies: Cowan, Tsatas, Buller, E.Stanley, M.Johnson, Fiorini, Lyons
Confirmed subs: Hoskin-Elliott, Boak, O’Connor, West, Haynes
Adelaide midfielder Rory Laird was the big inclusion when the teams dropped on Thursday evening after missing last round with a shoulder issue. Crows teammate Luke Nankervis held as a rookie target.
Rowan Marshall and Marcus Bontempelli were also named after minor concerns last weekend. However, there’s a big watch with Marshall, who plays on Sunday, with back-up ruckman Tom Campbell named on the extended bench.
Among those named on the extended bench elsewhere is Jack Ziebell, Brodie Grundy and Jayden Short, plus rookies Sam Banks and Taj Woewodin.
UPDATES
Carlton midfield duo Patrick Cripps (AF $718k SC $518k MID) and Adam Cerra (AF $869k SC $610k MID) have been declared good to go by coach Michael Voss, which may impact players like George Hewett.
Voss said: “[Cripps] is right to go. He’ll take his position in the team, which is good news,” Voss said. “We had to have some patience with it, but he’s done all the work. He’s followed all of what he’s needed to do. He had important milestones to meet during the week, which he’s met: there’s no point holding him back, he’s ready to go. [Cerra] got through everything. Everyone that we’d hoped would get through has been able to do that. It’s now down to selection with some of those guys.”
Voss added that ruckman Marc Pittonet would likely come into the side with Jack Silvagni out injured.
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin revealed that Brodie Grundy was being considered to return to partner Max Gawn, although he hinted that he’ll remain in the VFL, eluding to having time to work on his forward craft.
Goodwin said: “The plan hasn’t changed. He’s working incredibly hard on his game. We got him some forward half exposure at VFL level which we’re really encouraged about. We’ll get through our main training session today and we’ll pick our team accordingly. He’s in our mix. As I’ve said along we think this combination will work in time… We’re really open-minded. We love the ruck combination and what we’re trying to do is get a bigger impact when either are forward of centre. Brodie is a big part of that.”
The Dees coach provided an update on Clayton Oliver’s (AF $990k SC $658k MID) return from a hamstring injury.
He said: “He’s progressing well. We’ve probably earmarked Round 21 or 22, we’re not going to put an exact timeline on it. But he’s definitely progressing well. He’s doing a lot of full training now and we’re confident he’s not that far away. He’s still got a lot of important work to get through.”
Jayden Short (AF $791k SC $515k D/M) is close to returning from a hamstring injury, according to interim coach Andrew McQualter, who said: “If Shorty is available, which we think he will be, he’ll slot straight back into our team. We’re rapt to have him back in.”
McQualter also admitted that selection would be tough this week, which may not bode well for last week’s debutant Matt Coulthard who was excellent as sub.
He said: “Matty gave us a spark when he came on in that last quarter. It’s not ideal to play a debutant as sub but it was the right thing to do for the team. He came on and was able to really give us something. I’m not sure where it’s going to land this afternoon.”
GWS coach Adam Kingsley said that Tom Green (AF $863k SC $549k MID) is expected to be back for Round 21 against Sydney as originally outlined following his hamstring injury.
Kingsley said: “Probably one more week I would suspect. He did some work today. He’ll get through full training next week hopefully and put his hand up for selection. I probably expect him to be back for the Swans game.”
Read Wednesday’s injury news, with updates on Laird, Ziebell, Mitchell and Marshall
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