The Sunday teams are due to be confirmed at 5pm AEST with many eagerly awaiting news on Jack Ziebell and Rowan Marshall, while there were earlier updates on Jayden Short, Kai Lohmann and a Hawks debutant.
TEAM NEWS
Key Ins: B.Ryan, Hansen
Key Outs: Coulthard, Ziebell (mng), C.Harvey,
Key holds: R.Marshall, Banks, Woewodin, Maric, J.Williams, Chesser, Long, E.Hewett, Ford
Emergencies/possible subs: Campbell, Coulthard, Grundy, Yeo
Confirmed sub: Ziebell
Jack Ziebell (AF $661k SC $366k D/F) has been confirmed as North Melbourne’s sub, while Eagles coach Adam Simpson indicated Elliot Yeo would play on managed minutes, thus likely the sub.
DEBUTANT ALERT
Hawthorn confirmed on Friday that 2023 Mid-Season Draft pick 12 Brandon Ryan (AF $200k SC $102k FWD) will make his debut on Sunday against Hawthorn. He is a 200cm 25-year-old key forward, who is averaging 2.1 goals, 13.4 disposals and 5.3 marks per game in the VFL this year.
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said: “I just think he’s a little bit uncanny. I think he’ll be a crowd favourite with long limbs and he’s a bit uncanny in how he takes a mark and how he moves. He’s able to find the footy and have shots on goal which is important.”
Robert Hansen Jnr (AF $200k SC $102k FWD) will debut for North Melbourne. He is a 180cm small forward, who went pick 2 in the 2023 Mid-Season Draft. He has kicked 7 goals from 5 VFL appearances this year.
UPDATES
It was reported that Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak, Ollie Wines, Sam Powell Pepper and Dan Houston all missed training on Friday due to illness. Port coach Ken Hinkley said: “Nah, not really. We had a couple away, that’s accurate. I spoke to all of the boys this morning and they’re all OK. It’s that time of the year, a little sniffle, we just keep them away.”
Hinkley also spoke about the surprise selection of ruckman Dante Visentini for his second game after debuting as a last minute late inclusion a few weeks ago. He said: “He gets some better preparation. He turns up knowing he’s playing. Sam (Hayes) hurt his shoulder at training on Thursday so he was unavailable. Our hand is forced a little bit with Dante but really optimistic that he’s a strong young ruckman.”
North Melbourne’s Jack Ziebell announced he will retire at the season’s end, fuelling some talk of a farewell game, having been sub in hteir past three games and named on an extended bench this round.
Richmond confirmed on Friday that Jayden Short will not return from his hamstring injury, withdrawn from their squad for Sunday’s game against Melbourne with Hugo Ralphsmith coming into the 26. The Western Bulldogs also withdrew Ed Richards due to illness, replaced by Luke Cleary.
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan discussed the inclusion of Kai Lohmann, coming in for the injured Will Ashcroft, backing other midfielders to fill his void, namely Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Cam Rayner and Jarrod Berry. On Lohmann,
Fagan said: “He’s just been knocking on the odor. We can use other players in our midfield to replace will so we want to give him that opportunity… We feel that kai can help us up forward and up in the midfield as well.”
Fagan added that Zac Bailey should return next week from a calf injury. He said: “The fitness guys and medicos are telling me that he’ll be back next week. He was running quite well yesterday, pain-free… I’d be surprised, unless he has a setback, if he doesn’t play next week.”
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said Karl Amon would miss this round with a bit of a knee problem but “should be fine for next week”. Mitchell also offered some praise for Will Day ahead of his 50th game.
He said: “The level of consistency, particularly in his past 10 games, where some games he’s been sat on, he’s played different positions, the games have been different, he’s been able to make a contribution in every game.”
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge talked up Bailey Smith who is set to play his 100th game. He said: “Since he’s come back into the fold he’s had some significant performances for us, he played really well against Carlton and Adelaide the next week. Last week he was really influential in the win against Essendon. He’ll build himself up for a big game.”
Read Thursday’s team news, with all the key ins and outs
Read Wednesday’s injury news, with updates on Laird, Ziebell, Mitchell and Marshall
