It’s been confirmed that Nick Daicos is set to face the Finn Maginness tag this weekend, while there were updates on Tom Green, Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Sam Walsh and Jayden Short.
TEAM NEWS
Key ins: O’Donnell, J.Short, Bauer, T.Nankervis, Borlase, Rachele, Tsatas, T.Green
Key outs: Banks, D.Martin (mng), Cotchin (mng), Pedlar (mng), T.Miller (susp), Davey, Cumming, Angwin, M.Cox, Woewodin
Key holds: Soldo, Coulthard, L.Nankervis, Chesser, Maric, E.Hewett, J.Williams, B.Ryan, Visentini, Wagner
Extended bench: M.Johnson, E.Stanley, Sturt, Lohmann, D.Robertson, Fletcher, Bailey, Ziebell, Hansen Jr, Grundy, Windhager, Binns
Possible subs/emergencies: O.Baker, Banks, Baldwin, Davey, Lord, Angwin, Corey Warner, Buller
Confirmed subs: Sloane, Cumming, Markov
The big outcome from the 6:20pm team news was the revelation that Touk Miller (AF $800k SC $505k MID) has been suspended for one game for conduct unbecoming after an AFL investigation into his tackle on Dayne Zorko.
UPDATES
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell confirmed that Finn Maginness will tag Nick Daicos in Saturday’s game against Collingwood having successfully shut his down in pre-season.
Mitchell said: “It is pretty obvious he is going to go to Daicos, isn’t it? We’ll try and find a way to make that work. He’ll go to Daicos and see if he can quell him. It’s not to say it will go on the whole game. They’ve got so many talented players that Finn could go to. We’ve had to be flexible again in the last month, so we expect that to happen again.”
Mitchell confirmed Sam Frost will miss with a foot injury, with James Blanck to come into the sub after being sub, while he added Karl Amon was “more unlikely than likely” with a knee issue. Mitchell also confirmed Brandon Ryan, who debuted last week, will play again. He said: “He’ll play again. He’s a great story. He’s only been in a club a couple of months but he’s so embedded in the place, he’s got great energy. But he’s still learning the caper.”
GWS Giants coach Adam Kingsley indicated Tom Green, along with Jesse Hogan, would likely return from injury have both needed to prove their fitness at training on Thursday. Kingsley said: “We’ll tick that off with the physios a bit later, but I feel like both got through training fine, so I expect both to be available.”
Kingsley also spoke about Harry Himmelberg’s ongoing role, fresh from signing a new deal. He said: “I see him predominantly as a back, but he has that knack of being able to go forward… There’s no coincidence that the moment he’s gone back, defensively we’ve been really strong.”
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin downplayed suggestions that Max Gawn would get a rest in the coming weeks in the home-and-away season.
Goodwin said: “We certainly won’t push Max too hard. He has only played 16 games this year, he missed some games earlier in the season. We feel like he’s really fresh at the moment. We want to keep him in that space. We’ll continue to monitor him. He’s in amazing form. He’s a really important player to us. At this stage, he’s very bubbly, he’s excited about what’s possible. He’s fresh and he’s ready to go.”
On Gawn rest would enable Brodie Grundy a run back in the seniors, having been demoted to the VFL side in recent weeks to work on his game in the front half. Goodwin confirmed Grundy wouldn’t return to the AFL side this weekend, despite there being no VFL game, instead taking on increased training loads.
Goodwin said: “At this stage (Grundy) won’t be playing but anything’s still possible. We’re open minded about what it looks like for the rest of the year. We’re one week into a different looking forward line, but we are liking how Brodie’s progressing but we’ll continue to do whatever is best for the team. We’ll keep assessing it week by week.”
The Dees coach also offered an update on Clayton Oliver who is closing in on a return from a hamstring injury. He said: “Clayton’s progressing really well, we’re really hopeful he’ll be back next week. He won’t play this week, he’s more than likely to be ready to go next week. He will train fully today (on Thursday) and we think with everything being right he’ll be ready to go next week, which is exciting for our footy club.”
Goodwin said the Dees were hopeful on Tom Sparrow’s availability.
Carlton coach Michael Voss said sub Paddy Dow will come in for the injured Adam Cerra, while he offered an update on Sam Walsh amid talk of an early return.
Voss said: “I wouldn’t have thought so. We’ll be pretty diligent with where he’s at and the timelines there. At this stage, we’re certainly thinking that’ll stay at the three-week mark.”
Richmond interim coach Andrew McQualter confirmed Jayden Short will return from a hamstring injury, while Trent Cotchin will miss following a five-day break. He also noted Toby Nankervis would return after suspension, likely alongside Ivan Soldo, as they take on Tim English.
On Short, McQualter said: “Shorty is good. Shorty is going to play. He was really close last week, it was a line-ball decision. He’s right to go this week.”
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley declined to offer much on selection, noting Scott Lycett would train in a bid to return to be lead ruck, potentially forcing Dante Visentini out. Hinkley said: “We still have a bit to work through with availability. Scott Lycett is the one we are waiting on the most; we will see how he goes at training (and how his knee responds after training).”
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed Liam Jones would return from an arm injury along with Ed Richards after illness, while he noted James O’Donnell was “a candidate to come in”.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson revealed Dom Sheed will miss a minimum of two weeks with a foot issue, with Andrew Gaff potentially moving into the midfield from the wing to replace him. He added Elliot Yeo will come into the 22 after being sub last week and could pinch-hit at CBAs. Jeremy McGovern will also return from concussion, while Shannon Hurn is set to be rested.
Simpson also talked up Elijah Hewett, when he said: “He’s 18. He’s a power athlete, so he suits the modern game. With the mids being a bit light on, we’ve had to lean on our younger players.”
Read Wednesday’s injury news, with updates on Laird, Crouch, Tsatas and Flanders
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