Tom Mitchell was back in to perform in Round 22 by Pies coach Craig McRae, while there were updates on rookies George Wardlaw, Cooper Harvey, Matt Roberts and Dante Visentini.
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Collingwood coach Craig McRae spoke about the form and role of Tom Mitchell having been subbed out for the second time in three games, having been the sub in Round 18. McRae said: “We subbed him out of one game (against Port Adelaide) because we wanted to get speed into the game. Leading into subbing him, we were actually going to rest him. It was a performance decision.
“He’d rather keep going than rest, so we thought we’d look after you in terms of your body. In hindsight maybe we should have rested him completely. He’s another one of players that have been up for a large part of the year. I’m looking forward to what comes Friday night with his response. I think he can provide a real platform for our first hands and hardness at the ball.”
Sydney coach John Longmire discussed the potential for Matt Roberts to return to the AFL side after injury as a replacement for the suspended Braeden Campbell. He had hinted last round’s sub Dylan Stephens was a strong chance too.
He said: “(Stephens) came on and contributed in the last quarter. Matty Roberts is another one that played in our VFL team. Corey Warner, those boys that have had a bit of a look. Matty’s been out for a significant amount of time with a knee injury. He’s played the last few weeks (in the VFL). Corey Warner has been in and out, just been getting a taste of senior footy this year. We still have a couple of players we can bring in.”
Longmire seemed reserved on Mid-Season Draft forward Jack Buller coming into the side. He said: “Our reserves have been in pretty good form. Jack was one of those and he played a half on the weekend and looked really good. If we need some players this week, we know they can come in. It’s a step up but they’ll be able to help out.”
The Swans coach also said Dane Rampe was unlikely for their Round 22 game against Gold Coast.
North Melbourne revealed rookie Cooper Harvey’s season is over due to a shoulder injury which will require surgery. The Kangas also provided an update on George Wardlaw potentially returning from a hamstring injury.
North Head of Performance Kevin White said: “George absorbed a footy conditioning session over the weekend and will freshen up in the early part of this week to put him in the best position for game availability this weekend.”
Gold Coast confirmed Wil Powell’s season is over due to an ankle injury sustained on the weekend. Suns Head Physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said: “That will require us to see a specialist tomorrow and he’ll likely have surgery this week. Usually it is a 12-week recovery period, so we expect Wil to have quite a good off-season and be ready to go for day one of pre-season.”
Geelong Footy GM Simon Lloyd said Tom Hawkins was a chance to play this week after a minor hamstring injury. He said: “Tom Hawkins is running well, his strength has improved. He’s hitting all the markers that he needs to hit, and he’ll complete main training on Wednesday.”
Cam Guthrie is closing in on a return from a long-term toe injury, which might be a Draft smokie. Lloyd said: “Cam will partake this week in main training, which is exciting for Cam, and he’s getting very close. Now it’s time for the coaches and the medical team to sit down together and work out the return-to-play date, which is very close.”
Port assistant coach Chad Cornes offered an endorsement for rookie ruck Dante Visentini. He said: “I thought he was great on the weekend. He’s a guy the boys love playing with. He’s tough, he follows up, he hunts. He had a really hard fall just in front of the coaches box and you could tell it would have really hurt but he got straight back up and was straight back into it so he showed really good signs on what he’ll be capable in the future and also the rest of this year.”
Richmond confirmed Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin will be available to return in Round 22 after both missing last round with soreness. Daniel Rioli was listed as a test after hurting his ankle in Friday’s loss to the Western Bulldogs.
The GWS Giants said Finn Callaghan was a test this week as he “has been managing some soreness”, while St Kilda revealed Seb Ross is a test to return from a hamstring injury which might impact their midfield mix.
Adelaide confirmed Chayce Jones will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot, while Izak Rankine is a chance to return from a hamstring injury this week.
Oscar McInerney has been declared “available” by the Brisbane Lions after a rolled ankle, while Keidean Coleman (eye) will miss another game.
Fremantle revealed Ethan Hughes will miss 2-3 weeks with a syndesmosis injury which may open up an opportunity for Matthew Johnson to come into their 22.
Collingwood Head of High Performance Jarrod Wade provided an update on Nick Daicos, reinforcing he won’t return in the home-and-away season. He said: “There was some bone bruising in there and the scan revealed a little bit of a hairline fracture.
“It’s on the very minor end of that at the moment, and we know that fractures are typically that five-to-six-week mark and we know that Nick will miss the final three rounds certainly. We’ve also got the bye weekend up our sleeves which gives us a bit more time to get to work and he’ll be available sometime throughout the finals.”
Read Round 21’s freaks and flops
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