Stay up to date throughout Round 3 with our rolling injury report from the coaches post-game. With the eight-game round extending from Thursday night until Easter Monday, these snippets of info will be key.
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood
Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale hurt his ankle during the game but played on manfully. Lions coach Chris Fagan said: “I reckon it’ll be pretty sore tomorrow. It was a good effort by him to keep playing. We’ll see, I haven’t talked to the medical people yet about what the plans are for him. He was able to finish the game but he wasn’t moving as well.”
Collingwood switched Nick Daicos to his half-back role. Pies coach Craig McRae said: “Part of our game that wasn’t going was our defensive transition. We turned the ball over a lot in that area. Nick for 18 months was arguably one of the best players in the competition playing half-back, so we moved him back there to get some run, overlap and great ball use.”
North Melbourne v Carlton
Callum Coleman-Jones was subbed out with an apparent Achilles injury. North coach Alastair Clarkson acknowledged SSP recruit Tyler Sellers “will come into contention” with Coleman-Jones out.
George Wardlaw played on through an ankle knock. On Wardlaw, North coach Alastair Clarkson said: “He seems ok. He played the game out. He obviously came off for that 15-minute period.”
Clarkson also spoke about the midfield role of Tom Powell being ongoing. He said: “Yeah I think so (permanent on-ball). Will Phillips is actually playing some really good footy. We’re just trying work out how we can play them both in the same side at the present. Will will get his opportunity pretty soon I’m sure, he played well again today.
“Powelly has been sitting on the periphery of our midfield, playing half forward/pinch hitter whilst the other guys are having a go at it. He’s had a really good summer. He’s rated really highly on what he can do for our footy club and our team. He’s had a good start to the year. He played pretty well again today.”
Caleb Marchbank copped some friendly fire to the head and appeared concussed. Charlie Curnow hobbled off late with a rolled ankle.
Blues coach Michael Voss: “He’s fine… He had an ankle, he did actually roll his ankle and obviously came off the ground limping there, but they were re-strapping it and with four minutes left on the clock, we thought we’d park it.”
Fremantle v Adelaide
Wayne Milera hurt his right knee upon landing in a marking contest and didn’t return. The Crows have since confirmed a season-ending ruptured patella injury for Milera.
Freo rookie Josh Draper earned praise after his second game. Freo coach Justin Longmuir said: “He is really composed and he’s defended really well. He’s like the old No.37 (Michael Johnson) in some ways, he just finds a bit more time than some other players can.”
Longmuir also praised the form of Jordan Clark. He said: “He’s fit as he’s ever been. I thought he was really clean. I thought he was really decisive with his ability to drive his legs, take gaps and run and carry and used the ball pretty well for most of the night. It’s a byproduct of the work he’s done in pre-season. Today he got an opportunity to play a bit higher and that allows his work rate both ways to really come to the fore.”
Essendon v St Kilda
Sam Durham injured his shoulder in a tackle and was subbed out, with Dons coach Brad Scott confirming he’d gone into concussion protocols. Marcus Windhager was offered a one-game ban by the AFL’s Match Review Officer for a bump on Durham.
Scott also praised the form and role of Nic Martin. He said: “He was important. He was fantastic. We put him back in pre-season because we wanted flexibility in our options and a bit of bounce out of the back half but he’s surprised me with how well he defends… Marto has held up his end. It’s not just about getting the ball, it’s the way he defends as well.”
Port Adelaide v Melbourne
Travis Boak hit his head in a collision with Ivan Soldo in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. Port coach Ken Hinkley said Boak passed his concussion test after the game.
Dees coach Simon Goodwin said he played Marty Hore as a tall defender in the last quarter out of need, praising him for his role.
Western Bulldogs v West Coast
The Bulldogs subbed out Tom Liberatore at three-quarter time. Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said: “Tom was just a conservative call for us. He’s fine.”
Marcus Bontempelli went one-on-one against Elliot Yeo while he also spent time forward, without amassing his usual disposals but still kicked 3 goals. Beveridge said: “Marcus, most weeks, teams will put a lot of time into him because of the influence he can have. He still ends up with 10 tackles, hits the scoreboard (3 goals), he just perseveres through that.”
Beveridge also spoke about Jack Macrae’s return. He said: “Jack was solid. It’s difficult for him to come in and play an important role and I thought he really did. Ultimately with the core group who are playing through there, they’ve got to share it and I thought he was one of those midfielders who really shared the load. He did some really good things. After getting one under his belt, it’ll be good for him to go into next week and continue to thrive in the intensity of the AFL level. I thought he was a really solid contributor.”
West Coast subbed out Tyler Brockman due to concussion.
Richmond v Sydney
Richmond lost Tom Lynch late in the game to injury, which the player told FoxFooty was a hamstring issue. However, Tigers coach Adem Yze said: “‘Lynchy’ copped a knock to his knee.” Lynch said: “I think I’ve done a hammy, I’m not sure though – it’s pretty low (on the leg) … fingers crossed I was just carrying on a little bit. Richmond has since “suffered a significant hamstring tendon injury behind his left knee, which will likely require surgery” ruling him out “longer term”.
The Tigers also updated on Monday that Noah Balta had sustained a moderate MCL injury, ruling him out for 3-5 weeks.
Richmond coach Adem Yze hailed the impact of second-gamer Mykelti Lefau who was subbed out. He said: “His pressure, his aerial, he works so hard. He’s still learning the game. For him to get some reward with a couple of snags at the MCG is terrific.
“He’s a competitor, air and ground, he’s a terrific pressure player for his size. we just made a call on looking after him and getting some speed into the game with Banksy. We were really happy with how he performs today, second game it’s exciting.”
Yze added that Dustin Martin and Jack Graham both had good sessions on Sunday and he was hopeful they’d play next round. He said Dylan Grimes would be assessed. Liam Baker was offered a one-game ban for a high hit on Lewis Melican.
Dane Rampe was subbed out at half-time with hamstring tightness and Swans coach John Longmire said he’d need a scan. Longmire noted Sam Reid had a tight quad in the VFL, meaning he didn’t play in the second half.
Taylor Adams played two-and-a-half quarters in the VFL. When asked if Adams will play next week, Longmire said: “Depending on how he pulls up. We’ll see how he feels and work that out during the week.”
Hawthorn v Geelong
Geelong coach Chris Scott provided an update on Tom Stewart who spent time off the field after copping a knee of the back of the head. Scott said: “He didn’t (go for a concussion test). He was just checked for a neck/upper back issue but cleared really quickly. It was a heavy hit. He felt it but he recovered well.”
Scott also discussed ruckman Toby Conway on his ongoing job security. He said: “Really pleased with Toby in his second game. We’ve got to the point where we’re ultra confident he’s going to have a long career with us.
“I think what everyone should understand is we’re not just going to put him in and leave him in. He’s going to be managed carefully. There’s a thorough plan where we get him to the point where he can play week-in week-out. We don’t think we’re there yet but his performance was really encouraging.”
The Cats coach also praised Jhye Clark. He said: “He didn’t miss a beat (in pre-season). We don’t consider him to be a young player feeling his way. We’re not looking at Jhye thinking he’s going well for a young guy. We think he’s in our best team at the moment and the progression has been really steep.”
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he was unsure on the injury to Mitch Lewis, who would need scans. Mitchell said it was likely it was a hamstring issue.
Rookie Nick Watson went off late with an injury too. Mitchell said: “Ankle, got caught under someone. Don’t have any further information. He’ll have scans and get assessment from there.”
On Watson’s early-career form, Mitchell added: “I think he’s close. You watch him play and see a lot of good things… his pressure, his energy, his chasing, he was able to get some impact late in the game. He doesn’t look like a first year. He’s going to have some good moments and he’ll get more consistent as his career goes along.”
