The early mail is in ahead of Thursday’s team news with updates on Colby McKercher, Will Ashcroft, Marcus Bontempelli, Will Phillips, Jordan De Goey, Joe Richards, Jacob Hopper, Jacob Blight and Ben King.

Press Conferences

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson indicated Colby McKercher would be in the selection mix as they weigh up whether he’s ready to return following a month out with a bone stress issue in his foot. Clarkson said: “He’s trained really well over the last 2 weeks. He came back into the VFL side last week like a duck to water, so he’s right in the mix. We’ll sit down in the next hour and make a decision.”

Clarkson also noted Bigoa Nyuon left the track early and will need to be assessed. Clarkson was coy when asked if North Melbourne would look to tag Bulldogs star skipper Marcus Bontempelli. He said: “It’s difficult because he rolls forward too … we won’t give away what we’ll do just yet. He’s possibly their best of all time, so if we want to win we’ll have to quell his influence. But if we pay him too much attention someone else will bob up.”

Clarkson also floated a potential role change for midfielder Will Phillips, who has been used as a tagger in the last fortnight. He said: “We’ll continue to see how he goes in that (tagging) role but he might just have to play as a bona fide mid this week given how flexible the Dogs are with who goes in.”

Collingwood coach Craig McRae confirmed that star on-baller Jordan De Goey will return to the Magpies side this weekend. He said: “Jordy is training well. He’s had a good week, he’ll play. We were hoping this was the game we set him for. He’s ticked all those boxes, so he’ll play.”

McRae added that young forward Joe Richards could also return, with fellow small forward Lachie Schultz set to miss with illness. He said: “Joe has come fast, because literally three or four weeks ago we were thinking he wouldn’t be back this quick. It was sort of an unknown. He’s trained really well and he’s put his hand up. It’s going to be an interesting conversation.”

McRae also discussed Nick Daicos’ capacity to play 100% gametime, similar to Errol Gulden. He said: “He’s wanting to do it and he’s not playing far off that. He is not playing far off that. He has an exceptional engine and he can run all day, and he is running harder at the end than he is at the start.”

Isaac Quaynor missed training but McRae said he only had the “man flu” and that they were expecting him to play.

GWS coach Adam Kingsley confirmed Isaac Cumming, Stephen Coniglio and Harry Perryman were all fit and available to return this round. He said: “All three of those guys got through training no problems so they’ll be back in. We’ve got a bit of work to do at selection.”

Kingsley indicated second-year player Darcy Jones will need another week in the VFL following injury. He said: “I’d expect he will (play VFL again). He played particularly well, he hit all his AFL loads in that VFL game but I think maybe just coming back from a hamstring he’s going to spend one more week in the VFL and then be available for selection.”

Kingsley also confirmed Toby Bedford would have a tagging role this weekend but declined to identify against whom. He said: “I know but I’m not going to tell you. He’s got capability to do both. They’ve got a few dangerous forwards who can play high or midfield and they’ve got some dangerous midfielders too, so it’ll be one of them.”

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan confirmed Will Ashcroft will return this week from an ACL injury. He said: “Yes he will (play). He’s done a huge amount of work, he’s incredibly fit, his training form is great, he’s a highly talented, highly motivated young bloke… We don’t expect him to play the house down, but he’s got to start somewhere. I think a player of his talent deserves to start in the AFL team.”

On Ashcroft playing managed minutes, Fagan said: “He’ll just have his normal minutes. If we thought he had to be managed, we would’ve brought him back through the reserves.”

Fagan declined to confirm who’d miss out due to Ashcroft’s return, but offered praise to rookies Logan Morris, Bruce Reville and Kai Lohmann.

He said: “They’ve brought great energy. We’re talking about Bruce Reville, Kai Lohmann, Darcy Wilmot, Fletch (Jaspa Fletcher) along with Logan Morris, they all look like they’re bona fide AFL players. From the depths of despair losing all those guys with ACLs, the bright light that’s come out of it is we’ve got a little bit more depth on our list than perhaps we knew we had.”

Richmond coach Adem Yze confirmed that midfielder Jacob Hopper is set to play for the Tigers this weekend. He said: “We’ve got our main session today. Similar to Lynchy, (Hopper) was in my office last week trying to get a game. He was probably ready, but based on the fact that he’s really important to us and hadn’t had the volume of what Lynchy had, he got an extra 15 days. He’ll get through today and will play.”

Yze added that the Tigers mid-season draftee Jacob Blight is in the frame for a possible debut this week. He said: “He’s been in the frame for a couple of weeks. We’ll get through training today. Samson Ryan is probably gonna miss again this week, so we might have to get creative with our talls. We’re struggling with talls at the moment. (Blight) is in good form and if we pick him we feel like he’ll be able to impact at AFL level, which is really impressive for a young kid that’s walked into our footy club three weeks ago.”

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick said star forward Ben King is likely to return for the Suns and their matchup against Collingwood. He said: “(King) will fully train today. Once again, he’ll have to get through that, but we’re pretty confident that he’ll be available to play which is a big one for us. He’s obviously a very very good player, a great leader, and his ability to hit the scoreboard I think something we need. He’ll train and hopefully get through today.”

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks discussed the selection quandary on whether they stick with Kieran Strachan in the ruck or recall Reilly O’Brien. Nicks said: “We’ve got options. Strachan’s played the last few. On the weekend he’s up against one of the best ruckman in the competition.

“That’s an area we’ll keep looking at. I thought Strachany started the game really well. But we will have a look at that. Obviously ROB has gone back and has tried to work on a few areas at SANFL level. ROB has done what we’ve asked of him. I’ve got no doubt he’s super hungry at the moment.”