Stay up to date throughout Round 17 with our rolling injury report from the coaches post-game. With the nine-game round extending from Friday night until Sunday, these snippets of info will be key.
Collingwood v Essendon
Magpies coach Craig McRae said Isaac Quaynor went off with a “sore toe” that will require scans, while Josh Daicos was “very close” to not playing.
The Pies confirmed Brody Mihocek’s season is over. Collingwood’s update said: “Mihocek is set to miss the remainder of the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership home-and-away season after scans today confirmed a rupture of his pectoral tendon.” McRae said Dan McStay is “very close” to a VFL return after long-term injury.
Darcy Cameron also left the MCG in an ambulance to undergo a precautionary scan on his ribs.
Essendon coach Brad Scott praised youngster Nate Caddy. He said: “It is hard not to get excited by him. It is very rare that you see a first-year key forward who can have an impact on a game like he can. We saw that through the pre-season. He is a very, very exciting player and an important player for what we’re doing.”
North Melbourne v Gold Coast
Touk Miller was subbed out in the third term with a wrist concern. Suns coach Damien Hardwick said: “Touk’s wrist we’re not too sure the damage. He’ll have scans tomorrow.”
Sam Day didn’t return after three-quarter time due to a foot injury. Hardwick said: “Sam was a plantar fascia, once again not too sure the term.”
North coach Alastair Clarkson praised Colby McKercher upon his return. He said: “We’ve really missed him over the last 6 weeks as you saw when he did that scintillating run down that outer wing, with 6 bounces and then found Nick Larkey. They’re special young players.”
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs
Port subbed out Zak Butters late in the game but coach Ken Hinkley said it was just management. He said: “Management, just looking after him. He’s had a really big year and he gives me too much, he gives you everything he’s got, and sometimes you have got to look after him a little bit. He’s that type of player that has been worn like a glove for a month. Today he got a little bit of space and that helped.”
Aaron Naughton was subbed out in the second term with concussion. James O’Donnell was also concussed later in the game.
Geelong v Hawthorn
Hawthorn forward Mitch Lewis was involved in a heavy collision late in the game. Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said after the game: “I haven’t spoken too much to the medical guys, I’m not sure what’s come out of the game yet. Hopefully he’s not too bad, he was probably a bit too courageous in that incident. I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet, but I don’t think they’ve done [a concussion test] at this stage.
Mitchell also offered an update on James Sicily (shoulder), Jack Ginnivan (fibula) and Calsher Dear who all missed the game. He said: “All of those were 1-2 weeks. I’d say they’re all a test for this week. Hopefully we get all three back. Time will tell. We’re not sure at this stage.”
Geelong coach Chris Scott explained the decision to sub out Patrick Dangerfield was to put him in cotton wool. He said: “No real reason other than we thought it’s been successful getting him back, it’s his third game now, and we’ll take the bird in the hand.”
On Shaun Mannagh, who had 14 tackles, Scott said: “I thought the nice thing about his game today, even just the number of tackles that’s less important to me, rather than him showing he can pressure and play a complete role that we ask of our forwards.”
GWS Giants v Carlton
GWS coach Adam Kingsley praised debutant Joe Fonti. He said: “Fonti in his first game, it didn’t look like it was his first game. He looked like an AFL player already.
“His ability to win possession but also turn it into something. He’s a good runner. He’s got really good speed. He’s been playing that way in the VFL for a long time now. All we need him to do is to come and continue to play the same way. He certainly did that tonight.”
Kingsley also praised youngster Darcy Jones following his return from injury. He said: “He hasn’t played a lot of footy Darcy. He’s probably played less than 10 games. The growth in him and what he could become is enormous. I think he’s got great speed, he’s got a real want to pressure and tackle but he’s also a beautiful finisher. I think he’s going to be a really good player for us for a really long time.”
Carlton coach Michael Voss said Jacob Weitering was “quite limited in his movement” due to a cork in his hip. Voss said Tom De Koning “will be OK” after copping a knock in the third quarter.
Fremantle v Richmond
Richmond coach Adem Yze heaped praise on Toby Nankervis following another strong display in the ruck. Yze said: “He’s our captain for a reason. He puts the team on his shoulders and they follow. He’s done that for the majority of the year, really. But his last month, while we’re going through a fair bit of adversity, he really is the most competitive guy in our locker room.”
The Tigers coach said Dustin Martin (back) was a chance to return next week. He said: “We’ve got an eight-day break now, so we’ll just be based on his body and if he walks in on Monday or Tuesday and feels like he can train. That’s how we have to manage him.”
Yze said Dion Prestia would be close to returning next week while Tom Lynch was a couple of weeks away.
Fremantle subbed out ruckman Sean Darcy due to concussion, while young defender Josh Draper had a corked leg.
Melbourne v West Coast
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said Max Gawn was subbed out following a rolled ankle but was bullish he’d be fine for next week. He said: “Just a little roll of his ankle. These opportunities when the game is pretty much dead, to take him out of the game and give him a spell and make sure he’s right to go next week. He’s an important player, it’s a rolled ankle that we think will be fine. He’ll come up next week. He’s walking around fine post-game.”
Goodwin offered praise to youngsters like Koltyn Tholstrup and Trent Rivers, who’ve stepped up since Christian Petracca’s season-ending injury.
On Rivers’ midfield role, Goodwin added: “We’ve been toying with putting Riv in the midfield for a while. Trent has gone in there and done everything we’ve asked of him.”
West Coast coach Adam Simpson revealed Jeremy McGovern had been sent to hospital due to a rib/lung issue.
St Kilda v Sydney
Isaac Heeney may come under MRO scrutiny after a swinging backhand which struck Jimmy Webster.
Saints tagger Marcus Windhager was subbed out with a hamstring injury. Saints coach Ross Lyon said Windhager “will definitely miss” next week.
Brisbane Lions v Adelaide
Lions coach Chris Fagan confirmed Brandon Starcevich failed a concussion test after an off-the-ball bump from Izak Rankine who’ll likely attract MRO scrutiny.
