Both Fremantle and West Coast are set to make ample changes for the 54th western derby. The Dockers are pondering a debut for a top-10 pick, while Essendon could unleash its own first-round draftee.
Plus a young Hawks star could return for his first AFL game of 2022, while a Carlton trade acquisition is in line to play his first game in a Blues jumper.
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FREMANTLE will be without star veteran David Mundy for a second straight week but could unleash a first-round draftee debutant as it prepares for several changes for the 54th western derby against West Coast.
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir on Tuesday night confirmed to 7 News Perth that Mundy wouldn’t be available to face the Eagles due to health and safety protocols. But defender Brennan Cox is expected to be available as his health and safety protocols stint ends on Thursday.
Longmuir said he remained hopeful Sean Darcy would play, but added Longmuir “a lot would have to go right” after the ruckman’s ankle injury.
Darcy is one of four ‘tests’ at the Dockers this week, with Matt Taberner (hamstring), Nathan Wilson (shoulder) and Josh Treacy (ankle) to all be in the frame for selection if they emerge from Thursday’s main training session unscathed.
Longmuir also flagged exciting midfielder-forward Neil Erasmus, who was taken with Pick 10 in last year’s draft, would be in the mix
“He played another solid game at Peel at the weekend, so he’ll put his name up for selection,” Longmuir told 7 News Perth.
“Whether it’s this week or not, he’s progressing really well with his footy and getting better each week. He’s going well.”
WEST COAST continues to be haunted by Covid cases, with ruckman Bailey Williams to miss Sunday’s derby against the Dockers after entering health and safety protocols.
The Eagles made an AFL-record 14 changes to its Round 2 line-up, including calling upon five players from their Covid contingency list to help them fill a team.
Twelve players missed the loss to North Melbourne due to being in the health and safety protocols. From the dozen, Josh Kennedy returned to training on Tuesday, with the remainder expected out of protocols later in the week.
Nic Naitanui, Tom Barrass, Jack Redden, Jake Waterman, Josh Rotham, Jamaine Jones, Zac Langdon and Harry Edwards will all return to the club this week, but whether they’re healthy and fit enough to face the Dockers remains uncertain.
Andrew Gaff (foot), Connor West (hamstring) and Jackson Nelson (knee) are all in the mix to return from their respective injuries.
ESSENDON midfielder Dylan Shiel is considered a chance to return against Melbourne in what could be a big boost in the wake of key injuries.
Shiel missed last weekend’s loss to Brisbane with a side strain but will be considered for a re-call if he can prove his fitness this week.
Fellow midfielder Nik Cox is also a chance to face Melbourne after scans revealed his ankle injury wasn’t as bad as first thought.
“Nik’s injury isn’t as severe so we will assess his recovery this week and give him the best chance to get up for our match against Melbourne,” Essendon football boss Josh Mahoney said.
It comes after the club confirmed vice-captain Zach Merrett would undergo ankle surgery, which will sideline him for up to two months.
In better news, Bombers coach Ben Rutten confirmed SSP signing Nic Martin — who dazzled on debut in Round 1 with five goals from 27 disposals — would return to the side after clearing health and safety protocols.
Rutten also hinted 2021 first-round draftee Ben Hobbs was “absolutely a chance” to make his AFL debut.
“He had a strong performance on the weekend and will be in the mix,” Rutten told reporters following Hobbs’ 21-dispsoal, seven-tackle VFL outing.
What Rutten and the Bombers’ match committee opts to do with Tex Wanganeen will be fascinating, too.
Wanganeen made his AFL debut against the Lions, but didn’t play any game time as an unused medical sub, prompting ample external commentary.
The Bombers could bring him into the 22 for a ‘proper debut’, or give him a full game at VFL level.
MELBOURNE will again be without premiership defenders Jake Lever (foot) and Michael Hibberd (calf) for Friday night’s clash against Essendon at the MCG.
Lever and Hibberd are yet to play in 2022, with Demons coach Simon Goodwin saying the club would be “taking a cautious approach” with both players.
HAWTHORN could re-call Will Day to its senior line-up to face Carlton on Sunday after the young gun’s eye-catching VFL display.
Day kicked one goal from 21 disposals and seven marks playing across half-back in Box Hill’s narrow loss last weekend.
“He had a great game,” Hawthorn development coach Andy Otten told the club’s website. “He started off really strongly coming forward to defend and intercept some balls.
“The last quarter was a real highlight – Will imposed himself and gave us the chance to win the game with some of his efforts off half-back.”
But whether they re-call triple premiership midfielder Liam Shiels, who was a shock exclusion from the team that beat the Power, remains unclear.
“He’s a pro, Liam Shiels. He’s great to have around,” teammate Jack Scrimshaw told reporters on Tuesday.
“Unfortunate circumstances, but you know he’s going to put his head down and continue to work. I’m sure he’ll come back into the side.”
The Hawks are also hopeful Chad Wingard will be fit to face Carlton after he picked up a minor hamstring against the Power.
CARLTON will be boosted by the returns of prized recruit Adam Cerra and gun forward Jack Martin for its clash with fellow unbeaten team Hawthorn on Sunday.
Both players missed the win over the Bulldogs, but are as good as certain to return from the AFL’s health and safety protocols
However the Blues will be without key defender Oscar McDonald, who’s already been ruled out due to a back issue.
Blues coach Michael Voss, who himself will return to the coach’s box after being sidelined in Round 2 due to health and safety protocols, hinted ex-Dog Lewis Young could make his Blues debut, while rookie Luke Parks could play his first game of the season after managing six last year.
RICHMOND star Jack Riewoldt says he’ll find out “later this week” whether he’ll be right to face St Kilda this weekend.
Riewoldt missed the Tigers’ Round 2 win over the Giants due to a thumb injury.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday night, Riewoldt said he’d put his thumb to the test at a session in the coming weeks.
“From the surgeon I’ve been given the all clear, so it’s just more pain management and function,” Riewoldt told AFL 360.
“Hopefully I’ll train (on Wednesday) and then a bit more later in the week.”
Riewoldt could be one of three Tigers premiership players to return to face St Kilda, with Dylan Grimes (soreness) a near-certainty and Dion Prestia a chance to play (hamstring).
Thomson Dow (knee) was subbed out of the game on Sunday with a knee injury. His Round 3 availability will be assessed in the coming days.
The Tigers remain uncertain if superstar Dustin Martin will play this weekend after spending time away from the club for personal reasons.
ST KILDA will weigh up whether to give veteran ruck Paddy Ryder more time at VFL level or bring him in to face Richmond on Sunday.
Ryder last weekend played for Sandringham on managed minutes in his first competitive since Achilles soreness sidelined him for the final four matches of 2021. He spent the first half in the ruck before moving into the ruck later in the game to finish with one goal from 11 disposals, six marks and 26 hit-outs against Casey.
“He was a bit rusty, his touch was off and he gave a few free kicks away in some ruck contests but he presented well and got better as the game progressed,” Sandringham coach Jake Batchelor told the club’s website. “He got through unscathed, so it was a big tick there too.”
Key defender Dougal Howard should also be right to return after spending time in health and safety protocols.
The WESTERN BULLDOGS expect star forward Aaron Naughton to be fit for Thursday night’s clash against Sydney.
Naughton sustained a calf cork in a marking contest against Carlton and will be given every chance to tackle the Swans.
“Based on knowing him and what he’s like and how combative he is, I think he’ll be there,” Dogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli told Fox Footy’s AFL 360. “That hasn’t quite been declared yet medically. He trained a little bit the other day but with these corkies can be quite significant and take until the last couple of days to really settle.
“He’s a tough customer, but we’ll wait until (Wednesday) to get the final say.”
Star midfielder Bailey Smith will return from a hip issue to face the Swans.
Smith didn’t face the Blues after reporting some soreness last week, with no risks being taken with the 21-year-old.
But Bulldogs’ Head of Sports Medicine Chris Bell on Tuesday said: “Those symptoms are fully settled, and he trained today without any issue.”
Defender Hayden Crozier, though, won’t play after his medical scare midway through the club’s loss to Carlton. He passed tests on Tuesday, but will be ‘managed’ this week and play in the VFL this week.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said he wouldn’t divert from his one ruckman strategy and is prepared to “back the boys” in key defensive posts — Alex Keath, Ryan Gardner and Zaine Cordy — as his team searches for an opening win of the season.
“There was some centre bounce stuff we didn’t get right (against Carlton). We tidy up the centre bounce, we halve or win more of those defensive longer balls and it will help our help defenders enormously,” he said.
Beveridge also said his team would continue to go with just Tim English as its sole ruckman having used him in tandem with Stefan Martin in 2021, including in the Grand Final. But that was more a matter of circumstance, with English needed to fill the void up forward left by injured goalkicker Josh Bruce.
Despite Bruce still being sidelined, Beveridge said the Bulldogs had opted for a different look up forward and wanted English to be their main man with a few “pinch-hitters”, which last week included Mitch Hannan, helping him out.
“We feel Tim is really ready. He’s just searching for presence at the stoppage consistently,” Beveridge said.
SYDNEY might go into the clash unchanged, with speedy midfielder Justin McInerney still no certainty to return from a knee injury.
COLLINGWOOD will be without forwards Nathan Kreuger (shoulder) and Beau McCreery (hip) for Saturday night’s clash against Geelong — and longer — but will have the option of selecting Mason Cox.
Kreuger kicked two goals on debut against Adelaide before suffering a shoulder subluxation, while scans confirmed McCreery sustained a hip flexor muscle tear.
Cox has been training fully after recovering from an ankle injury. He would be a like-for-like replacement for Kreuger, but fellow forward-ruck Darcy Cameron is another option.
In a huge boost, star defender Brayden Maynard will return from suspension to face the Cats.
GEELONG is set to welcome back veteran Shaun Higgins to face Collingwood after he was managed for Geelong’s Round 2 clash.
The Cats, though, face selection conundrums around key defender Sam De Koning, small forward Gryan Miers and speedster Mark O’Connor, who all should be available for selection.
O’Connor is looming as a likely inclusion following his strong VFL hit-out against Essendon, finishing with 17 disposals and eight marks.
The GIANTS will be looking for a replacement for veteran key defender Phil Davis and small forward Daniel Lloyd for Saturday’s clash against the Suns.
Davis will be sidelined for up to three months following a nasty hamstring injury suffered against Richmond last weekend, while Lloyd (shoulder) will also miss.
Key defender Jake Stein, who played the last five games of 2021 for the Giants, was a standout at VFL level last weekend, finishing with 29 disposals and 10 marks, while Lachie Keeffe is another option.
Star midfielder Jacob Hopper should return after being managed last week.
The Giants could also look at including ruck Braydon Preuss, who kicked 1.1 from 21 disposals and 41 hit-outs against Port Melbourne, to give Matt Flynn some support, while you sense top pick Finn Callaghan (35 disposals) won’t be in the VFL for too long.
GOLD COAST should be strengthened by the returns of Izak Rankine (quad) and Lachie Weller (health and safety protocols) for its clash with the Giants.
BRISBANE veteran Mitch Robinson will be available for Saturday night’s clash against North Melbourne after serving his one-week suspension.
Coach Chris Fagan said Robinson was “fit and fresh” after having a week off.
“He’s got all that energy, so you might be a little bit of a fool to waste it,” Fagan told reporters on Tuesday.
The Lions also remain confident skipper Dayne Zorko will continue to play, with soreness caused by a pre-season calf injury expected so subside with time.
NORTH MELBOURNE expects key defender Ben McKay to return for the clash with the Lions as it prepares to make several changes.
McKay missed his side’s Round 2 win over the Eagles due to a concussion but was “progressing really well”, according to club football performance manager Dan McPherson, expected to be “good to go for Saturday night”.
But the Roos’ midfield has taken a significant hit, with Luke Davies-Uniacke (concussion) to miss at least one week and Tarryn Thomas (internal bruising) facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines.
Senior coach David Noble told reporters that Jaidyn Stephenson, Eddie Ford and Paul Curtis were all options for the club this week, while recruit Callum Coleman-Jones will “come into our thinking” after he collected 25 disposals, 17 hit-outs and kicked one goal in the VFL.
Kyron Hayden is also expected to be free to face the Lions after being a late withdrawal due to gastro.
ADELAIDE captain Rory Sloane will be given until later in the week to prove his fitness for Friday’s Showdown against Port Adelaide.
Sloane was subbed out with adductor soreness against Collingwood.
All-Australian Rory Laird has recovered from a broken hand and is expected to be available.
PORT ADELAIDE could regain star veteran Robbie Gray for the Showdown after he missed the Round 2 game against the Hawks after injuring his knee against Brisbane the week prior.
— with NCA Newswire
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