While Essendon has lost a young gun, its star forward will return this weekend, while Collingwood and St Kilda will unveil debutants.
Plus Richmond’s superstar is in doubt to face the Giants after taking personal leave, while there’s selectiondramas at Sydney and big returns at West Coast.
Get all the latest Round 2 selection news and updates in AFL Team Whispers!
FREMANTLE is set to welcome back ruck Sean Darcy to face St Kilda, but the club will be without superstar skipper Nat Fyfe again.
Both Darcy and Fyfe were absent from the thrilling win over Adelaide.
Dockers football boss Peter Bell earlier this week said Darcy had improved following some awareness in his calf and would play if he got through training on Thursday, but added Fyfe was no guarantee to return.
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir on Thursday confirmed Fyfe wouldn’t train with the main group and, subsequently, wouldn’t take on the Saints as his lower back “hasn’t improved the way we want”.
“We need to do a bit more digging around and find out the cause, we’ll send him off for a scan,” Longmuir said.
“At this stage it’s a minor setback. We just need to make sure we get him right. As I’ve said all along we want to make sure when we get him back he stays back.”
Rebounding defender Nathan Wilson is also in the mix to return after sustaining a shoulder injury in Fremantle’s AAMI Community Series match against West Coast.
ST KILDA will reportedly named first-round draftee Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in the starting 22 for Sunday’s clash against Fremantle.
Wanganeen-Milera, who was taken by the Saints with Pick 11 last year, was the medical sub for last round’s loss to Collingwood and wasn’t activated.
But AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich reported Wanganeen-Milera would “make a proper debut” against Fremantle on Sunday.
Saints coach Brett Ratten then confirmed: “Nasiah will play this week, he’ll be in the team.
“His kicking and his movement has been a real feature, and it’s such a strong part of his game and the reason why he got drafted in the first place.
“He had a little bit of a setback through injury in the early part of pre-season, but it’s a credit to him that he was able to get a look-in for Round 1 and is now in the side for Round 2.
“You feel bad as a match committee when you bring somebody in and they’re the sub and they don’t get on the ground. I was happy he didn’t get on the ground because we didn’t get an injury, but it would have been nice to inject him into the game.”
The Saints had already confirmed Paddy Ryder would return via the VFL and not fly west to take on Fremantle this weekend.
It should give his replacement Jack Hayes security after his stunning 18-disposal, three-goal debut against Collingwood.
There have also been calls for Jack Higgins to get dropped after a poor showing against the Pies, but with the Saints lacking so much experience, it might be too strong.
COLLINGWOOD forward Mason Cox has been ruled out of his side’s clash against Adelaide after rolling his ankle late in the win over the Saints.
With Cox unavailable, the Pies announced Nathan Kreuger would make his Collingwood debut, with the big man available after his concussion / suspension.
Will Hoskin-Elliott (Covid protocols) and Will Kelly (gastro) are also pushing for a return to the team.
ADELAIDE star Rory Laird is pushing hard to make an early return to the senior line-up for the Crows’ clash with Collingwood.
Laird broke his hand three weeks ago during his side’s AAMI Community Series clash, with the club initially expecting him to miss three weeks.
But the multiple All-Australian and best and fairest winner took part in full training on Wednesday.
If deemed fit, Laird would almost certainly come into the starting 22 alongside Lachlan Sholl, who starred against the Dockers after beginning the game as the medical sub.
Forward Lachlan Murphy (neck) and Shane McAdam (adductor) also trained strongly and will push their case for selection.
But the Crows will be without defender Andrew McPherson, who’s expected to miss one to two weeks with a minor hamstring injury.
ESSENDON will welcome back star Jake Stringer for its crucial clash against the Brisbane Lions.
After a frustrating finish to his pre-season due to a groin injury, Stringer will come into the Bombers’ line-up and replace Kyle Langford, who’s facing up to 10 weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
“That extra week that he’s had for training has set him up really well, so he’ll come back into the team,” Bombers coach Ben Rutten said of Stringer.
Rutten also flagged there would be “some changes up forward”, adding: “We’ll have a look at the balance of the team and go from there.”
The Bombers have also confirmed Aaron Francis should be available for selection after recovering from a knee injury.
But Rising Star nominee Nic Martin, fresh off 27 disposals and five goals in his AFL debut against Geelong, will miss through the AFL’s Covid health and safety protocols.
Martin is a household contact of a Covid case and must isolate for seven days, the club confirmed on Wednesday night.
BRISBANE will be forced to make at least one change for the Bombers clash after veteran Mitch Robinson was handed a one-game ban.
Speedster Harry Sharp, who was the medical sub against Port Adelaide, looms as the most likely inclusion.
RICHMOND superstar Dustin Martin is in doubt to face the Giants after taking a few days away from the club.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick told reporters on Thursday Martin, who lost his father Shane over the off-season and had his 2021 season cut short by a debilitating kidney injury, had been on personal leave from Richmond.
While not completely ruling Martin out of contention for Sunday’s game, Hardwick said he was “unsure” whether the triple Norm Smith medallist would line up after missing several recent training sessions.
The Tigers will already be without two premiership stars in Jack Riewoldt (thumb) and Dion Prestia (hamstring) for their clash with the Giants.
Kamdyn McIntosh (calf) should be fit to return. Matt Parker could be the man to provide some forward line support, while Thomson Dow and Hugo Ralphsmith are options to come into the 22.
FULL STORY ON MARTIN HERE
The GIANTS could regain two big names for their clash with the Tigers, with key forward Jesse Hogan and star defender Nick Haynes in the mix to return.
Both Hogan (soreness) and Haynes (stomach) took part in a Giants VFL practice match last weekend. If they emerge from full training on Thursday unscathed, they’ll put their hands up for selection.
“Nick and Jesse have done all the right things and will put their hands up for selection if they get through training on Thursday,” Giants medical boss James Rahme said.
“They both got through their game time on the weekend with no problems.”
Jake Riccardi went goalless against the Swans and could be the unlucky one to make way if Hogan is called on, with Cameron rarely using the pair plus Harry Himmelberg in the same forward line last season.
MELBOURNE defender Jake Lever has been ruled out of his side’s clash with the Gold Coast Suns this weekend.
Lever missed the Round 1 clash against the Western Bulldogs with a foot injury.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin told reporters on Wednesday Lever wouldn’t face the Suns, with the club to take a conservative approach with the star defender.
In better news, premiership defender Trent Rivers is set to return to the senior line-up, providing he emerges unscathed from Wednesday’s training session.
Rivers, who didn’t face the Bulldogs last week due to a knee injury, looms as a replacement for fellow backman Christian Salem, who’ll miss up to two months after undergoing knee surgery.
GOLD COAST walked away from a famous win with no injury concerns. And after a terrific performance with a great spread of contributors, it’s hard to see the Suns making any unforced changes to take on the Dees.
GEELONG will regain star midfielder Mitch Duncan and defender Jed Bews for Friday night’s clash against the Swans, but Jeremy Cameron remains in doubt.
Cameron spent Saturday night in hospital after a brutal collision against Essendon. While scans cleared him of serious injury, Cameron trained away from the main group on Wednesday, per 7 News Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary, who reported the Cats believe Cameron is “likely” to play on Friday.
That’s despite Cameron leaving the MCG in an ambulance with initial fears of a broken rib.
Geelong will be without Sam De Koning after he didn’t pass a concussion test during the big win over Essendon.
SYDNEY should regain both Jake Lloyd and Chad Warner, who reportedly missed the Sydney derby after entering the AFL’s health and safety protocols.
The decision around who would come out of the Swans’ side looms as a tough selection conundrum. Angus Sheldrick would be stiff to miss out after making his debut, while Dylan Stephens and Sam Wicks might be a touch nervy.
Justin McInerney is a test for this week after hurting his knee against the Giants. The Swans confirmed an MRI had revealed McInerney suffered a knee-joint sprain.
The Blues aren’t the only club with protocols concerns, with WEST COAST reportedly set to be without champion goalkicker Josh Kennedy for Sunday’s clash against North Melbourne.
Multiple reports have indicated Kennedy has entered the AFL’s health and safety protocols.
Help is on the way for the Eagles, though, with key forward Jack Darling set to return after spending most of the summer training away from the club. He’s only recently met the AFL’s vaccination mandate.
Skipper Luke Shuey could also press his claims for a return from a hamstring injury, while Liam Ryan and Tim Kelly are likely starters after being sidelined by Covid protocols.
Alex Witherden should also return back in after serving his one-game ban, while defender Liam Duggan is ready to resume.
NORTH MELBOURNE defender Josh Walker, who came out of last week’s squad due to health and safety protocols, looms as the like-for-like to replace Ben McKay for the clash against West Coast.
McKay is set to miss this week with concussion.
HAWTHORN young gun Will Day could this weekend play his first game since June last year after completing three quarters in a VFL practice match last week.
Coach Sam Mitchell confirmed Day, who was expected to miss the first month of the AFL season after ankle surgery last year, was “a chance” to play against Port Adelaide on Saturday.
The Hawks are set to get captain Ben McEvoy and star forward Luke Breust back after their Covid-forced absences last weekend, but Day’s return could help build on the positivity from Mitchell’s first win in charge.
“We haven’t made a decision yet. He was playing limited time in the VFL, played three quarters or a touch more,” Mitchell said on Wednesday.
“He’s getting very close. We’ll watch him and monitor him. Whether we play him this week, next week or the week after will be something to monitor.
“He’s a chance for this week.”
PORT ADELAIDE will be forced into a host of changes after a devastating run of injuries.
Aliir Aliir is confirmed to miss at least six weeks, while Xavier Duursma is waiting on results of scans and Connor Rozee, Robbie Gray and Trent McKenzie are all racing the clock to prove their fitness.
A club debut looms for Sam Skinner as a defensive reinforcement, while Josh Sinn will be in the mix for a debut. Medical sub Steven Motlop, Sam Mayes and Jed McEntee could also be called upon, depending on how many casualties there are.
