The Dogs have a healthy selection conundrum ahead of Friday night football.
Plus Sydney must find a way to win without Lance Franklin this week.
Get all the latest AFL Round 12 selection news and updates in Team Whispers!
ADELAIDE will name a debutant for Saturday’s clash against West Coast, with 2021 mid-season draftee Patrick Parnell to play his first AFL game.
The Crows on Wednesday confirmed Parnell, who was taken by the Crows with Pick 4 in last year’s mid-season rookie draft, will face the Eagles after impressing at SANFL level, averaging 17.9 touches from eight games.
Small forward Josh Rachele will get put through his paces at training on Wednesday before the club makes a call on whether he’s fit to take on West Coast on Saturday.
The exciting rookie missed the Crows’ Round 11 loss to Geelong due to a corked thigh, and Adelaide high performance manager Darren Burgess revealed he was still recovering.
“He’s presented OK, there was some significant bleeding with the cork so we just need to manage that and make sure it doesn’t become a more serious issue,” Burgess said.
“He has a bit of a history with corkies as a junior so he’ll be assessed this week, hopefully he will get through training tomorrow and play but we aren’t too sure at this stage.”
Elsewhere at the Crows, Jordan Butts will miss the clash with the Eagles due to concussion, while Luke Brown has also been ruled out after entering the league’s health and safety protocols.
But in a boost for the club Taylor Walker will return to training on Wednesday after exiting Covid protocols and is expected to be available for selection.
WEST COAST has confirmed that Jeremy McGovern and Shannon Hurn are both likely to line up on Saturday.
Hurn has missed the last three games with a calf strain, while McGovern was subbed out of the Eagles’ loss to the Western Bulldogs last week with a back issue.
“Shannon has had a good block of training after his minor calf strain; he’s just got to get through training to be available,” West Coast head of health and fitness Mark Finucane said.
“Jeremy, in the game, had some back spasms and the fortunate thing is that there is nothing too serious on the scans, so we need the spams to settle, to show some function so he can make the trip to Adelaide.”
Luke Foley is expected to be available after missing the last two weeks with concussion, while Jack Petruccelle and Luke Strnadica are ahead of schedule in their respective recoveries and are expected to line up in the WAFL this weekend.
MELBOURNE will call on Adam Tomlinson to replace Steven May for its clash with Sydney on Saturday night.
May will miss the game after suffering a concussion in the Demons’ loss to Fremantle last week, with Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin confirming Tomlinson would replace him after a strong 28-disposal performance in the VFL.
“(Tomlinson has produced) six weeks of outstanding VFL footy,” Demons coach Simon Goodwin told reporters.
“He‘s back winning one-on-one contests and he’s playing our defensive system to a really high level.
“Obviously with May, (Harrison) Petty and (Jake) Lever it‘s been really hard to get him back into the team, but the opportunity has arisen and he deserves his spot.”
Tom McDonald, Christian Salem (both ankle), James Harmes (hamstring), Ed Langdon (ribs) and Michael Hibberd (calf) are also in the mix to return as the Dees could make up to six changes.
SYDNEY pair Tom Hickey (toe) and Nick Blakey (sick) are tests this week after missing last week’s loss to Richmond.
Swans coach John Longmire confirmed that the pair would have to get through training this week before being declared available.
The side will have to figure out how to cover for the loss of Lance Franklin due to suspension this week, with forward Tom Papley indicating the side would back in its existing forward setup.
“It’s obviously disappointing but in previous years we’ve actually done well without him,” he said.
“Will Hayward’s kicking goals, Isaac Heeney, Sam Reid last week kicked three. I’m confident the boys can get the system going without him.”
Star WESTERN BULLDOGS midfielder Bailey Smith is set to return from his one-game absence with the flu in the club’s meeting with Geelong on Friday night.
Dogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed Smith would line up in the Marvel Stadium clash.
“‘Baz’ will come back in, obviously,” he said.
“Definitely one change to the team, anything outside of that will be really considered. He has bounced back, trained yesterday and got through in flying colours.”
The fortunes are less clear for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan despite the former No.1 pick booting six goals in the VFL on the weekend and three the week prior.
“‘Marra’s’ last two weeks have been really encouraging. He is pushing to be back in that 22,” Beveridge said.
“He has had a couple of good weeks, but it‘s going to be difficult to change the team too much after the performance last week.
“Some of the hidden things you don’t necessarily see on the stats sheet from one or two of the boys that play in those roles that ‘Marra’ might be playing in if he was in the team, we’ve got to be measured in our thought process.”
GEELONG coach Chris Scott confirmed he’s expected to call on Rhys Stanley and Gary Rohan for the blockbuster showdown as the club gets closer to a full strength side.
Rohan (hamstring tightness) was a late withdrawal for last week’s win over Adelaide, while Stanley (ankle) has missed three of the last four games.
NORTH MELBOURNE is set for a forward line reshuffle against the Suns,with Cam Zurhaar (foot hot spot) and Charlie Comben (knee) set to come out of the side.
Jaidyn Stephenson is in the mix for a reprieve after a strong VFL performance, while Callum Coleman-Jones will need to prove his fitness after missing last week with a minor quad issue.
“With the game being a bit slippery it might allow us to go a bit smaller … it‘s unlikely for us to bring another tall in so we’ll have to reshape the forward end,” Roos coach David Noble said.
“‘CJ’ (Coleman-Jones) is still in a bit of rehab for a sore quad last week … we saw a fair bit of [Stephenson’s] run from back to forward through the midfield, so he’s certainly put himself back in contention.
“It opens up an opportunity … it‘s good conditions (wet) for us to train in today because the game will be a bit slippery. We’re looking forward to getting to Darwin.”
GOLD COAST is expected to welcome back Sean Lemmens (health and safety protocols) and Jy Farrar (concussion).
HAWTHORN will have to replace Jack Scrimshaw for the clash with Collingwood on Sunday, but could regain Ned Reeves and Jaeger O‘Meara.
Scrimshaw was concussed in the loss to the Gold Coast and now faces a mandatory 12-day rest under the AFL’s policy.
Sam Frost will also miss Sunday’s encounter after accepting his one-match ban for forceful front-on contact.
“He knows that he’s let the boys down so we’ll miss him this week,” coach Sam Mitchell said.
Jackson Callow is a chance to return to the senior line up after kicking four goals in the VFL, while Kyle Hartigan, an emergency last week, was a strong performer for Box Hill.
The Hawks are hopeful Reeves will be able to return from injury, after playing without a recognised ruckman in the loss to the Suns.
“Max Lynch (concussion) is unlikely to be available, Ned Reeves we’re hopeful,” Mitchell said. “He got through a training session last week.
“It would have been nice to have a recognized ruck in the side (last week), but he’d only done one contact session to get there.”
Mitchell hopes to have O’Meara back from injury.
“Jaegar we’re hopeful. We assume he‘ll get through (training) and then he’ll be available. But if he’s got any sort of signs or worrying, we’ll obviously not risk him.”
COLLINGWOOD is set to take an unchanged line up into the contest with Hawthorn.
The Magpies came away from their four-point victory over Carlton with no injuries in a positive sign for the club.
Defender Will Kelly is putting his hand up for selection, if he can prove his fitness.
Kelly hasn’t played a game in 2022 after battling a hip injury.
Fin Macrae and Caleb Poulter put in strong VFL performances with 28 and 29 disposals respectively.
While Brodie Grundy is still weeks away from an AFL return, the star ruck hit a milestone in his recovery from knee surgery.
“The ruckman (is) now able to complete lower bodywork in the gym,” the club said.
“Grundy will remain in the knee brace for two weeks before starting a running program.”
BRISBANE could regain Hugh McCluggage for the trip west to face the red-hot Dockers.
McCluggage has missed just one week with a hamstring injury sustained in Round 10.
“I expect McCluggage will be right to play,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said.
Fagan said it was unfortunate young players like Tom Fullarton and Jack Payne were omitted for Round 11, but was pleased it showed the depth of his squad.
“We backed in the blokes who have been getting the job done for us,” Fagan said.
Deven Robertson could be the man to make way for McCluggage after being the Round 11 inclusion. Fagan was impressed with how the West Aussie draftee stepped up.
“He was good, he hasn’t played football for two weeks either,” Fagan said. “He travelled with us and missed the VFL, then there was the bye.”
FREMANTLE’s dual Brownlow Medalist Nat Fyfe is back for his first football match in 2022 – but it will be for the Dockers’ WAFL affiliate Peel.
Coach Justin Longmuir said the club did not want to take any risks with their superstar after battling shoulder, knee and back issues since the end of 2021.
“We are going to look to return him through the WAFL. We think that’s probably the best progression for him, from training to building up into AFL footy, so he will return with Peel this week,” Longmuir said on 7NEWS.
“We will play him for about 90 minutes which is a good progression for him. I probably won’t give too much away about what positions he will play, but he will play a role that will allow him to adapt to the AFL.
“I think it’s really important for him to go back and get some confidence, not only in his body, but confidence in his game.
“I think it’s a good stepping stone back to the AFL.”
Matt Taberner is racing the clock to prove his fitness and face Brisbane on Sunday.
The key forward was subbed out late in the win over Melbourne with back spasms.
“He’s pulled up a bit stiff and sore, he has had a bit of a history at times with these types of incidents.
“He’s a bit slow to go early in the week but we’re hoping that he’ll make significant improvement, as he has done before, and he’ll be a test for the weekend.”
Taberner’s replacement earlier this season, draftee Jye Amiss, won’t feature again in 2022 after suffering a serious kidney injury playing WAFL last month.
Griffin Logue could stay forward, after his positional shift to take on Demon Steven May last week, and allow Joel Hamling to return to the senior line up.
Hamling was one of Peel’s better players in the WAFL last weekend with 20 disposals and five marks.
