There’s mixed news at the selection table for Collingwood and Hawthorn.

Plus Melbourne has been dealt a huge blow ahead of its clash with Port Adelaide.

Get all the latest selection news and updates for Round 18 in AFL Team Whispers!

COLLINGWOOD’s bid for eight consecutive wins for the first time since 2012 is set to receive a huge boost on Saturday with star defender Darcy Moore on track to return from a knee injury against the Crows at Adelaide Oval.

The Magpies’ collective hearts were in their mouths when Moore hyperextended his knee late in their thrilling win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium a fortnight ago.

But luckily for Moore, scans confirmed it wasn’t a serious injury, and he was only forced out of the Pies’ narrow win over bottom-placed North Melbourne last week.

Moore’s absence was keenly felt as young Kangaroos forward Nick Larkey played one of his best games of the season with five goals.

However, fellow defender Isaac Quaynor (COVID) has joined gun midfielder Taylor Adams (concussion) on the sidelines for Collingwood.

And as star ruckman Brodie Grundy nears a long-awaited return from a knee injury, he has been training more as a forward in recent times, such has the form of replacement ruck Darcy Cameron been in his absence.

In a good news story for the club, Ash Johnson will make his AFL debut. The 24-year-old was taken with pick No.3 in the 2021 mid-season draft.

Johnson is the brother of Adelaide forward Shane McAdam.

Champion HAWTHORN forward Jack Gunston will miss a second game in a row, following the passing of his father Ray last week.

The memorial will be held on Friday and while Gunston returned to the club this week, he has hardly trained, and won’t face West Coast at the MCG on Sunday.

While the Hawks will give Gunston as much time as he needs away from the footy field, they are hopeful he will face North Melbourne in Hobart next weekend.

Chad Wingard has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring setback, with the club putting him on ice to prepare him for the 2023 pre-season.

In some better news for the Hawks, young gun Will Day is primed to return against the Eagles after serving a one-game suspension for making front-on contact with GWS star Josh Kelly.

MELBOURNE star Clayton Oliver has been ruled out of his team’s clash with Port Adelaide in Alice Springs on Sunday after undergoing surgery on his fractured right thumb.

Oliver suffered the injury late in Melbourne’s 28-point loss to Geelong, when Cats captain Joel Selwood accidentally kicked the Demons star’s hand.

And although the 24-year-old had was given every chance to get up to face the Power, Demons coach Simon Goodwin said it was “not worth the risk” to play the Brownlow Medal fancy.

“He‘s going to come and support and help out the coaches but he won’t be playing,” Goodwin told reporters on Thursday.

“It‘s advice from the doctors and the surgeon that the best course of action is to take a bit longer with him and that’s what we’ll listen to.

“I‘ve never seen a player have a will to win like Clayton and that’s what makes him so special and that’s what makes him a great teammate.”

Club doctor Laura Lallenec said earlier this week if Oliver missed against Port is was “hopeful” he’d face the Western Bulldogs next week.

It leaves Luke Dunstan and Jake Melksham would likely come into the selection mix.

The first pick from last month’s AFL mid-season draft could be unleashed this weekend, with WEST COAST to strongly consider picking Jai Culley to face Hawthorn this weekend.

Culley, who was drafted out of NAB League club Dandenong Stingrays, has played four games for the Eagles’ WAFL side and impressed with his intensity and pressure, finishing with 16 disposals and seven tackles in his most recent game in wet conditions against East Perth. He’s been listed as an emergency for West Coast’s past two AFL games.

Coach Adam Simpson told 7 News Perth this week he’d “love to see (Culley play AFL) before the season ends”.

SEN WA presenter Tim Gossage reported on Twitter: “Confident @WestCoastEagles will pick Jai Culley to make his debut this week.”

Nic Naitanui remains in doubt for the trip east after battling soreness in his second game back from a knee injury.

Willie Rioli won’t play after being granted indefinite leave from the club following the tragic death of his father Willie Senior on Tuesday.

Jack Petruccelle will be at least one forced change after being subbed out of Sunday’s loss to Carlton with a hamstring issue.

Simpson on Sunday stopped short of ruling out Jamie Cripps, despite premiership forward only due to come out of health and safety protocols late this week.

HAWTHORN will have to find room for Will Day, who’ll be eligible for selection after serving a suspension.

CARLTON’S defensive stocks could receive a significant boost this weekend, with Mitch McGovern in line to face Geelong in Saturday night’s blockbuster clash.

The Blues have been aiming for a Round 18 return for McGovern, who’s been sidelined since Round 2 with a serious hamstring injury.

McGovern, as well as Jack Martin (calf), Matt Owies (calf) and Jack Newnes (corked leg), will all face fitness tests later this week.

GEELONG will likely welcome back gun midfielder Brandan Parfitt to face the Blues, while defender Jake Kolodjashnij will also be in the mix.

Parfitt has missed the past five games with a broken hand. But head of medical and conditioning services Harry Taylor said Parfitt would be available for selection after being “very close for last week’s game”.

Taylor also confirmed Kolodjashnij would undergo a fitness test later this week after being sidelined for the win over Melbourne due to concussion.

 

BRISBANE skipper Dayne Zorko has ruled out a “reckless” comeback from a hamstring injury to face the Giants, despite the plight of the wounded Lions.

With Zorko among nine injured or ill regulars unavailable, premiership-contending Brisbane suffered a shock 10-point loss to lowly Essendon at the Gabba at the weekend.

The Lions have since suffered a further setback, with ruckman Oscar McInerney the latest Brisbane player to have tested positive to Covid-19.

McInerney and defender Noah Answerth – who returned a positive test to the virus the day before Sunday’s loss to the Bombers – are certain to miss the Lions’ clash with the GWS Giants this Saturday at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Those who tested positive last week – Harris Andrews, Callum Ah Chee, Keidean Coleman and Dan McStay – should be available to play this weekend.

Darcy Gardiner is available after overcoming a rib injury suffered a month ago against St Kilda.

Decisions will also need to be made on Zorko, Daniel Rich (hamstring), Jarrod Berry (hamstring) and Jaxon Prior (quad).

However, regardless of how many players will be unavailable the weekend, Zorko won’t be rushed into returning.

“It’s going to come down to how I get through Thursday’s (training) session, what sort of speeds I can reach, (and) whether I feel confident in (the hamstring) myself,” said Zorko, who added he wouldn’t feel “extra pressure” to return because of the Lions’ injury list and the team’s recent run of inconsistent form.

Gun GIANTS midfielder Jacob Hopper will face Brisbane on Saturday return for his first game since Round 1 after knee complications.

The star Giant underwent separate knee surgeries after his career-best 2021 season, including the second after he played through pain in the season-opening loss to Sydney.

Hopper rubber-stamped his AFL call-up with 32 disposals in his second VFL game back at the weekend and will head to Canberra with his teammates for a rematch with Brisbane.

GWS will make a minimum of two changes, with Hopper and Connor Idun (health and safety protocols) returning and Phil Davis (hamstring) and Adam Kennedy (concussion) ruled out.

The club says Jake Riccardi, Jarrod Brander, Jake Stein, Cooper Hamilton, Will Shaw, Cameron Fleeton and Wade Dersken will all to come into consideration for Round 18.

FREMANTLE coach Justin Longmuir has tipped a selection squeeze for Saturday night’s game against Sydney.

Heath Chapman (hamstring), Blake Acres (hamstring) and Nathan O’Driscoll (foot) are all set to resume after injury lay-offs, while defender Alex Pearce — who didn’t face St Kilda due to a calf injury — will be tested on Wednesday.

“The last few weeks have been really pleasing. We’ve had a lot of players play their roles so it’s going to be a squeeze at selection this week,” Longmuir told 7 News Perth.

SYDNEY will be without ruck Peter Ladhams for the Dockers clash due to a broken hand.

Swans coach John Longmire on Friday was positive of Tom Hickey being available to face Fremantle, but said he was impressed by Sam Reid and Joel Amartey’s work in the ruck after Ladhams was subbed out against the Bulldogs.

PORT ADELAIDE won’t rush ruckman Scott Lycett back this week to help combat Melbourne’s star ruck duo.

Lycett has been sidelined from the AFL since Round 4 after he suffered a dislocated shoulder, with Jeremy Finlayson and Charlie Dixon being deployed into the ruck.

Lycett got through a SANFL game against Woodville-West Torrens on the weekend, but later reported soreness.

“He has since showed signs of an infection, which is currently being explored by medical staff and his surgeon,” the club said on Wednesday.

Power assistant coach Chad Cornes had been impressed by Lycett’s SANFL return before the soreness was reported.

“He ran out of the game well from what I saw and he performed quite well,” he said.

Steven Motlop was impressive in the SANFL and comes into contention, with 32 disposals and seven clearances while Xavier Duursma is also pushing for a recall with 20 touches and four tackles in that same match.

Trent McKenzie could return after missing the win over GWS through illness while Riley Bonner has been cleared to play following surgery on a fractured cheek and eye socket.

ADELAIDE will be hopeful of re-calling forward Shane McAdam from an ankle injury, but there could be several unforced changes for the Crows after last weekend’s disappointing loss to Hawthorn.

RICHMOND has ruled out forward Tom Lynch (hamstring) and Ivan Soldo (broken thumb) for its match against North Melbourne.

But the Tigers should get several key players back, with Trent Cotchin (collarbone), Noah Balta (hamstring) and Josh Gibcus (illness) all listed by the club as “probable” returns.

And ruckman Toby Nankervis is still a chance to face the Roos, despite a recent knee scare.

Tyler Sonsie, a midfielder taken with pick 28 in last year’s draft out of Rowville, will make his AFL debut.

He was the third of their five picks inside the top 30 after surprisingly sliding out of the first round.

NORTH MELBOURNE interim coach Leigh Adams is set to re-call Jason Horne-Francis to face the Tigers, according to 7NEWS reporter Tom Browne.

The No. 1 pick returned from suspension via the VFL last weekend and impressed with 31 disposals.

“Horne-Francis will be selected in the seniors this weekend,” Browne said.

Kayne Turner (concussion) is expected to return, while a call on Tarryn Thomas will also be made after the on-baller’s absence in recent weeks due to personal reasons.

Jaidyn Stephenson, who faced ample external scrutiny for his performance against the Magpies last weekend, will be under pressure to hold his spot.

The WESTERN BULLDOGS are expected to make several changes ahead of Friday night’s crunch clash with St Kilda.

Star midfielder Bailey Smith will come straight back into the side after serving his suspension under the league’s illicit drugs policy, while Josh Bruce will also be considered after kicking four goals in the VFL on Sunday to cap off a solid month.

Toby McLean, who’s returning from an ACL injury, had 27 disposals in that same game alongside Bruce.

ST KILDA could welcome back draftee Mitch Owens from concussion to face the Dogs, while Daniel McKenzie should be available for selection following a calf injury.

There’s good news for the club with luckless Dan Hannebery finally set to make his return to footy.

Hannebery played just two games in 2021 and is yet to feature this season as he battles calf, hamstring and groin injuries.

He’s managed just 15 games for the Saints since crossing from Sydney at the end of 2018.

The 31-year-old headed to Munich earlier this year to work with renowned doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt after calf surgery in March.

Hannebery, who is out of contract at the end of this year, is set to play minutes in the VFL this weekend after exiting the health and safety protocols.

GOLD COAST should welcome back emerging star Izak Rankine, as well as Oleg Markov, from health and safety protocols for Sunday’s must-win clash against ESSENDON, who’ll almost certainly re-call defender Mason Redman after his own Covid experience.

But young Massimo D’Ambrosio will have to prove his fitness if he’s to face the Gold Coast.

The Mid-Season recruit was subbed out of the win over Brisbane with a left quad cork.

“That quad cork is decent, so we’ll use the week to see how that pans out and assess his availability,” Bombers’ head of high performance Sean Murphy said.

“Every day it’s progressing and hopefully by the end of the week he’s up and training, but he’ll be a test this week.”

Archie Perkins remains unavailable with a calf injury but in some good news, James Stewart will make his return to footy.

He’ll line up in the VFL if he can prove his fitness.