Melbourne is sweating on the fitness on two of their stars Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver, adding to their worries of at least two forced changes as they prepare for their semi – final against the Blues.
While the Blues are preparing to make two forced changes of their own, the Giants are set to welcome back their former captain and the Power are dealing with an injury crisis at the wrong time of year.
Get all the latest team news and updates ahead of the second week of finals.
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TRIBUNAL LIVE: How ‘seismic’ AFL case will play out
Lyon & Scott weigh in on Maynard debate | 01:12
MELBOURNE VS CARLTON
DEES’ Qualifying Final Team
B: M. Hibberd, S. May, J. Smith
HB: J. McVee, J. Lever, C. Salem
C: T. Rivers, J. Viney, E Langdon
HF: L. Hunter, B. Fritsch, A. Neal-Bullen
F: K. Pickett, J. van Rooyen, A. Brayshaw
Foll: M. Gawn, C. Oliver, C. Petracca
IC: J. Bowy, T. McDonald, T. Sparrow, K. Chandler
Sub: B. Laurie
Team Tips: The Demons will be forced into at least two changes for their cut throat semi-final against the Blues with Jacob van Rooyen to miss through suspension and Angus Brayshaw through concussion. The Van Rooyen absence further exacerbates Melbourne’s forward line issues which could force the Demons to recalling exiled recruit Brodie Grundy, especially after James Harmes failed to finish a scratch match on Friday. Star skipper Max Gawn is nursing a broken bone in his toe, as reported by Nine’s Sam McClure and SEN’s Sam Edmund, but is expected to take his place on Friday night, as is Clayton Oliver who is nursing a sore knee. James Jordon appears the one most likely to come in for Brayshaw with 17 appearances to his name this season. Daniel Turner played round 24 against the Swans before making way for the Final and could come straight back in.
‘Repetitious to point of boring!’ | 01:32
BLUES’ Elimination Final Team
B: J. Weitering, B. Kemp, C. Marchbank
HB: M. McGovern, N. Newman, A.Saad
C: B Acres, P. Cripps, S. Docherty
HF: L. Fogarty, D. Cuningham, M. Cottrell
F: J Martin, C. Curnow, H. McKay
Foll: T. De Koning, A. Cerra, S. Walsh
IC: M. Pittonet, G. Hewett, A. Cincotta, M. Owies
Sub: J. Motlop
Team Tips: The Blues will also be forced into two changes with Harry McKay and Jack Martin, pending the outcome at the tribunal, both set to miss through concussion and suspension respectively. The Blues are set to regain Jack Silvagni to who is listed as a ‘test’ for selection after injuring his knee back in Round 19 to offset the loss of McKay, but the absence of Martin – a key player in the Blues season and Elimination Final win, could prove more difficult to fill. Jesse Motlop was the starting substitute for the Blues and could just slide back into the Blues starting 22 with Tom De Koning to spend more time up forward when not in the ruck, allowing the Blues to bring back Paddy Dow to start as the sub and inject some speed and burst into the midfield later in the game when he comes on. Alternatively, Michael Voss could turn to the fit again Matthew Kennedy, who hasn’t played since Round 17 with a knee injury as more of a like-for-like a replacement for the big bodied forward. The Blues opted for seven defenders against the Swans with Caleb Marchbank playing and performing admirably. But against a smaller Demons forward line, the Blues could opt to go smaller and inject some more run and sizeable match-ups, bringing Zac Fisher and Jordan Boyd into the selection fray.
Port lick wounds after Lions mauling | 02:01
PORT ADELAIDE VS GWS GIANTS
PORT’S Qualifying Final Team
B: T. McKenzie, A. Allir, L. Jones
HB: R. Burton, M. Bergman, D.Houston
C: K. Farrell, W. Drew, X. Durrsma
HF: J. McEntee, W. Rioli, S. Powell-Pepper
F: J. Finlayson, O. Lord, T. Marshall
Foll: S. Lycett, Z. Butters, C. Rozee
IC: O. Wines, J. Horne-Francis, D. Williams, D. Byrne-Jones
Sub: T. Boak
Team Tips: It’s a busy week for the Port Adelaide fitness staff with Dylan Williams subbed off with a hamstring injury and Trent McKenzie being helped from the ground with an ankle injury before returning to the field late in the heavy loss to the Lions at the Gabba. Adding to their injury concerns, Todd Marshall is another Power player who is in doubt to take his place for the crunch semi- final against the Giants. Spearhead Charlie Dixon will be given every chance to prove his fitness and return from a fractured foot that has kept him sidelined since Round 20. “Charlie‘s run four times. He will certainly push to train and he’ll want to play this week,” assistant coach Nathan Bassett said. “Charlie‘s a great competitor and he holds other people to account as well in the forward line and across the team. “It‘s always nice to have his presence out there.” With the defensive options running thin, Darcy Byrne-Jones could return to defence with another reshuffle required to fill positions.
‘Orange Tsunami’ dumps Saints | 02:28
GIANTS’ Elimination Final Team
B: J. Buckley, S. Taylor, I. Cumming
HB: L. Ash, H. Himmelberg, L. Whitfield
C: F. Callaghan, T. Green, J. Kelly
HF: T. Bedford, J. Riccardi, B. Daniels
F: D. Lloyd, J. Hogan, T. Greene
Foll: K. Briggs, C. Ward, H. Perryman
IC: L. Keefe, X. O’Halloran, C. Idun, C. Brown
Sub: N. Haynes
Team Tips: The Giants will find a way to squeeze former captain Stephen Coniglio back into their starting 22 for their trip to Adelaide to take on the Power after missing the Elimination Final with an eye injury.The Giants would be reticent to make many changes to a settled line-up, after the boost of last week having both Sam Taylor and Toby Bedford available to play along with youngster Finn Callaghan also returning from injury. Emerging with a clean bill of health from the match at the MCG, it’s more than likely the Giants will only make the one change to bring Coniglio in, with the last man in Xavier O’Halloran the one to potentially make way. barring any training mishaps.
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