AFL injury list: Marc Pittonet, Clayton Oliver, Dylan Shiel, Patrick Cripps latest news
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has made a decision on whether Clayton Oliver will play against Carlton on Friday night.
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Melbourne star Clayton Oliver will not play against Carlton on Friday night, but the Demons expect him to be fit to play on the King’s Birthday against Collingwood.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin says Oliver is “progressing really well”, but picking him to face the Blues is a risk he is not willing to take.
“He won’t play, but we’re really confident that he’ll play the week after,” Goodwin said.
“He’s too important for us to take a really big risk, and Friday night would be a risk … he’s progressing really well and he’ll get an extended break after, so he’ll definitely play the week after.”
Melbourne recruited strong-bodied midfielder Luke Dunstan after the 2021 season to provide depth for its star on-ballers, but the former Saint suffered a medial ligament sprain in the VFL earlier this month and is unlikely to be called straight back into the senior side if fit this week.
The Demons were unable to make the most of Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy’s 56-28 hitout advantage in the loss to Fremantle, with the Dockers edging them in the clearances 37-39 in Oliver’s absence.
Goodwin said Dunstan would not be an immediate solution to fill the midfield void against the Blues.
“He’s a chance to play … he’ll be back playing some form this week. He’s gone through a four, five-week rehabilitation process,” Goodwin said.
“He probably needs a bit of footy under his belt before he’s available for AFL footy, but he’s certainly someone that can help our midfield as time goes on.”
Goodwin said the Demons had “a map” for how they wanted to progress over the season, and he was comfortable they were still on course despite two consecutive defeats.
“Obviously there was a level of frustration about how we executed, certainly with ball in hand, but there’s also a bit of perspective about where we sit and the opportunities that present in front of us,” he said.
“We’re in a pretty strong position from where we sit, and we’re certainly aiming to play our best footy as the year goes on.
“That hasn’t changed for us, although we would like to win – we’ve lost by a combined total of 11 points in two weeks, so we’re not that far off.”
He said any potential issues with forward line functionality after the two losses were not a “huge concern” for his side.
“We’re number one for scoring, so scoring certainly hasn’t been an issue, but now in terms of the forward line mix, we’re continuing to look at ways where we can maximise both ends of the ground,” he said.
“The last two weeks, we played a really strong defensive team in Fremantle, and Port Adelaide was a really wet night at the Adelaide Oval.”
Fears big Blue could join Carlton tale of woe
Carlton is awaiting scan results for Marc Pittonet amid fears he has broken his hand in the latest blow to the Blues ahead of Friday’s clash against Melbourne.
Pittonet has been in great form providing hitouts to advantage to his midfield unit but came off favouring his hand during the loss to Sydney.
The Blues expect to release their medical report on Tuesday but if Pittonet has broken his hand it will clear the way for Tom De Koning to play as the club’s No.1 ruckman and Jack Silvagni to return to the forward line.
The Blues expect captain Patrick Cripps to take on the Demons but he will have to get through training after a knock to his ankle against Sydney.
He rolled his ankle and was stepped on by Luke Parker, with the Blues more concerned about the bruising than any ligament damage.
Ollie Hollands (AC joint) is expected to be out medium to long term after being crunched by Sydney star Lance Franklin in a legal hip-and-shoulder.
Nic Newman (hamstring) and George Hewett (concussion) will miss against the Demons.
Zac Fisher (39 possessions and a goal) and Paddy Dow will be contenders to fill the midfield breach, with Adam Cerra to contest his ban for a tackle on Tom Hickey on Monday night.
Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs defender Adam Treloar is expected to take on Geelong after three weeks out with a hamstring strain.
The club’s head of sports Chris Bell said on Monday Treloar only had to get through training to play against the 5-6 reigning premiers.
“Adam’s recovery from his hamstring injury has gone exactly to plan,” Bell said.
“We have graduated his speed and training demands over the last few sessions, with him completing a game-like training session on Saturday.
“He still has one or two boxes to tick before we can confirm his availability, but at this stage he is on track to return to play this weekend.”
INJURY WATCH: HOBBLED STARS RACING CLOCK FOR ROUND 12
Carlton hopes Patrick Cripps will overcome an ankle injury by training this week ahead of Friday’s clash against Melbourne.
Adam Cerra (suspension), Ollie Hollands (AC joint), George Hewett (concussion) and Nic Newman (hamstring) will miss the clash, with Cripps rolling an ankle in the last quarter.
He returned to the field and coach Michael Voss is hopeful he will pull up well and play against the Demons.
Newman would have taken a dangerous player like Bailey Fritsch, while Hollands has provided critical run for a team that lacks line-breaking talent.
The Blues will likely recall Zac Fisher (39 possessions and a goal), while Paddy Dow should return to a team that will miss inside midfielders Cerra and Hewett.
DONS CONFIDENT OVER SHIEL RETURN
Essendon says Dylan Shiel has not suffered a serious recurrence of a foot injury despite withdrawing from the club’s victory over West Coast.
Shiel had scans after reporting soreness in a foot that caused him significant issues early in his career, with surgery to remove a bone after stress fractures.
But coach Brad Scott said after a win that lifted the Dons to 6-5 he was only hopeful he would play against North Melbourne on Sunday.
“Sometimes you say these things and people don’t believe you,” he said.
“He had an ankle which was fine, then a corked calf which flared a bit and then tweaked his foot a bit at training. All very minor but three different things which all added up to us not playing him. He probably thought he could get through but we have a fully fit Ben Hobbs, Will Snelling. ‘Shiely’ has to be 100 per cent fit or we won’t bring him back next week. I think he is a good chance but I thought he was a good chance this week.”
RATUGOLEA TO MISS CRUCIAL CATS RUN
Geelong interceptor Esava Ratugolea is set to miss crucial games against contenders Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs as the Cats preach patience with star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said the club’s early hopes that Ratugolea had only hamstring tightness were unfounded as they brace for him to miss multiple weeks.
The Cats have a bye after the Saturday night clash against the Western Bulldogs then take on Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
Dangerfield had suggested he would push hard to play against the Dogs but Scott made clear the Cats wouldn’t risk players not at 100 per cent.
An extra week off would give him six full weeks to recover from a minor hamstring injury, a path the Cats successfully followed with his calf injury last season.
“We may take that approach with one or two, but unless we’re sure we’re just not going to play them,” Scott said of rushing players back.
Gary Rohan could return from a hamstring strain but the Cats injury list has hit double figures.
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