AFL Teams Round 5: Matt Crouch gets AFL recall against Dockers after being dropped last week, Fischer McAsey axed
Dropped Crows midfielder Matt Crouch was made to wait, named on an extended bench for their clash on Sunday. But the star will return against Fremantle, while a young gun has been axed. FULL ROUND 5 TEAMS
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Some frank discussions about life, love and sport have helped elevate former club champion Matt Crouch back into Adelaide’s lineup.
After being sensationally dropped last week amid the Crows’ winless start to the season, Crouch’s time in the twos has ended quickly and he will play against Fremantle on Sunday, named to start on the bench.
He’s come in for tall forward Elliott Himmelberg, who’s been dropped, while defender Kyle Hartigan returns to the side as youngster Fischer McAsey goes out for a spell.
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Coach Matthew Nicks said he and out-of-touch midfielder Crouch had spent this week having in depth talks that helped bring him back into the team.
“Matty’s had a fantastic week since some really good conversations around where we’re going as a club, where we see Matty and what his strengths are,” Nicks said.
“He’s been up and about, he’s been fantastic, couldn’t ask for a better attitude.
“We were talking about everything, we were talking about life, we were talking about golf, footy. Those are the conversations that you enjoy as a coach.”
Hartigan, a 101-game defender, comes into the team for his first game of the 2020 season, replacing McAsey.
Nicks said this was part of McAsey’s long-term development.
“We want to play ‘Fish’ as much as we can this year, we feel he’s going to be a really important part of our future,” he said.
“Harto’s been outstanding ... some of the stuff he’s done off-field that no-one sees developing other younger players and prioritising others, which is what we’re about, we couldn’t have asked for more.”
Nicks said Taylor Walker would definitely play, despite icing a knee during Friday’s training session while Chayce Jones and captain Rory Sloane have been named but face fitness tests.
“We’ve got to be careful with Sloaney because he’ll play with a broken leg if you let him, so we’ve just to make sure we’re doing the right thing by him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fremantle has brought Sam Sturt and Sean Darcy into the team to replace the injured Nat Fyfe and Brandon Matera who’s been dropped.
As reigning premier Richmond searches desperately for a return to form, the Tigers coaches have swung the axe, making four changes to the side that will take on Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
They’ve dropped premiership player Shai Bolton, along with Jack Ross and Sydney Stack, with David Astbury out injured.
Into the side comes debutant Jake Aarts, alongside Daniel Rioli, Noah Balta and Mabior Chol, while the Demons are going in unchanged.
The 25-year-old Aarts is a small forward who makes his AFL debut after doing the hard yards by spending six years playing in the VFL.
He played for Bendigo from 2013-14 and then Richmond’s VFL team from 2015-18.
The Tigers’ website describes Aarts as: “incredibly fit and won’t shy away from bringing the forward-line pressure, having learned from the Tigers’ mosquito fleet.
“Originally from Beaconsfield in Melbourne’s outer east, he has developed his leadership skills in his time at Punt Rd and deserves a chance at AFL level.”
Aarts was picked up in the 2019 Rookie Draft, with Richmond’s pick No. 16.
In Sunday’s other clash between Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn, both sides have made two changes each.
The Giants bring in Daniel Lloyd and Lachlan Keefe for injured pair Sam Taylor and Zac Williams.
For the Hawks, Luke Breust is out injured, while they’ve dropped Oliver Hanrahan and brought in debutant Harry Jones for his first game, along with the experience of Paul Puopolo.
POWER UNCHANGED FOR LIONS CLASH
Port Adelaide will take an unchanged side into Saturday’s clash with Brisbane as the Power looks to continue its unbeaten run.
In what is shaping up as the game of Round 5, the top-of-the-ladder Power has opted to give defender Ryan Burton another week on the sidelines as he returns from a knee injury.
Despite Burton making a speedy recovery after minor surgery following the Power’s 75-point demolition of the Crows in round 2, the Power is playing it safe and going into Saturday night’s game with the same side that defeated West Coast by 48 points.
Vice-captain Ollie Wines said the 191cm Burton had trained in both Port’s major sessions this week, but the team was currently blessed with a healthy squad.
“We’ve got plenty of options throughout the team, fortunately,” Wines said.
“We’re 4-0 and in a really good spot, it is very helpful having a full list to pick from.”
Midfielder Wines said coach Ken Hinkley had his side humming thanks to everyone being very clear on their onfield roles.
“Myself as an individual and us as mids understand it’s not about how many possessions you get or particularly the impact you have on a game, it’s what you do around the footy, the non-negotiables that we hold so highly,” Wines said.
“So if your opponent does win a clearance, (making sure) it’s a dirty clearance and it doesn’t come out clean, we work hard, we run together, we outnumber a contest and as long as I’m doing that and we’re doing that as a midfield, we feel like we’re contributing to the team and at the moment it’s paying dividends.”
Wines said Port would look at every avenue when trying to stop the impact of Brownlow-contender Lachie Neale in Saturday’s blockbuster clash, but reiterated the importance of a team game as the Power looks to further cement its top billing on the ladder.
“I don’t think the footy club’s been in such an exciting position in all its history with the young talent and the mix of experience in the team, so we’re in a really good spot at the moment … we think we can get some special things done this year,” he said.
SWANS’ BIG MAN ISSUES HITS BREAKING POINT
— Ben Horne
Sydney Swans are officially in a big man personnel crisis, with Callum Sinclair the latest key tall ruled out with injury.
As the Swans prepare to go up against one of the most imposing ruck experts of the past 10 years in West Coast man mountain Nic Naitanui, Sinclair was to be trusted by coach John Longmire to fill Sam Naismith’s giant shoes on Saturday.
But now the Swans have lost their back-up too after Sinclair hyper-extended his knee at training on Tuesday and failed to come up for selection.
Sydney are now missing key tall forwards Lance Franklin and Sam Reid, while Naismith is gone for the season with an ACL rupture. Now Sinclair is out indefinitely.
In addition, young gun Tom McCartin will miss another week after suffering a concussion against North Melbourne a fortnight ago.
It’s a worry given his family history with head knocks.
By the club’s count, they now have a total of seven big men unavailable.
The Swans are likely to run with the versatile Aliir Aliir in the ruck, but at 195cm, he’s giving away six centimetres and a ton of experience to Naitanui.
If there’s one team you don’t want to go small on, it’s against the towering Eagles, who are aerially brilliant across the park with the likes of Naitanui, Kennedy, Darling and McCovern.
Sydney also brings in Sam Gray, Lewis Melican, Colin O’Riordan and Ryan Clarke to face an Eagles team equally desperate for a win.
SAINTS SKIPPER COULD GET DOCHERTY ROLE
St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary will make his return from a hamstring injury in Round 5 — potentially in the forward line.
Geary, 32, did such an impressive job tagging Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen in Round 2 that Carlton star Sam Docherty could find himself receiving similar treatment on Thursday night.
Geary strained his hamstring in the first quarter of Round 2 however the inspirational leader played out the match and kept Johannisen to 14 disposals.
Docherty collected 32 disposals across halfback last week and was best-afield in the Blues’ upset win against Essendon.
The Saints have lost Zak Jones to hamstring tightness while Rowan Marshall has again been backed in as the only ruckman, with Paddy Ryder missing selection.
The Blues will be boosted by the return of key forward Harry McKay and speedster Zac Fisher.
Twin towers Levi Casboult and Mitch McGovern combined for 5.0 last week and the addition of McKay will further stretch St Kilda’s inexperienced backline.
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McGovern helped the Blues down the Saints with three goals last year while Casboult has morphed into one of the AFL’s best power forwards and has not kicked a behind this season.
Jack Silvagni will sit out the match as he recovers from the rib injury that resulted in Essendon’s Zach Merrett receiving a one-match suspension.
The Blues and Saints will finish are set to finish tonight’s match at Marvel Stadium unaware who their next match will be against, when it will be played or what state it will be in as the AFL revises Round 6.
But the players and staff will benefit from having the entire weekend to regroup and, almost certainly, prepare for life in an interstate hub.
DAVIS IN A NEW FITNESS TEST DILEMMA
GWS has declared Phil Davis’ grand final nightmare will not impact on the looming decision over whether he plays against Hawthorn on Sunday.
Davis suffered a back spasm in last Friday night’s win over Collingwood which he felt in his hamstrings, but the star defender is being given every chance to back-up a week later after training strongly on Thursday.
The race against time draws some similarities to last year’s grand final, when Davis bravely took the field at the MCG to lead his team despite battling a calf problem which required an extraordinary fitness test just an hour before the decider against Richmond.
Davis’ call to play was justifiable risk to take given the number of personnel issues a banged up GWS were battling across the board, and the presence he felt he could provide as captain on the club’s biggest ever day.
However, it didn’t stop him copping a mountain of criticism after he was ultimately outplayed by opposite Jack Riewoldt and Richmond romped to runaway premiership glory.
Giants’ coach Leon Cameron insisted the club is not scarred by the Davis fitness test and it would not make them hesitate about playing their strongest defender if they feel he is fit.
“It’s a different case. Phil clearly had a calf issue going into the grand final and it’s like anything. A lot of people will jump on when you make those bold decisions and they don’t come off,” said Cameron.
“We made some bold decisions on grand final day, you look back and say, ‘would you do it again? Do you think twice?’ Maybe. But it wasn’t just Phil. We probably took in about four players who were a little bit underdone and Richmond were too good.
“We can’t discount that. That’s the nature of the beast. You win some, you lose some. If Phil and the doctors and we are all really comfortable and ready to play against some of the keys against Hawthorn on the weekend then we’ll pick him. What’s not going to come into consideration is what happened 10 months ago.”
If passed fit Davis could be set for a blockbuster match-up against the Giants’ former No.1 draft pick Jon Patton, who will line-up against his old club for the first time on Sunday.
Straight after full-time last week, GWS were almost resigned to Davis missing a couple of weeks, but now there is genuine optimism.
It would be a much-needed boost given fellow defender Zac Williams has been sidelined.
“I think he’s giving himself every chance. He’s trained today and ran at a really good clip,” said Cameron.
“We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow and then if he can complete the captains run then definitely more favourable than not.”
PIES SET TO UNLEASH TRELOAR AFTER DELAYED START
Collingwood star Adam Treloar is set to make his first senior appearance of 2020 in Friday night’s clash with Essendon at the MCG.
It has been a frustrating start to the season for Treloar, who suffered a hamstring strain prior to Round 1 before the COVID-19 shutdown.
He then hurt his calf while in training before the resumption of the season, but is now “ready to go” after getting through some recent scratch matches.
“He’s been in good form and we asked him to play that extra game last week to bulletproof him going forward,” Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said.
“He hasn’t missed a step so he’s ready to go.”
Treloar looms as a straight swap for Steele Sidebottom, who is expected to receive a suspension for breaking COVID-19 restrictions at the weekend.
Harder to replace will be defender Jeremy Howe, who suffered a nasty knee injury against the GWS Giants last Friday night.
Buckley said it’ll be up to the whole defensive unit to make up for the loss of the in-form intercept backman.
“It’s pretty hard to replace what is and has been one of the best defenders in the competition,” he said.
“Statistically he is the best and the last few years he’s really elevated himself into the highest echelon of players full stop.
In short you can’t replace him with one, but the reality is we’re a systems based football club.
“We’ve got a really good understanding of the way we want to impose our game style on the opposition and we will look to put a back seven together that is going to be able to defend as well as it has to this point.
“We’re pretty hard to move the ball against and to score against, and Howie has been a strong part of that but not the only part.”
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ROUND 5 TEAMS
Find the Round 5 teams here when they are announced.
Carlton v St Kilda
Thursday, July 2, 7.40pm, Marvel Stadium
BLUES
B: L.Plowman, L.Jones, T.Williamson
HB: S.Docherty, J.Weitering, S.Petrevski-Seton
C: J.Newnes, P.Cripps, S.Walsh
HF: M.McGovern, L.Casboult, J.Martin
F: E.Betts, H.McKay, M.Gibbons
FOLL: M.Pittonet, D.Cunningham, E.Curnow
I/C: K.Simpson, M.Murphy, W.Setterfield, Z.Fisher
EMG: S.Philp, L.O’Brien, C.Moore, M.Kennedy
IN: H.McKay, Z.Fisher
OUT: J.Silvagni (Injured), S.Philp (Omitted)
SAINTS
B: B.Paton, C.Wilkie, J.Carlisle
HB: B.Long, D.Howard, J.Geary
C: B.Hill, H.Clark, S.Ross
HF: D.Butler, M.King, J.Billings
F: D.Kent, T.Membrey, J.Battle
FOLL: R.Marshall, J.Steele, J.Gresham
I/C: D.Hannebery, N.Coffield, J.Lonie, J.Marsh
EMG: J.Sinclair, N.Hind, P.Ryder, R.Byrnes
IN: J.Geary
OUT: Z.Jones (injured)
COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON
Friday July 3, 7:50pm at the MCG
MAGPIES
B: Crisp, Roughead, Scharenberg
HB: Maynard, Moore, Varcoe
C: Daicos, Pendlebury, Hoskin-Elliott
HF: Stephenson, Mihocek, Phillips
F: De Goey, Cox, Elliott
FOLL: Grundy, Adams, Treloar
I/C: Mayne, Wills, T.Brown, C.Brown
EMG: Madgen, Thomas, Cameron, Noble
IN: Scharenberg, Varcoe, Treloar
OUT: Howe (injured), Noble (omitted), Sidebottom (suspension)
BOMBERS
B: Gleeson, Hooker, Saad
HB: Zaharakis, Hurley, Ridley
C: Ham, McGrath, Langford
HF: Fantasia, McKernan, McDonald-Tipungwuti
F: Snelling, Stringer, Townsend
FOLL: Phillips, Parish, Shiel
I/C: Smith, Hibberd, Redman, Laverde
EMG: Cahill, Guelfi, Clarke, Zerk-Thatcher
IN: Phillips, Hibberd, Laverde
OUT: Francis (injured), Merrett (suspension), Bellchambers (managed)
WEST COAST EAGLES v SYDNEY SWANS
Saturday June 4, 1:45pm at Metricon Stadium
EAGLES
B: Hurn, Barrass, Duggan
HB: Nelson, McGovern, Sheppard
C: Gaff, Kelly, Sheed
HF: Cripps, Darling, Redden
F: Ryan, Kennedy, Ah Chee
FOLL: Naitanui, Yeo, Shuey
I/C: Waterman, Allen, Cole, Jones
EMG: Williams, Ainsworth, Rotham, Edwards
IN: Nelson, McGovern, Waterman, Allen
OUT: Jetta, Hickey (both omitted), Schofield (suspension), Brander (injured)
SWANS
B: Mills, Rampe, Melican
HB: Lloyd, Aliir, Dawson
C: Cunningham, Parker, Florent
HF: Heeney, Blakey, Hayward
F: Ronke, Papley, Gray
FOLL: McLean, Kennedy, Rowbottom
I/C: O’Riordan, Hewett, McInerney, Clarke
EMG: Foot, Fox, Taylor, Warner
IN: Melican, Gray, O’Riordan, Clarke
OUT: Taylor, Fox (both omitted), Sinclair, Naismith (both injured)
GEELONG CATS v GOLD COAST SUNS
Saturday July 4, 4:35pm at GMHBA Stadium
CATS
B: Kolodjashnij, Blicavs, Henry
HB: O’Connor, Taylor, Bews
C: Parfitt, Dangerfield, Selwood
HF: Tuohy, Rohan, Duncan
F: Ratugolea, Hawkins, Dahlhaus
FOLL: Fort, Ablett, Steven
I/C: C.Guthrie, Narkle, Menegola, Miers
EMG: Simpson, Clark, Parsons, Z.Guthrie
IN: Taylor, Narkle
OUT: Stewart, Atkins (both injured)
SUNS
B: Budarick, Collins, Lukosius
HB: Hanley, Ballard, Harbrow
C: Weller, Greenwood, Anderson
HF: Powell, Day, Ellis
F: Sexton, King, Ainsworth
FOLL: Witts, Swallow, Rowell
I/C: Bowes, Miller, Holman, MacPherson
EMG: Flanders, Wright, Smith, Sharp
No changes
WESTERN BULLDOGS v NORTH MELBOURNE
Saturday July 4, 7:40pm at Marvel Stadium
BULLDOGS
B: Williams, Keath, Daniel
HB: Johannisen, Cordy, Crozier
C: Richards, Bontempelli, Macrae
HF: Dale, Schache, McLean
F: Wallis, Bruce, West
FOLL: English, Liberatore, Smith
I/C: Wood, Vandermeer, Lipinski, Jong
EMG: Butler, Gowers, Sweet, Gardner
IN: Schache, Wood, Jong
OUT: Naughton, Lloyd (both injured), Butler (omitted)
KANGAROOS
B: McDonald, Tarrant, Atley
HB: Pittard, Walker, Williams
C: Polec, Cunnington, Hall
HF: Anderson, Zurhaar, Taylor
F: Thomas, Brown, Xerri
FOLL: Goldstein, Higgins, Simpkin
I/C: Dumont, Macmillan, Mahony, Hayden
EMG: Scott, Ahern, Bonar, McKay
IN: Cunnington, Macmillan
OUT: Ziebell (injured), Ahern (omitted)
BRISBANE LIONS v PORT ADELAIDE
Saturday July 4, 7:40pm at the Gabba
LIONS
B: Lester, Andrews, Gardiner
HB: Rich, Birchall, Ah Chee
C: Robinson, J.Berry, McCluggage
HF: McCarthy, Hipwood, Rayner
F: Bailey, McStay, Cameron
FOLL: McInerney, Lyons, Neale
I/C: Martin, T.Berry, Ellis-Yolmen, Starcevich
EMG: Skinner, Hinge, Witherden, Mathieson
IN: Martin, T.Berry
OUT: Zorko (injured), Smith (omitted)
POWER
B: McKenzie, Clurey, Houston
HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones
C: Westhoff, Wines, Amon
HF: Ebert, Marshall, Rozee
F: Butters, Dixon, Gray
FOLL: Lycett, Powell-Pepper, Boak
I/C: Motlop, Rockliff, Bonner, Farrell
EMG: Lienert, Sutcliffe, Ladhams, Mayes
No changes
ADELAIDE CROWS v FREMANTLE
Sunday July 5, 1:05pm at Metricon Stadium
CROWS
B: Kelly, Talia, Brown
HB: Laird, Smith, Doedee
C: Crocker, Jones, Lynch
HF: Murphy, B.Crouch, Walker
F: Frampton, McAdam, McHenry
FOLL: O’Brien, Sloane, Keays
I/C: M.Crouch, Poholke, Hartigan, Hamill
EMG: Himmelberg, McAsey, McPherson, Davis
IN: M.Crouch, Hartigan
OUT: Himmelberg, McAsey (both omitted)
DOCKERS
B: Hill, Logue, Conca
HB: Wilson, Ryan, Hughes
C: Cerra, Brayshaw, Aish
HF: Colyer, Taberner, Bewley
F: Lobb, Hogan, Walters
FOLL: Darcy, Mundy, Tucker
I/C: Schultz, Sturt, Serong, Young
EMG: Banfield, Duman, Blakely, Matera
IN: Darcy, Sturt
OUT: Fyfe (injured), Matera (omitted)
MELBOURNE v RICHMOND
Sunday July 5, 3:35pm at the MCG
DEMONS
B: Smith, May, Hibberd
HB: Harmes, Lever, Salem
C: Langdon, Oliver, Tomlinson
HF: Hannan, T.McDonald, Brayshaw
F: Pickett, Petracca, Fritsch
FOLL: Gawn, Melksham, Viney
I/C: vandenBerg, Rivers, Hunt, Lockhart
EMG: Jackson, Spargo, O.McDonald, Brown
No changes
TIGERS
B: Vlastuin, Grimes, Balta
HB: Houli, Broad, Short
C: McIntosh, Prestia, Caddy
HF: Higgins, Edwards, Castagna
F: Martin, Lynch, Riewoldt
FOLL: Nankervis, Cotchin, Lambert
I/C: Rioli, Baker, Aarts, Chol
EMG: Bolton, Graham, Pickett, Ross
IN: Balta, Rioli, Aarts, Chol
OUT: Stack, Bolton, Ross (all omitted), Astbury (injured)
GWS GIANTS v HAWTHORN
Sunday July 5, 6:10pm at Giants Stadium
GIANTS
B: Shaw, Davis, Corr
HB: Whitfield, Haynes, Ash
C: Kelly, Coniglio, Perryman
HF: Ward, Cameron, Greene
F: Daniels, Himmelberg, Finlayson
FOLL: Mumford, Hopper, de Boer
I/C: Keeffe, Hately, Green, Lloyd
EMG: Jacobs, Sheridan, Caldwell, Buntine
IN: Keeffe, Lloyd
OUT: Taylor, Williams (both injured)
HAWKS
B: Hardwick, Frawley, Frost
HB: Gunston, McEvoy, Stratton
C: Henderson, Burgoyne, Scully
HF: Sicily, O’Brien, Smith
F: O’Meara, Lewis, Wingard
FOLL: Ceglar, Worpel, Mitchell
I/C: Scrimshaw, Shiels, Jones, Puopolo
EMG: Patton, Cousins, Hanrahan, Morrison
IN: Puopolo, Jones
OUT: Breust (injured), Hanrahan (omitted)
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Originally published as AFL Teams Round 5: Matt Crouch gets AFL recall against Dockers after being dropped last week, Fischer McAsey axed