Norwood optimistic Simon Phillips will be available for SANFL finals

Norwood small forward Simon Phillips, sidelined after hurting his thigh in his comeback game, is battling to prove his fitness with the finals looming.

Central District’s Isaya McKenzie. Picture: Sarah Reed

NORWOOD small forward Simon Phillips’ chances of fronting in the finals will significantly diminish if he does not return from a thigh injury in the final minor round.

The Redlegs are optimistic Phillips will be available to face Sturt, almost certainly in the reserves, in two weeks. But if he fails to prove his fitness for the game, Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton will be reluctant to name him for a final given his limited action this season.

Phillips had surgery after damaging his knee against Central District in round five and did not reappear until 10 rounds later when he played half a game of reserves against Woodville-West Torrens. However, he hurt his knee to put his season in doubt.

Redlegs captain Jace Bode, sidelined due to a hamstring injury, will be available for the first week of finals while valuable on-ballers Andrew Kirwan and Tim Webber will return to face Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Sunday.

The Redlegs must beat Port to remain in the race for a top three spot after being upset by Central District at home on Saturday, losing by 82 points.

The win kept the Bulldogs’ faint finals hopes alive, although they will be without Isaya McKenzie for the rest of the season after he damaged his knee in the second quarter. McKenzie will have scans on the knee and it is feared he has ruptured the ACL.

There are still four teams in the race for fifth spot after Glenelg was thumped by Sturt and South Adelaide, Adelaide and the Bulldogs won.

Two rounds back, the Eagles were four games clear at the top of the ladder. After Saturday’s 83-point belting from the Panthers in Noarlunga, they are no certainty for the minor premiership with Port and the Double Blues still capable of taking top spot.

Eagles coach Michael Godden, who described the loss as the worst of his coaching career, admitted he was concerned.

“Of course I’m worried, you have got to be,” he said. “I’m not worried what I saw in the first quarter, that was good enough to be the team we are.

“I’m worried what I saw in the next three quarters, that is a worry. But so many things are controllable and strategically I’m not worried.”

The Eagles will regain Matthew Goldsworthy, Jarred Allmond and Patrick Giuffreda for Sunday’s home battle against the Crows. Ruckman Marc Boholm successfully negotiated his return from a knee injury in the reserves.