All the latest injury and form news for AFL finals teams ahead of week one
WILL Joel Selwood be fit to play? Can Orazio Fantasia get back in time? What do the Giants do with Stevie J? What about Rory Sloane? INJURY AND FORM NEWS FOR FINALS TEAMS
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AFTER a week off to digest what was a remarkable home-and-away season, finals footy is finally here.
But the drama of the season hasn’t stopped, with a number of selection and injury worries plaguing finals teams heading into week one.
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SELECTION DILEMMA: WHAT SHOULD GIANTS DO WITH STEVIE J?
Will Steve Johnson play for the Giants? Will Rory Sloane recover from appendix surgery in time? Is Joel Selwood really going to return to quickly after an ankle injury? Can the Bombers get Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley and Orazio Fantasia back?
JON RALPH looks at the injury and form of each of the finals teams and reveals his tips.
ADELAIDE V GWS
Thursday September 7, 7.50pm
ADELAIDE: The Crows say Rory Sloane will play nine days after appendix surgery given the potential for further injury is minor. Daniel Talia (ankle) and Taylor Walker (toe) will play after resting in Round 23, while Hugh Greenwood was managed.
GWS: Steve Johnson is the selection conundrum, with only four of his eight disposals effective against Geelong. Matt de Boer and Harry Himmelberg are options to replace him. Leon Cameron seems happy playing both Shane Mumford and Rory Lobb.
RALPHY’S TAKE: Adelaide smacked GWS by 56 points in Round 1 at home, were clearly the best side of the year, and are rested and ready. Cameron must drop Steve Johnson and back in system and pressure over a Hail Mary selection. Still believe the Giants’ best is brilliant.
TIP: GWS 5 points
CROWS v GIANTS: BURNING QUESTIONS, LATEST ODDS, TIPS
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GEELONG V RICHMOND
Friday September 8, 7.50pm
GEELONG: Joel Selwood (high ankle sprain) now seems a lock to play, but what does the club do with Nakia Cockatoo? He will likely be ready but is he too much of a risk off his latest hammy? Wylie Buzza will surely hold his spot over Rhys Stanley.
RICHMOND: Only Nathan Drummond is injured from the entire list. Josh Caddy should return from a Round 21 hamstring injury. Can’t see Ben Griffiths getting back, they can’t drop Jacob Townsend after 11 goals in two games and Jack Graham has been excellent. Who goes out? Oleg Markov, maybe?
RALPHY’S TAKE: At Simonds Stadium in Round 21 the Cats easily kept Richmond at bay despite missing Selwood and Tom Hawkins. The midfield out-pressured the Tigers, Jack Riewoldt was kept to 1.3 and Harry Taylor went crazy against Alex Rance. Cats have won past 13 against Richmond.
TIP: Cats by 12 points
SYDNEY SWANS V ESSENDON
Saturday September 9, 4.20pm
SYDNEY: Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair will both be fit despite Round 23 ankle sprains. Sam Naismith would have to displace one of those after recovering from injury. Dan Hannebery (hip) and Tom Papley (knee) will return after missing Round 23.
ESSENDON: Cale Hooker (leg bone bruising), Orazio Fantasia (hamstring) and Michael Hurley (calf) need to prove their fitness. Fantasia has been out since Round 20 and did some training on Friday, while Hurley will need to step up Saturday’s training load. The club says all three will play.
RALPHY’S TAKE: When Essendon nearly dethroned Sydney in Round 14 the Swans had come off five wins in six weeks, so let’s not discount the Dons. But the Swans have won their past four games by an average of 58 points, including wins at Geelong and Adelaide.
TIP: Swans 18 points
PORT ADELAIDE V WEST COAST EAGLES
Saturday September 9, 7.50pm
PORT ADELAIDE: Tom Jonas is suspended, Matthew Broadbent is available after an ankle issue and Jackson Trengove is still pushing hard but received a late head knock in the SANFL. If he recovers from that will he come in to bolster a defence that needs to contain Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling?
WEST COAST EAGLES: Nic Naitanui has already been ruled out, but could return at some stage. Jeremy McGovern’s latest injury is a knock to the shoulder but despite not training much last week he will play.
RALPHY’S TAKE: Port Adelaide is a flat track bully and West Coast is impossible to pick. Both teams beat the other as the away side this year. Backing the Power’s match-winners to get it done.
TIP: Port Adelaide 16 points
Originally published as All the latest injury and form news for AFL finals teams ahead of week one
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