Barometer: Your club’s injury list after Round 21
Damien Hardwick has a headache trying to fit returning stars Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin into his winning team. Who misses out? Plus Essendon gets some relief from its injury woes. SEE EVERY CLUB’S INJURY LIST
Melbourne defender Steven May appears to have played his last game in a season cruelled by injury, adding salt to the wounds of another dirty day for the Demons.
May limped off at the seven-minute-mark of the final quarter against Collingwood, immediately grabbing at his left hamstring after making a spoil on the ball in a marking contest.
The match was just the eighth of the year at AFL level for the former Gold Coast Suns captain, who was returning from two weeks on the sidelines with a low-grade strain in the same hamstring.
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May also missed a month of pre-season after tearing a hamstring, was suspended for Round 1 after an incident in the JLT Community Series and tore a groin in his Demons’ debut against Geelong in Round 2, sidelining him for eight games.
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“(It’s) really frustrating for Steve, first and foremost,” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said of the latest injury blow.
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“He’s put in a lot of work and got himself in some really good condition physically to play some really good footy and he has done for our footy club.
“We’ll get it assessed. We don’t know for sure the damage, but it’s looking more likely that he’ll miss the remainder of the season.”
Goodwin said he had no doubt May could play an important role for the Demons next season.
“He’s 28. He’s done a lot of work on his body to get in some really good shape. He’s played some really strong footy for us,” Goodwin said.
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“We’re really confident with what he’s going to deliver for our footy club.”
Goodwin said he was pleased with some of what the Demons were able to do in the first and fourth quarters but was “frustrated” the side had “strayed away” from those things in the middle two terms as they fell to a 17-point loss to the Magpies.
“Clearly we’re frustrated. We want to win. The players want to win,” Goodwin said.
“The second and third quarters were really disappointing.”
ADELAIDE
Crows co-captain Rory Sloane will have a sore eye further examined on Monday after he was ruled out of the 10-point loss to West Coast on Sunday early in the third quarter.
Sloane copped a knock to the eye and suffered blurred vision and was unable to return to the field in a match which went down to the wire.
Crows coach Don Pyke said after the game that it was too early to tell whether Sloane would be available for Saturday’s must-win match against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval.
“He’s had a couple of issues previously with his eyes, so we took a really cautious approach and have to get that tested to find out,’’ Pyke said.
“Fingers crossed it’s nothing more than a scratch and he can continue to play, but it’s too early to tell.’’
Pyke said he hoped key defender Alex Keath would be able to return from missing three games with an ankle injury but there were no guarantees on his fitness.
“We’ll just see how that rebuilds,’’ he said. “He could (return) but I’ve been saying he’s looking like he’s a week or two away for a while.
“He’s got to get through a bit of training and be really confident before we’re going to chuck him back out there at AFL level.’’
- Andrew Capel
INJURIES
Rory Sloane (eye) test
Alex Keath (ankle) test
Cam Ellis-Yolmen (shin) 1 week
Ned McHenry (back) 1-2 weeks
Andrew McPherson (hamstring) 2-3 weeks
Paul Hunter (foot) 4 weeks
Tom Doedee (knee) season
BRISBANE
The Lions rolled through the QClash with barely a bruise save for a minor ankle sprain to Lincoln McCarthy.
The former Cat received treatment and returned to finish the game which suggest he will be available to play his 50th AFL game against his old club.
McCarthy is poster child for Brisbane’s stunning injury management record. He played just 29 games in seven season at Geelong due to a wretched run of injury but has not missed a beat at Brisbane.
The NEAFL side had another win but with the seniors cruising to a 91-point hiding of the Suns, it is hard to see anyone being dropped.
— Andrew Hamilton
INJURIES
Tom Cutler (foot) test
Tom Joyce (shin) 4 weeks
CARLTON
The Blues have been more than respectable against two quality opponents the past two weeks and will have learnt plenty from losses to West Coast and Richmond.
Their effort in both games could not have been questioned, but ball use and structure have let them down at times.
Mitch McGovern returned against the Tigers after four games on the sidelines to get his body and fitness in shape and booted two goals in a promising performance.
Matthew Kennedy responded to being dropped from the AFL side with 28 disposals for Northern Blues in the VFL.
Despite losses the past two weeks, caretaker coach David Teague still holds a 5-4 record and will be keen to add to the wins tally as he continues to push his case for the full-time job next year.
The Blues meet St Kilda and Geelong in the run home and will be determined to better reward for effort in those games.
- Chris Cavanagh
INJURIES
Charlie Curnow (knee) season
Sam Docherty (knee) season
Pat Kerr (shoulder) season
Kym LeBois (hamstring) 1-2 weeks
Caleb Marchbank (neck) season
Tom Williamson (back) season
COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies certainly aren’t firing on all cylinders and still have a lengthy injury list, but at least they are still chalking up the wins and keeping themselves in the frame for a top-four finish.
While the final scoreboard read a 17-point win over Melbourne on the weekend, Collingwood had lead by 36 points at three-quarter time before taking the foot off the pedal.
Two tougher clashes await to finish the regular season in the form of Adelaide and Essendon, where the Magpies will need to raise the bar.
Josh Daicos is in some doubt for the clash with the Crows after suffering a concussion against Melbourne.
“When told he was out of the game he took his jumper off on the boundary, apparently, so that was well and truly out of the game,” Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said.
“But we’ll give him during the week and see how he goes.”
— Chris Cavanagh
INJURIES
James Aish (shoulder) 2 weeks
Dayne Beams (hip/mental health) season
Mason Cox (eye) season
Jordan De Goey (hamstring) test
Lynden Dunn (knee) season
Josh Daicos (concussion)
Will Kelly (leg) TBC
Tom Langdon (knee) season
Darcy Moore (hamstring) 1-2 weeks
Sam Murray (provisional suspension) TBC
Isaac Quaynor (foot) TBC
Ben Reid (hamstring) TBC
Brayden Sier (calf) TBC
Jaidyn Stephenson (suspended) 2 weeks
Daniel Wells (knee) test
ESSENDON
Essendon defender Adam Saad faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday night’s crucial clash against Fremantle in Perth, but the Bombers look set to regain Darcy Parish and Aaron Francis.
Saad is recovering from a hamstring issue, which means a trip across the Nullabor might not be the best option for him — even if the club’s finals hopes might hinge on the result.
The Bombers, who are sorely missing Saad’s run off half-back, will give him every chance, but he is more likely to return against Collingwood in the final round.
Parish (concussion) and Francis (neck) will be welcome inclusions after the Bombers went down by 104 points against the relentless Western Bulldogs.
Dyson Heppell tried his heart out, but will again be under pressure to back up for another game with his genetic foot issue still causing concern.
The Bombers know it won’t cause Heppell any further damage to keep playing, but he has had to endure plenty of pain to get back out there each week.
— Glenn McFarlane
INJURIES
Tom Bellchambers (calf) 1-2 weeks
Joe Daniher (groin) season
Sam Draper (knee) season
Aaron Francis (neck) test
Matt Guelfi (knee) season
Michael Hurley (shoulder) 2-3 weeks
Irving Mosquito (hamstring) 1 week
Kobe Mutch (knee) TBC
Darcy Parish (concussion) test
Adam Saad (hamstring) 1 week
Devon Smith (knee) season
Will Snelling TBC
James Stewart (groin) season
FREMANTLE
Ross Lyon is a hugger these days. It’s why he will surely hand Hayden Ballantyne a farewell game at home next week in keeping with his warm and cuddly father-figure persona. As he said, it would take a miracle to secure a finals spot despite the club being a hypothetical chance of September action.
The Dockers were full of heart in their narrow loss to St Kilda on Sunday but surely a kid can make way for Ballantyne after all he has done across his career at the club. He had 14 touches and six tackles in the WAFL with Brett Bewley solid again.
- Jon Ralph
INJURIES
Brennan Cox (hip) 1 week
Stefan Giro (knee) season
Stephen Hill (quad) TBC
Jesse Hogan (foot) season
Rory Lobb (shoulder) season
Lloyd Meek (foot) season
Tom North (calf) test
Alex Pearce (ankle) season
Luke Ryan (hamstring) 1 week
Matt Taberner (foot) season
Luke Valente (groin) season
Tobe Watson (knee) 1 week
Nathan Wilson (toe) TBC
GEELONG
Lots of options for Geelong as they plan the final two rounds of the home-and-away season.
The ruck position will be the most debated with full-back Mark Blicavs doing a fine job in the role against North Melbounre.
Zac Smith was a late withdrawal against the Roos and coach Chris Scott suggested it was more about the expected wet weather than anything else.
Regular ruckman Rhys Stanley played well in the VFL so it will be intriguing to see which way the Cats match committee goes for next week’s blocbuster clash with Brisbane at the Gabba.
Defender Mark O’Connor is likely to return after missing two weeks with turf toe while several others put their hand up through impressive VFL performances, namely Charlie Constable who had 40 possessions and kicked two goals.
— Scott Gullan
INJURIES
Jordan Clark (elbow) 2-3 weeks
Jordan Cunico (ankle) 1-2 weeks
Mark O’Connor (toe) test
Zach Guthrie (ankle) test
Gary Rohan (knee) 2-3 weeks
GOLD COAST
The end of the season can’t come quick enough for the Gold Coast. They were insipid in the QClash and it is hard to see where a spike will come from.
The Suns’ selections have been mystifying all season and the past weekend was no exception when coach Stuart Dew made a statement and dropped Jack Martin after a quiet game against Collingwood on his return from finger surgery.
Martin dominated at the lower level and Dew has already declared he will be back, but it is hard to see him staying at the club next year.
Dropping one of your best players, even if he had been in a form slump, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense when he is out of contract – especially when some others appear to be exempt from scrutiny regardless of their form.
Peter Wright also played in the NEAFL but didn’t set the world alight.
— Andrew Hamilton
INJURIES
Callum Ah Chee (ankle) indefinite
Will Brodie (hamstring) season
Sam Collins (hip) season
Brayden Crossley (personal leave) TBC
Nick Holman (back) season
Jack Martin (finger) 1 week
Wil Powell (knee) season
Izak Rankine (hip) TBC
Mitch Riordan (calf) 2 weeks
Rory Thompson (knee) season
Harrison Wigg (knee) season
GWS GIANTS
The Western Bulldogs at home and Gold Coast away to finish the season — and, gee, the Giants need to start building some confidence and getting some troops back if they’re any chance of making a September impression.
Friday night was a horror result for GWS.
“We are embarrassed, let’s be honest,” coach Leon Cameron said after the loss.
“It was one of our worst losses for a long time. We need to put our hand up and take responsibility. Some things had been rearing their head (in recent games) and they surfaced tonight.”
A calf injury to Brett Deledio casts doubt not only on his season but his career. Fingers crossed his latest setback is only minor.
Jacob Hopper was a late out, with scans to determine how much footy he’ll miss.
The good news is Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer are getting closer, while Cameron will hope Jeremy Finlayson (finger) is good to go for the Bulldogs.
—Ben Broad
INJURIES
Brett Deledio (calf) TBC
Jeremy Finlayson (finger) TBC
Stephen Coniglio (knee) 5 weeks
Aidan Corr (calf) test
Isaac Cumming (hamstring) test
Matt de Boer (shoulder) 1 week
Matt Flynn (knee) season
Jacob Hopper (hamstring) TBC
Josh Kelly (calf) test
Zac Langdon (ankle) 5 weeks
Xavier O’Halloran (knee) test
Jonathon Patton (knee) TBC
Sam Taylor (hamstring) 3 weeks
Callan Ward (knee) Season
HAWTHORN
Bit of a case of “what might have been?” for the Hawks in 2019.
Clarko’s men have beaten the likes of Geelong, Collingwood and GWS — twice — but fallen to Sydney, North Melbourne and the lowly Demons. It looks likely they’ll just miss the eight.
Still, there’s a heap to like about the Hawks going forward. Friday’s big win over the Giants was achieved without Jack Gunston (hamstring). Time will tell if he’ll return for what should be a cakewalk against the Suns. Conor Nash was the late in and booted a goal, while Changkuoth Jiath was solid in his first hitout at AFL level.
Ruckman Ben McEvoy should return to face Gold Coast, but the big question at match committee will be whether to five Jarryd Roughead a farewell game in front of his home fans.
—Ben Broad
INJURIES
Grant Birchall (hamstring) TBC
Jarman Impey (knee) season
Harry Jones (knee) season
Ben McEvoy (adductor) test
Darren Minchington (hamstring) 4-5 weeks
Tom Mitchell (broken leg) indefinite
Tim Mohr (dislocated knee/ACL) season
Ryan Schoenmakers (calf) 1 week
Jack Scrimshaw (knee) 2 weeks
MELBOURNE
You probably won’t see Steven May until next year.
What has been a difficult debut season on a variety of fronts for the Demons recruit had its exclamation mark with a last quarter hamstring against Collingwood on Saturday.
NBA star Ben Simmons may have been the guest of honour in the Melbourne rooms before their Round 21 game, but there was still no razzle dazzle in the red and blue.
They started well and finished well, the Dees, but that’s symptomatic of a season in which consistent output has been sorely lacking.
As Max Gawn said: “Four quarters doesn’t seem to be in our repertoire at the moment”.
- Sam Edmund
INJURIES
Steven May (hamstring) TBC
Mitch Hannan (groin) test
Neville Jetta (knee) season
Tom McDonald (knee) season
Joel Smith (groin) season
Aaron vandenBerg (foot) season
Sam Weideman (jaw/hip) season
Kade Kolodjashnij (head) season
NORTH MELBOURNE
A horrible day at GMHBA Stadium for the Kangaroos.
The seniors registered their lowest score in history while earlier in the afternoon the Roos’ VFL team lost by 101 points.
There’s not a lot to work with for new coach Rhyce Shaw with injuries starting to pile up and very little pressure coming from underneath with rover Nathan Hrovat possibly one who deserves another crack.
Retiring defender Scott Thompson suffered a nasty knock to the head in the third quarter against the Cats and didn’t reappear, but should be right to play the second-last game of his career against Port Adelaide next Saturday night.
— Scott Gullan
INJURIES
Majak Daw (hamstring) season
Aaron Hall (personal leave) indefinite
Kyron Hayden (achilles) season
Ben Jacobs (head/neck) season
Luke McDonald (fractured fibula) season
Tom McKenzie (back) TBC
Bailey Scott (foot) indefinite
Dom Tyson (calf) indefinite
Ed Vickers-Willis (knee) season
Will Walker (knee) TBC
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power is on the march and they are fit and healthy heading into the final two weeks of the season that will determine their finals fate.
Co-captain Ollie Wines was supposed to return from a thumb injury via the SANFL on the weekend, but was a late inclusion for Zak Butters who was too sore after copping a knock to his sternum last weekend.
There is no way Wines is coming out again after a big performance, meaning Butters will have to force his way back into the side.
The bigger question mark at selection surrounds premiership ruckman Scott Lycett, who was dumped two weeks ago and played SANFL on Sunday.
The Power is currently opting for Paddy Ryder and Peter Ladhams, who did nothing wrong in the 47-point win over Sydney.
He and Dougal Howard are first-choice players currently in the reserves while Ryan Burton (hamstring) and Jack Watts (leg) are both back running at training to try to prove their fitness for late in the year.
Burton could return via the SANFL as soon as this week while Watts is likely to need the Power to go deep into finals to be a chance of playing again in 2019.
— Reece Homfray
INJURIES
Zak Butters (sternum) test
Ryan Burton (hamstring) test
Tobin Cox (kidney) 1 week
Brad Ebert (knee) season
Jake Patmore (knee) season
Jack Watts (leg) TBC
RICHMOND
Big question for the Tigers this week is who goes out to make way for a pair of Brownlow medallists.
Coach Damien Hardwick expects Dustin Martin (soreness) and Trent Cotchin (hamstring) to return for Sunday’s top-four showdown against West Coast.
So with no fresh injuries from a win against Carlton, who misses out?
Jack Ross stepped straight back into his midfield role, picking up 21 disposals in his first game since Round 8 while Jack Graham played his best game of the year, kicking four goals.
Sydney Stack (12 touches) and Shai Bolton (11) have gone off the boil a bit in recent weeks but can you risk losing their X-factor? Mabior Chol has had a combined seven disposals in his past two games but that’s hardly a like-for-like swap.
Jack Riewoldt will come under scrutiny for his chicken wing wrench on Liam Jones on Sunday. A fine, if anything. Over to you, Dimma.
Meanwhile, the Tigers’ VFL team continues to dominate, locking in a home final with a 44-point win over the Northern Blues.
Callum Moore kicked four goals on his return from injury, Jacob Townsend booted three and Marlion Pickett showed more glimpses of his enormous talent.
“It’s hard to continually say to players that are playing so well at the VFL level that there’s just no position available,” Hardwick said.
“Those boys are really patient. What they’ve also got to understand, though, is they are a significant part of our journey. We had, back in 2017, a couple of changes at round 21 and 22. That’s a possibility of happening again this year. They know they’ve just got to be playing their best footy at the right time and anything can happen.”
- Al Paton and Jay Clark
INJURIES
Trent Cotchin (hamstring) test
Dustin Martin (soreness) test
Jack Higgins (brain bleed) season
Alex Rance (knee) indefinite
ST KILDA
Bring on Carlton next week and bring on 2020 after yet another encouraging performance under Brett Ratten. The Saints not only got star performances from Jack Steven and Dan Hannebery, the kids fired again. It might not change Steven’s mind about a trade to Geelong but it might increase his trade value after red flags about his year given mental health issues. Nick Coffield could need surgery on his shoulder after it popped out tackling Andrew Brayshaw but while the VFL side had a bye this weekend surely Jimmy Webster is ready after coming back from back and hand injuries. Nick Hind’s gather and pass to Josh Bruce for the game winner was just another example of the canny recruiting that has also secured Callum Wilkie and Matt Parker.
- Jon Ralph
INJURIES
Blake Acres (shoulder) test
David Armitage (personal) indefinite
Logan Austin (shoulder) indefinite
Jack Bytel (back) season
Jarryn Geary (leg) 2-4 weeks
Dan Hannebery (illness) test
Dean Kent (quad) season
Max King (ankle) season
Billy Longer (concussion) season
Paddy McCartin (concussion) season
Lewis Pierce (concussion) indefinite
Dylan Roberton (heart) season
SYDNEY
The Swans got through the weekend loss to Port unscathed — one welcome piece of news as their season winds down.
All eyes will be on superstar veterans Lance Franklin and Jarrad McVeigh over the next fortnight. While Buddy is on the brink of game 300, McVeigh is hoping for a farewell match, which one would think would be the final-round clash with St Kilda at the SCG.
- Ben Broad
INJURIES
Darcy Cameron (quad) 1 weeks
Harry Cunningham (groin) season
Lance Franklin (hamstring) 1 week
Will Hayward (hip) season
Matthew Ling (achilles) 1 week
Jack Maibaum (knee) season
Jarrad McVeigh (calf) 1 week
Colin O’Riordan (groin) TBC
Callum Sinclair (shoulder) season
Nick Smith (hamstring) season
Durak Tucker (hamstring) TBC
WEST COAST
It’s all good news for the Eagles who, like their opponent this week Richmond, seem to be timing their run well.
Jarrod Cameron (rested) is a chance to return for Sunday’s MCG blockbuster, while Chris Masten will be hoping he can force his way into a talent-packed midfield.
Two wins in their final two games would cement a home final for Adam Simpson’s side - something the coach wasn’t too aware of when asked after the match.
“Across the board, whether it is top two, top four or top eight, the season is alive, so it’s really good for footy this week,” he said.
INJURIES
Liam Duggan (ankle) test
Harry Edwards (foot) test
Nic Naitanui (ankle) indefinite
Josh Smith (hamstring) 3-5 weeks
Nathan Vardy (ankle/knee) test
Daniel Venables (concussion) season
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Luke Beveridge will be hard pressed to keep son of a gun Rhylee West in the VFL for long after he dominated the club’s second emphatic win for the weekend over top-four rival Essendon on Saturday.
West kicked four goals and had 29 disposals in the Dogs’ 93-point thumping after he was squeezed out of the senior team, having made his debut against Fremantle in Round 19.
Half-back flanker Caleb Daniel is the key player the Bulldogs would love back as they mount a late finals charge, although he is unlikely to play before September.
Hayden Crozier (ankle) and Josh Schache (concussion) both featured in Saturday night’s 104-point demolition of Essendon after being on the injury list heading into Round 21.
The Bulldogs had more reason to smile after their annihilation, getting through the match with no major injury concerns.
— Tim Michell
INJURIES
Caleb Daniel (hamstring) test
Ryan Gardner (knee) 3-5 weeks
Fergus Greene (shoulder) season
Dale Morris (knee) season
Mitch Wallis (ankle) indefinite
Originally published as Barometer: Your club’s injury list after Round 21