AFL semi-finals: Injury list and selection analysis for the remaining six finalists

UPDATE: GEELONG has received mixed injury news after scans today on two players hurt against Richmond. Plus will Stevie J earn a recall? Injury list + selection analysis.

Lance Franklin copped a corkie against the Bombers. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THERE are six teams remaining in the race for the 2017 premiership.

Adelaide and Richmond have booked their spots in the preliminary final and await the results of this weekend’s semi-finals to find out their opponents.

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Take a look at the latest injury list and selection analysis for the remaining finalists.

ADELAIDE

INJURIES

Rory Sloane (appendix) test

Brodie Smith (knee) season

Jordan Gallucci (jaw) season

Elliott Himmelberg (foot) season

Cam Ellis-Yolmen (knee) season

SELECTION: Heartbreaking news for defender Brodie Smith with confirmation he has torn his ACL and will play no further part in the Crows’ premiership tilt. His injury means fringe runner Paul Seedsman is likely to keep his spot. Don’t expect any more than one change when the Crows play again on preliminary final weekend, Rory Sloane in for Smith.

KATE SALEMME’S FORECAST: Adelaide dominated GWS and sent a major warning to the rest of the competition, however, the premiership favourite appear to be on the tougher side of the draw. The minor premiers will play the winner of Friday night’s Geelong-Sydney semi-final and if the Swans get through, that could be a final for the ages. Still, the Crows are in the box seat to book a Grand Final berth via a home preliminary final.

Brodie Smith in pain as he is helped from the field. Picture: AAP

GEELONG

INJURIES

Cam Guthrie (calf) 1-2 weeks

James Parsons (foot) test

Nakia Cockatoo (hamstring) test

Josh Cowan (achilles) season

Lincoln McCarthy (hip) season

Cory Gregson (foot) season

SELECTION: The big selection questions this weekend are on Geelong and whether Daniel Menzel will be recalled after being sensationally dumped for the qualifying final. Given the Cats clearly lacked potency up forward and appeared top-heavy, Menzel will surely get a chance to add to his 38-goal season.

The Cats will have to find a replacement for key midfielder Cam Guthrie, who suffered a low-grade calf strain against Richmond. He will miss Friday night’s cutthroat final against Sydney and Geelong says he will be reassessed next week — if the Cats are still alive. There was better news on Jake Kolodjashnij, who has been cleared to play against the Swans.

James Parsons, who was under an injury cloud before the qualifying final, also spent time off the ground after appearing to hurt his foot again. Nakia Cockatoo could force his way in if he is cleared to play after suffering a hamstring injury in Round 19, to help transform and add some X-factor to the forward line that really struggled against the Tigers. Wylie Buzza will also be in the mix.

KATE SALEMME’S FORECAST: What a difference a loss makes. Had the Cats beaten the Tigers it would have been on the perceived easier side of the draw and favoured to advance to the Grand Final after hosting either GWS or West Coast in a home prelim final. Instead, the Cats have the dreaded task of facing the red-hot Swans and have the added pressure to produce in a final. If they win, it’s a trip to Adelaide to play the premiership favourites. Ouch. The injury-hit Cats will need to find a spark if they’re to knock off the Swans. Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood, who was disappointing against the Tigers, will need to have huge games.

Cam Guthrie’s injury added to Geelong’s pain on Friday night.

GWS GIANTS

INJURIES

Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) season

Shane Mumford (foot) season

Matt Buntine (knee) season

Adam Kennedy (knee) season

SELECTION: The Giants were criticised of being too top-heavy in their loss to Adelaide but the decision may have already been made for them with Jeremy Cameron and Shane Mumford both ruled out for the rest of the finals. Cameron hurt his hamstring and GWS revealed today Mumford fractured his foot against the Crows. Will they turn to Dawson Simpson or throw Rory Lobb into the ruck? Another selection dilemma for the Giants is whether to reinstate retiring veteran Steve Johnson, who was serviceable in the weekend’s reserves hitout against Adelaide, or Devon Smith. Midfielders Ryan Griffen and Tim Taranto are also in the frame.

CHRIS VERNUCCIO’S FORECAST: GWS looks in all sorts of trouble with injuries and concerns over team balance, which is never ideal heading into a cut-throat final. The Giants’ premiership credentials have taken a battering in the past fortnight but they’re back at home this weekend, which should give them the edge.

RICHMOND

INJURIES

Jake Batchelor (arm) TBC

Nathan Drummond (knee) season

Ben Lennon (shoulder) TBC

SELECTION: Everything is going swimmingly for the Tigers, who have no injury concerns from their big win over Geelong. The Tigers are likely to go with an unchanged line-up in the preliminary final but there are several players in top form in the VFL, including Shai Bolton (two goals against the Casey Demons on Sunday), Anthony Miles (32 disposals), Jayden Short (24 disposals) and Oleg Markov. In the senior team, Jack Graham, Brandon Ellis, Daniel Ellis and Jason Castagna didn’t find much of the ball but the tackling pressure they all showed against the Cats makes it hard for any one of them to be dropped, while Jacob Townsend kicked two goals from his two kicks.

CHRIS VERNUCCIO’S FORECAST: You can’t blame if the Tiger Army is already dreaming of a Grand Final berth, which would be Richmond’s first since in 1982. While the team can’t — and won’t — get ahead of themselves, it’s in the easier side of the draw with a home preliminary final to come against either the Giants or Eagles.

Shai Bolton is one of several Tigers playing well in the VFL. Picture: Getty Images

SYDNEY

INJURIES

Lance Franklin (quad) test

Lewis Melican (quad) available

Darcy Cameron (shoulder) season

SELECTION: Lance Franklin is the only concern for the Swans after copping a corkie in the first quarter against Essendon. He had it heavily strapped but played out the game before being rested in the final quarter. It will take more than that for Buddy to miss. Lewis Melican, who was withdrawn before the game with a quad injury, will come under consideration if the Swans need an extra tall defender to face Geelong.

KATE SALEMME’S FORECAST: Most considered it a fait accompli that the Swans would advance to week two of the finals and that’s exactly what happened, in emphatic fashion. The Swans are the form team of the competition and know it can defeat Geelong on the big stage after last year’s preliminary final victory. The Swans will start favourites despite the game being at the MCG and might have too much firepower — with Franklin, Sam Reid, Callum Sinclair and Gary Rohan up forward — and depth in the midfield for the Cats.

Lance Franklin celebrates a goal against the Bombers. Picture: Phil Hillyard

WEST COAST

INJURIES

Nic Naitanui (knee) available

Matthew Allen (foot) season

Sam Butler (hamstring) season

Scott Lycett (shoulder) season

Simon Tunbridge (hamstring) season

Daniel Venables (toe) season

SELECTION: Ruckman Nic Naitanui is available but it would be a massive call to rush him back after a year out with a knee reconstruction. The Eagles also have to weigh up whether to recall experienced pair Sharrod Wellingham and Chris Masten for fresh legs or stick with a winning team. Drew Petrie and Sam Mitchell are expected to be cleared by the match review panel.

CHRIS VERNUCCIO’S FORECAST: The Eagles keep defying the odds, and although they have to travel to the other side of the country this weekend will believe the injury-hit Giants are vulnerable.

Originally published as AFL semi-finals: Injury list and selection analysis for the remaining six finalists