AFL week two finals: Teams, selection news and expert tips
Brisbane has been dealt a huge blow, with star forward Joe Daniher a late out of the Lions’ side hoping to keep its season alive against Melbourne.
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Brisbane’s elimination final matchwinner Joe Daniher is out of tonight’s cutthroat semi-final clash with Melbourne after returning to Queensland to be with his expectant partner who is due to have their first child.
Daniher travelled down with the Lions on Thursday but caught a flight back to Brisbane at 10am on Friday.
The key forward, who kicked the winning goal for the Lions against Richmond in last week’s elimination final, is understood to be quite secretive about all personal matters.
Brisbane refused to confirm the reasons behind Daniher’s return home, labelling it “for personal reasons”.
He will be replaced by emergency Tom Fullarton in a blow to the Lions’ chances.
Former Lion forward Daniel Bradshaw missed a semi-final as a 21-year-old in 2000 when his wife went into labour the night before the game.
Bradshaw received some criticism at the time, but in a changing landscape players now regularly miss games for the birth of their children with St Kilda’s Jake Carlisle missing a final in 2020 to be with his wife Mel for the birth of their third child.
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STAR SITS OUT MAGPIES’ CAPTAIN’S RUN
Tarquin Oakley
Darcy Moore sat out Collingwood’s captain’s run this morning but is still expected to face Fremantle in Saturday night’s semi-final.
Moore, who copped a knee knock at training on Thursday, watched on as Jordan De Goey and his teammates completed the short and sharp 25-minute session.
De Goey looked fit enough to play despite a grade-1 sprain of the AC joint in his right shoulder suffered against Geelong in the qualifying final.
Nathan Krueger was also away from the main Collingwood group, not appearing on the track despite coming on as the medi-sub last week.
Krueger has again been named as an emergency for Saturday night and Collingwood said it was just a case of load management as to why he wasn’t involved in the captain’s run.
Ollie Henry was with the main group and is a chance to be selected as the medical substitute.
Henry hasn’t played since round 17, but has been the unused sub twice since then, most recently against Carlton in round 23.
The 20-year-old came on as the sub in round 10 against Fremantle in the second term and kicked four goals.
PIES PICK BIANCO, BUT WHO STEPS UP FOR ADAMS?
Collingwood has called up forward-wingman Trent Bianco as part of a midfield reshuffle for Saturday night’s cutthroat semi-final against Fremantle.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE TEAMS AND TIPS
But Bianco is unlikely to be moved into the centre square as a direct replacement as Craig McRae looks to others to help share the onball load.
Defender Brayden Maynard, forward Jamie Elliott, Steele Sidebottom, Jack Crisp and Patrick Lipinski could all be called on to play more onball minutes alongside champion veteran Scott Pendlebury as the Magpies attempt to book a preliminary final against Sydney Swans at the SCG.
At Melbourne, under-pressure full forward Ben Brown has held on to his spot despite pressure from emerging forward Jacob van Rooyen for Friday night’s clash against Brisbane Lions at the MCG.
As News Corp revealed, Brown was named in the 22, while Tom McDonald will play VFL. McDonald is expected to be available for the preliminary final if the Demons progress after a serious foot injury throughout the year.
Christian Petracca (leg), Charlie Spargo (throat), Jake Melksham (knee) and Bayley Fritsch (knee) will all play.
Jake Bowey is on standby to replace Spargo if he is a late withdrawal with the bruised larynx.
Brisbane has named Darcy Fort, Cam Rayner and Noah Answerth to come in.
Making way are Mitch Robinson, Rhys Mathieson, Jaxon Prior and Oscar McInerney (illness).
The return of Rayner from suspension is a massive boost for the Lions as the match winner can provide a dynamic point of difference in the forward half.
The No. 1 draft pick had been in strong form before he was suspended for last week’s thrilling win over Richmond.
Tall Darcy Fort has also proven to be a shrewd pick-up from Geelong as he prepares to replace McInerney (concussion) in the ruck.
Fort will face a huge battle against Max Gawn and Luke Jackson in the ruck on Friday night.
Tough nuts Mathieson and Robinson make way for the Lions as Robinson weighs up his future at Brisbane.
The Lions haven’t won at the MCG in their past 11 attempts and surrendered a 42-point lead against Richmond on their last trip to the ground.
Fremantle was unchanged for the clash against Collingwood.
SEMI-FINAL TEAMS
SECOND SEMI FINAL
MELBOURNE v BRISBANE LIONS
Friday, September 9, 7.50pm, MCG
DEMONS
B: C.Salem, S.May, H.Petty
HB: A.Brayshaw, J.Lever, M.Hibberd
C: T.Sparrow, C.Oliver, E.Langdon
HF: J.Melksham, M.Gawn, J.Harmes
F: A.Neal-Bullen, B.Fritsch, C.Spargo
FOLL: L.Jackson, J.Viney, C.Petracca
I/C: T.Rivers, J.Hunt, K.Pickett, B.Brown
EMG: T.Bedford, J.Bowey, J.van Rooyen, J.Smith
IN: Nil
OUT: J.Smith (sub)
LIONS
B: D.Gardiner, D.McStay, D.Rich
HB: B.Starcevich, H.Andrews, K.Coleman
C: Z.Bailey, J.Berry, C.Ah Chee
HF: D.Zorko, E.Hipwood, L.McCarthy
F: J.Payne, J.Daniher, C.Cameron
FOLL: D.Fort, L.Neale, H.McCluggage
I/C: D.Robertson, C.Rayner, N.Answerth, D.Wilmot
EMG: J.Prior, T.Fullarton, R.Lester, R.Mathieson
IN: Cam Rayner, Darcy Fort, Noah Answerth, Tom Fullarton
OUT: Jaxon Prior (Omitted), Joe Daniher (Personal Reason), Mitch Robinson (Omitted), Oscar McInerney (Illness), Rhys Mathieson (Omitted)
COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE
Saturday September 10, 7.25pm, MCG
MAGPIES
B: B.Maynard, D.Moore, J.Howe
HB: N.Daicos, N.Murphy, J.Crisp
C: W.Hoskin-Elliott, S.Pendlebury, J.Noble
HF: J.De Goey, D.Cameron, B.McCreery
F: A.Johnson, B.Mihocek, S.Sidebottom
FOLL: M.Cox, J.Elliott, J.Daicos
I/C: P.Lipinski, I.Quaynor, T.Bianco, J.Ginnivan
EMG: N.Kreuger, O.Henry, C.Brown, J.Carmichael
IN: T.Bianco
OUT: T.Adams (injured), N.Kreuger (sub)
DOCKERS
B: J.Aish, B.Cox, B.Walker
HB: H.Young, A.Pearce, L.Ryan
C: J.Clark, A.Brayshaw, B.Acres
HF: L.Schultz, S.Switkowski, H.Chapman
F: J.Amiss, R.Lobb, M.Walters
FOLL: S.Darcy, W.Brodie, C.Serong
I/C: M.Frederick, D.Mundy, N.O’Driscoll, G.Logue
EMG: B.Banfield, T.Colyer, L.Meek, E.Hughes
IN: Nil
OUT: B.Banfield (sub)
SEMI-FINAL TIPS
Scott Gullan 153
Melbourne 25
Collingwood 16
Last Week 1
Jane Bunn 152
Melbourne 6
Collingwood 6
Last Week 2
Sam Landsberger 148
Melbourne 37
Fremantle 1
Last Week 3
Gerard Whateley 148
Melbourne 18
Collingwood 12
Last Week 2
Rebecca Williams 148
Melbourne 6
Collingwood 8
Last Week 2
Glenn McFarlane 147
Melbourne 6
Collingwood 1
Last Week 2
Jay Clark 146
Melbourne 10
Collingwood 6
Last Week 2
Lauren Wood 145
Melbourne 9
Collingwood 7
Last Week 2
Mark Robinson 144
Melbourne 18
Fremantle 12
Last Week 2
Simeon Thomas-Wilson 144
Melbourne 20
Fremantle 3
Last Week 4
Chris Cavanagh 141
Melbourne 24
Collingwood 6
Last Week 2
Jon Ralph 141
Melbourne 9
Collingwood 4
Last Week 3
Tim Watson 141
Melbourne 11
Collingwood 7
Last Week 2
Liz Walsh 139
Melbourne 12
Collingwood 25
Last Week 2
Mick Malthouse 137
Melbourne 10
Collingwood 6
Last Week 1
Kath Loughnan 135
Melbourne 12
Fremantle 6
Last Week 2
Sally Capp 134
Melbourne 23
Collingwood 13
Last Week 1
David King 134
Melbourne 10
Fremantle 6
Last Week 2
Ebony Marinoff 134
Brisbane Lions
Fremantle
Last Week 1
Mick McGuane 134
Melbourne 30
Collingwood 26
Last Week 2
Matt Turner 132
Melbourne 29
Collingwood 9
Last Week 2
Dermott Brereton 131
Melbourne 6
Collingwood 6
Last Week 2
Sarah Jones 131
Melbourne 10
Collingwood 1
Last Week 3
James Hird 130
Melbourne 10
Collingwood 6
Last Week 2
Graham Cornes 129
Melbourne 14
Collingwood 9
Last Week 2
Chloe Molloy 128
Melbourne
Collingwood
Last Week 3
Kiss of Death 61
Brisbane Lions 13
Fremantle 13
Last Week 2
Track watch: Key Demon absent at main session
—Lauren Wood and Tarquin Oakley
Melbourne says Christian Petracca won’t need any pain management to get through Friday night’s must-win semi-final against Brisbane.
His coach Simon Goodwin has declared the midfield bull is at “100 per cent” fitness despite a fracture in his leg and heavily corked calf.
Tom McDonald was absent from Melbourne’s semi-final captain’s run this morning.
McDonald recently made a return from foot surgery to play in a VFL final, but may not have enough match conditioning to be selected for the Demons’ clash with the Lions.
McDonald is expected to train with the VFL squad, who will take to the track tomorrow.
Jacob Van Rooyen, Joel Smith and Toby Bedford were the three players training with the main group who weren’t selected in the starting 22 last week.
Christian Petracca trained with the main group, still sporting some strapping below his right knee.
Bayley Fritsch however ditched the strapping that was seen on his left knee at training on Monday, and was looking free of any lingering soreness that he suffered on game day against the Swans.
Jake Bowey, like McDonald, wasn’t with the main group and seems out of contention for a place in the lineup. He has been unsighted on the training track all week.
The Demons’ forward setup remains a curious case with uncertainty surrounding who plays out of McDonald, key position player Ben Brown and first-year player Jacob van Rooyen.
But one name he is adamant will be on the board is Petracca’s - and without any pain management required to get through the game.
“We’ll back our medical team in. He won’t need anything,” Goodwin said on Thursday morning.
“He’s fully fit. He’s ready to go.
“As we’ve said all along through the whole week, the pain management is around his corky, and making sure that’s right.
“He’s not the only player in the year so far that’s had a corky and has had to come up and play.
“He’ll be right to go. He won’t need any pain management. He certainly won’t need a Panadol. So we’ll just get on with the game.”
He said Petracca had surprised club staff with how he had advanced throughout the week after spending time in hospital last Friday night following the heavy knock to his leg against the Swans.
“He’s 100 per cent playing. He trained really well the other day at our main training session and he’ll train again today,” Goodwin said.
“We’re really confident in terms of how he is. He’s moving incredibly well and we’ve been really surprised with his progression throughout the week.
“He’s the type of competitor that you want. He wants to play in big games, big finals. It’s just a great opportunity for him to put himself on show with the adversity earlier in the week. He’s ready to go.”
McDonald has four weeks of training under his belt after foot surgery and has played one VFL game, and is “getting better every week”, according to Goodwin, who said van Rooyen was also pressing his claim.
Whether McDonald is selected to play will remain unknown until team selection on Thursday night.
“He’s giving us a bit of a selection headache about whether he’s ready to come in or not,” the coach said.
“We certainly won’t be releasing that today.
Goodwin said Charlie Spargo had progressed well throughout the week after a hit to his throat but should train fully today to take his place in the team.
Danger zone: Risks confronting Petracca with painkillers
Christian Petracca could be forced to rely on mere Panadol to ease the pain of a hairline fracture as well as a corked calf to get him through the cutthroat final against Brisbane.
Respected sports medico Dr Peter Larkins said the Demons would be unlikely to use pain killing injections on their midfield star given the substantial risk.
Larkins said an injection could be trialled in a secret training session, but it would come with significant danger.
“You’ve got to be pretty careful when you start talking about putting a pain block around an area where you’ve got to put weight through it on a leg,” Larkins said.
“You can put a lot of local anaesthetic around a muscle and make it go numb, but then it may paralyse.
“If you said ‘Can you give an injection to stop pain in the region?’ Absolutely you can, (but) you can’t feel it if something goes wrong, that’s the first point. Second point is it might create the muscle not being able to work, and it’s pretty hard to run around if your calf muscle’s not working.
“If he can’t feel the muscles down the outside of his leg, he may not be able to balance or change direction at all because that’s what the muscles do.”
Should the Demons elect to use oral medication instead of injections, Larkins said they wouldn’t have many options other than a standard Panadol tablet.
“There’s very limited medication that an AFL doctor can use for pain … so Panadol is the go to,” he said.
“To go to oral tablets that are stronger, they’d almost have to get permission from the AFL.”
Larkins said the decision to allow Petracca to take the field on the MCG, a week earlier than if Melbourne had won, could have ramifications for the Norm Smith medallist.
“Two weeks (off) makes a massive difference to pain, and the risk of the bone moving is a lot less in the second week than it is in the first week and Petracca is still in the first week,” he said.
Petracca was hampered in the qualifying final against Sydney following his injury, and Larkins said Brisbane could attempt to exploit his lack of agility on Friday night.
“It’s just common sense that they know that he’s perhaps not going to be as mobile and changing direction as much,” Larkins said.
“Brisbane are going to want to make sure that whoever is playing on Petracca is making him chase and run, and run off him as much as possible.”
Petracca said while the injury was “pretty sore”, he’s on track to retain his place in the side.
“The people who have corkies in the calf area, it’s sort of restricting underneath the knee which is sort of my running mechanism,” Petracca told AFL 360 on Tuesday night.
“It was pretty hard throughout the game, not going to lie it was quite tough, probably more just my change of direction type stuff.
“Thursday we got a captains run so I’ll try and you know tick a few boxes off there and probably more some contact stuff and some tackling, but yeah no I am a competitive person, I want to be out there.”
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