AFL 2024: All the selection, injury questions facing the teams who didn’t play in opening round

With opening round in the can, attention turns to round 1, particularly for the teams who haven’t yet featured. So who plays? JOSH BARNES has all the selection queries.

St Kilda is sweating on the fitness of defender Jack Sinclair. Picture: Michael Klein.

They have been sitting, waiting and watching over opening round, but this weekend the other 10 teams in the AFL finally get their seasons underway.

Leading into the season start for the remaining sides, a number of injury and selection questions hover over the week.

Will Sam Draper play for Essendon?

Does Caleb Daniel fit in, and will he be alongside Jack Macrae in the Bulldogs midfield?

The Crows have to replace Riley Thilthorpe and Fremantle has a handful of key players hoping to be fit to go.

Here what each club is facing leading into round 1.

Taylor Walker is expected to recover from a back spasm in time for round one. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images)

ADELAIDE

Round 1: v Gold Coast at HBS, Saturday, 8.10pm

Injury concerns: Mark Keane should be ready for round 1, assuming he clears concussion protocols. Rory Sloane (eye) remains a couple weeks away, while Riley Thilthorpe (knee) will not feature until midway through the season. Veteran Taylor Walker missed training on Friday with a back spasm but should be fine.

Selection questions: Does Chris Burgess come straight into calculations to replace Thilthorpe? He has a super VFL record playing with Gold Coast in recent years, having bagged 61 majors last year and 63 in 2022.

Does Sam Draper play in round 1 against Hawthorn after a summer returning from a groin injury? Picture: Michael Klein

ESSENDON

Round 1: v Hawthorn at MCG, Saturday, 1.45pm

Injury concerns: Ruck Sam Draper was due to play in the VFL on Friday to push his claim for round 1 after a summer returning from groin surgery. Ben Hobbs (shoulder) also staked a claim. Darcy Parish (hamstring) is in doubt which would be a major blow after such a promising pre-season. Jake Kelly (hamstring) will spend next week proving his fitness. Jordan Ridley (quad) is out, while Dylan Shiel (foot) has almost hit full fitness.

Selection questions: Which way the Dons go in the ruck will be fascinating. Brad Scott generally plays two rucks but neither Todd Goldstein or Draper have shown much as forwards. Nick Bryan saw some minutes in the ruck in the last pre-season game against Geelong. Former skipper Dyson Heppell may be pegged to drop into defence to cover Ridley. Draftee Nate Caddy looks like he will be forced to bide his time.

FREMANTLE

Round 1: v Brisbane Lions at Optus, Sunday, 6.50pm

Injury concerns: Fremantle is confident Luke Jackson (concussion), Michael Frederick (hamstring), Jye Amiss (corked leg) and Brennan Cox (leg) will all be fit for round 1. Sean Darcy and Nathan O’Driscoll both had minor knee surgeries this week and will miss the opening rounds.

Selection questions: Cox may tip Oscar McDonald out down back, while Patrick Voss’ impressive showing as a forward in the club’s final pre-season game has surely thrust the forward into a selection battle with Matt Taberner and Josh Treacy, who were both quiet in that match.

Will Shannon Neale partner Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron in attack for the Cats? Picture: Michael Klein

GEELONG

Round 1: v St Kilda at GMHBA, Saturday, 7.30pm

Injury concerns: Forward Gary Rohan is unlikely to play round 1 due to a back complaint. Cam Guthrie (quad) will miss the opening two months of the season.

Selection questions: Shannon Neale has played heavy minutes during Geelong’s pre-season, indicating the Cats aren’t worried about being too tall in attack if he plays alongside Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins in the forward half. Youngster Jhye Clark looks set to play big midfield time, while Rhys Stanley is likely to start in the ruck ahead of Toby Conway.

HAWTHORN

Round 1: v Essendon at MCG, Saturday, 1.45pm

Injury concerns: Having just moved past a bout of glandular fever, vice-captain Dylan Moore is firmly on track to face the Bombers in round 1. He will still have to get through training but the half-forward has done everything right so far. Each of Josh Weddle, Jack Gunston and Harry Morrison were rested from the club’s final pre-season game but they are right to go.

Selection questions: Summer signing Ethan Phillips is closing in on a round 1 debut as Hawthorn looks to combat Essendon’s talls. With the Bombers likely to field Peter Wright, Harry Jones and potentially two rucks, the 196cm Phillips may be in line to play alongside James Sicily and Sam Frost in a Hawthorn backline that is missing James Blanck (knee) and Denver Grainger-Barras (toe).

NORTH MELBOURNE

Round 1: v GWS Giants at Engie, Saturday, 4,35pm

Injury concerns: Each of Aidan Corr (knee), Luke McDonald (hamstring), Eddie Ford (ankle) and Charlie Comben (foot) played in the VFL last week and had to get through more minutes on Saturday to put their hands up for round 1. Hugh Greenwood (ankle) is good to go. The Roos have wiped most of their injury list, with Jackson Archer (groin) also set to play some VFL time.

Selection questions: Where McDonald fits in the backline is an open question. The reliable co-captain is behind the likes of Zac Fisher, Harry Sheezel and Colby McKercher given their run and carry, but the depleted backline needs experience. Comben had been groomed all summer to play a key back role but Toby Pink and Bigoa Nyuon performed reasonably well over the two practice matches.

Zak Butters is expected to be right to go after a pre-season ankle injury. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

PORT ADELAIDE

Round 1: v West Coast at AO, Sunday, 4pm

Injury concerns: Few worries for the Power heading into round 1. Zak Butters (ankle) will be right, while depth ruck Dante Visentini (concussion) is recovering well. Josh Sinn (knee) had to get through training on the weekend.

Selection questions: Ken Hinkley will be debating how he lines up with his tall forwards. Jordon Sweet and Ollie Lord played minor minutes in the team’s last pre-season hitout, with the forward line built around Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall. Jackson Mead has staked a claim in the midfield.

ST KILDA

Round 1: v Geelong at GMHBA, Saturday, 7.30pm

Injury concerns: Dual best-and-fairest winner Jack Sinclair remains touch-and-go to face Geelong and will need to get through training next week after a calf issue. Marcus Windhager is in the same boat after a hand injury. Young star Mattaes Phillipou should be good to go despite recent hip soreness.

Selection questions: The Saints look settled on playing a forward half that includes Tim Membrey, Max King and Mitch Owens as targets, leaving Anthony Caminiti on the outer. With Jimmy Webster suspended, Riley Bonner will surely play.

Caleb Daniel’s place in the Dogs’ team has been in doubt and he only came on late in the final pre-season hitout. Picture: Michael Klein

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Round 1: v Melbourne at MCG, Sunday, 1pm

Injury concerns: Midfielder Jack Macrae got through managed VFL minutes last week but whether he is match fit for a full AFL game come round 1 is still up in the air. He has moved past his hamstring soreness but hasn’t played a full game yet over summer so will be debated at selection. Tall defender James O’Donnell (ankle) had a chance to prove himself in the VFL on Saturday. Bailey Dale (hamstring) needs to get through training next week, while Laitham Vandermeer (concussion) will clear his 12 days by round 1 if all goes to plan.

Selection questions: Rory Lobb has been in front of Sam Darcy through the pre-season games for the role of second ruck and tall forward. Lobb didn’t get too much of it in the final pre-season game but the Dogs forward booted 17 goals between them. Darcy, meanwhile, was arguably Footscray’s best in a VFL clash and bagged four goals. It is a selection headache that will remain all season. Caleb Daniel’s place in the team has been in doubt and he only came on late in the final pre-season hitout.

WEST COAST

Round 1: v Port Adelaide at AO, Sunday, 4pm

Injury concerns: Recruit Tyler Brockman (knee) trained fully early in the week and is on track to be available for round 1. Oscar Allen (knee soreness) will play, and Reuben Ginbey (concussion) should be fit. Draftee Clay Hall (ankle) could also be available.

Selection questions: Bailey Williams battled against Reilly O’Brien in the final pre-season hitout when played in the ruck, with Coen Livingstone and Harry Barnett also given minutes. Williams was planning a move forward this year before Matt Flynn (hamstring) went down so the Eagles may look to play two rucks.

Originally published as AFL 2024: All the selection, injury questions facing the teams who didn’t play in opening round