AFL injury list Round 5: Will Phil Davis be fit for Buddy, Neville Jetta, Jarryn Geary face long injury layoffs
GWS star Phil Davis is racing the clock to be fit for another epic showdown with Swans nemesis Lance Franklin, but Melbourne has been dealt a blow with gun defender Neville Jetta facing a long injury layoff. ROUND 5 INJURIES
Lions
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Phil Davis is racing the clock to be passed fit for another epic showdown with Swans nemesis Lance Franklin.
The GWS captain is working furiously to reduce swelling in his rolled left ankle, with the balance of power in the Sydney derby potentially hinging on the influential defender’s ability to get on the park.
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Davis kept Franklin goalless in the Giants’ 79-30 decimation of the Swans in last year’s finals series.
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There’s also no love lost between the pair after Davis accused Franklin of deliberately shoving him into a contest during a late-season game last year, resulting in injury, and then of repeating the treatment in the playoffs.
Davis rolled his ankle in the Giants’ loss to Fremantle last Saturday and is no certainty for this weekend’s SCG derby blockbuster as he continues to ice the area around the clock.
Already without Callan Ward, GWS will be desperate for their leader to be on deck; not least of all for the job he is capable of doing on Swans linchpin Franklin, who is fresh from four goals against Richmond.
“It’s too early to tell. He doesn’t have any major breaks or structural damage which is good, he’s just going to be sore for a bit,” said Giants’ football boss, Wayne Campbell.
“I think the next 48 hours will tell us a fair picture. Sometimes they (rolled ankles) can come good quickly, sometimes they can just linger. It’ll just depend on how that plays out.
“It’ll just be whether he is pain free enough and whether he can move around. He’s certainly better than he was (on Sunday) but it’s a bit too early to tell.”
The Giants have Aidan Corr as a standby option to replace Davis, with the defender now boasting three solid hit-outs in the NEAFL to start the year.
Corr’s size and speed around the ground would assist him if he was required to go on Franklin.
Another option to mark Franklin if Davis is ruled out, would be to shift Matt Buntine from the forward line down back.
Toby Greene is a certain starter up forward for the Giants provided he gets through training following a month out.
Fresh off a fourth loss for the season against St Kilda on Saturday, Melbourne has been dealt more bad news with defender Neville Jetta set to have knee surgery which will see sidelined for at least two months.
Jetta, 29, suffered a “significant tear in his lateral meniscus” during the second quarter of his side’s 40-point loss to the Saints and will have surgery on Tuesday.
“We expect Neville to miss an extended period of time – most likely eight to 10 weeks,” Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.
“This is unfortunate for Neville and the backline, but it provides an opportunity for some other guys to step up, and he will continue to lead from the sidelines.”
Meanwhile, finding a way to squeeze a star forward back into the team is a welcome headache for Carlton and Richmond coaches this week.
St Kilda has a bigger problem with captain Jarryn Geary facing more than a month out of the game after surgery overnight to release pressure in his leg.
He suffered the heavy knock in a bone-rattling collision with Melbourne’s Jayden Hunt in Saturday’s 40-point win at the MCG.
Hunt was charging towards goal in the third quarter when Geary left his man and cannoned into the Demons speedster, forcing a rushed behind.
Geary felt fine immediately after the game, but reported to St Kilda doctors later in the night that he was suffering severe pain from bleeding in the muscle in his leg.
He was taken to hospital where doctors elected to operate to relieve the pressure.
The emergency operation for the warrior-type backman was done to avoid possible onset of compartment syndrome.
Compartment syndrome is a condition in which increased pressure within one of the body’s anatomical compartments results in insufficient blood supply to tissue.
Jarryn Geary could miss up to five weeks after a corkie was sliced open in hospital on Saturday night. Corkie happened in the third quarter and he played out the game. #toughbastard @superfooty
— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) April 21, 2019
St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary underwent surgery overnight after receiving a corked thigh in this passage of play: https://t.co/6WDnI7q9fe pic.twitter.com/WA0MZ3fdEf
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) April 21, 2019
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said Geary would spend most of the week in hospital after being “sliced open”.
“Unfortunately, he has ended up in hospital ... a lot of pressure from the leg so they have had to slice him open just to relieve the pressure,’’ Richardson said on the Sunday Footy Show.
“He’s probably going to be in hospital for a week and he won’t play for a while.”
Richardson praised Geary’s act as an inspiration for his teammates.
“That was going to be a certain goal to the Demons,’’ Richardson said.
“Gears, as we want to do, has left his man and just made body contact.
“That’s Geary. He’s an inspirational leader. His teammates love him, we all love him.
“He continues to put his body on the line for his football club and his teammates.”
See every club’s injuries and analysis below.
ADELAIDE
Adelaide will have to find a replacement for star playmaker Wayne Milera for Saturday’s clash against high-flying St Kilda in Melbourne.
Milera hurt the AC Joint in his left shoulder just prior to halftime of the Crows’ commanding 73-point round five win against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval and will be sent for scans on Monday.
Coach Don Pyke described the injury as “relatively serious” and expects speedy midfielder/half-back Milera to miss between four and six weeks.
Adelaide, which snapped a two-game losing streak by crushing the Suns, has a lengthy injury list.
Lead ruckman Sam Jacobs, key defender Tom Doedee, wingman Paul Seedsman, small defender Luke Brown and veteran midfielder Richard Douglas are currently out of its best side.
Several players shone in the Crows’ SANFL draw with South Adelaide to put their hands up for AFL selection. These included midfielders Myles Poholke (30 disposals, eight marks,
five clearances, four goals) and Patrick Wilson (33 disposals, nine clearances, seven inside 50s) and small forward Tyson Stengle (14 disposals, three goals).
Dumped key forward Josh Jenkins struggled in the windy conditions withjust 11 disposals and no goals.
Speedy small forward Chayce Jones is expected to be available after missing the Gold Coast match with concussion.
— Andrew Capel
INJURIES
Sam Jacobs (knee) 3-5 weeks
Wayne Milera (AC Joint) TBC
Luke Brown (ankle) 2-3 weeks
Paul Seedsman (knee) 2-5 weeks
Richard Douglas (ankle) 5 weeks
Tom Doedee (knee) season
Chayce Jones (concussion) test
Ned McHenry (concussion) test
Shane McAdam (calf) 1 week
Andrew McPherson (hamstring) test
BRISBANE LIONS
You didn’t have to be in the Lions’ rooms on Thursday night to get a gauge on how unhappy the players were with how their rare blockbuster match against Collingwood panned out, all you needed was an Instagram or Twitter account. Several players took the unusual step of apologising for the performance.
Brisbane had a full house at the Gabba and they fluffed it. They will now be determined for redemption in the Q Clash against the Suns but are likely to have to do it without Harris Andrews and Rhys Mathieson who suffered hamstring injuries.
Scans won’t be done until Monday but they are long odds to play. Chris Fagan wants to drop players also to send a message but may have his hands tied with two forced changes. Brisbane won in the NEAFL and there were plenty of AFL listed players among the big ball winners so there are players knocking on the door.
— Andrew Hamilton
Can cop a beating and bounce back. For the Lions to lose Harris Andrews just a huge blow. There is a chance Marcus Adams might need another arthroscope on his knee after earlier surgery. Pulled up sore after ramping up his training
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) April 18, 2019
INJURIES
Marcus Adams (knee) 1-2
Brandon Starcevich (hamstring) 3-4
Zac Bailey (hamstring) 3-4
Harris Andrews (hamstring) scan
Rhys Mathieson (hamstring) scan
CARLTON
Mercurial goalkicker Charlie Curnow should return against Hawthorn. Curnow knocked his knee at training on Thursday and stirred up some bone bruising, although who he replaces is a legitimate question.
Late inclusion Levi Casboult bombed through three goals against the Dogs and Jack Silvagni showed glimpses in his first game for the season.
Matt Kennedy and Liam Stocker shared 41 disposals in the VFL although weren’t named in the best. Hard to see many changes to a winning line-up.
- Sam Landsberger
INJURIES
Will Setterfield (suspension) 1 week
Charlie Curnow (knee) test
David Cuningham (bruised kidney) test
Tom De Koning (knee) 5-6 weeks
Sam Docherty (knee) indefinite
Jarrod Pickett (knee) indefinite
COLLINGWOOD
A big win against the Lions has the Pies primed for Anzac Day, with James Aish’s concussion the only injury concern. He will be monitored during the week.
Forgotten Pie Daniel Wells is pushing his case for a senior recall in the coming weeks after another strong performance in Collingwood’s VFL loss to the Northern Blues on Saturday.
Wells kicked two goals in the Magpies’ three-point loss, as well as setting up a number of scoring assists, including a late goal to Tim Broomhead.
Broomhead finished the game with three goals, including two in the final term.
Wells was named in the Collingwood best players, as was Rupert Wills and Ben Reid, who kicked a goal.
The former Kangaroos hasn’t played a senior AFL game since Queen’s Birthday last year when he suffered a Lisfranc injury in his left foot.
Yesterday was his second game back in the VFL this year.
Nathan Buckley might need the 34-year-old to put together a longer stretch of VFL games before he is recalled.
- Glenn McFarlane
INJURIES
James Aish (concussion) test
Chris Mayne (bruising) TBC
Lynden Dunn (knee) indefinite
Will Hoskin-Elliott (knee) TBC
Will Kelly (ankle) TBC
Nathan Murphy (ankle) TBC
Matt Scharenberg (knee) 5-6 weeks
ESSENDON
If there was still any lingering doubt, there isn’t now. The Bombers are back and building momentum heading into what shapes as one of the biggest Anzac Day clashes in recent years against Collingwood.
Essendon heads into the clash on the back of a 58-point thumping of North Melbourne, a third win on the trot after taking down Brisbane (47 points) and Melbourne (18 points) the previous two weeks.
Bombers coach John Worsfold said post-game on Friday that he was “really confident” midfielder David Zaharakis would return to take on the Magpies, despite failing a late fitness test on Friday morning following an infected cut on his knee which disrupted his training during the week.
Fellow onballer Devon Smith is also set to return after being managed and missing the clash with the Kangaroos.
And key forward Joe Daniher got through his first AFL game in 349 days against the Kangaroos in a positive sign, kicking two goals.
— Chris Cavanagh
INJURIES
Devon Smith (knee), test
David Zaharakis (knee) test
Shaun McKernan (hamstring) 6-7 weeks
Kobe Mutch (hamstring) 10-12 weeks
James Stewart (groin) 1-2 weeks
FREMANTLE
Is it time to start taking the Dockers seriously as a finals contender?
Fremantle sits third with three wins, its two defeats were by a total of 15 points, and this was by far the Dockers’ biggest scalp. With games against the Bulldogs (home) and Crows (away) to come, they are unlikely to drop out of the eight any time soon.
They will have something extra to play for next weekend, too, with David Mundy set to run out for game 300, becoming just the second Docker to crack the milestone after Matthew Pavlich.
The one likely change for that game is the return of Cam McCarthy, who pulled out yesterday with illness.
Hayden Ballantyne kicked one goal from six kicks in the WAFL in his return from injury, while Lachie Shultz whent goalless in Peel Thunder’s 12-point win against East Fremantle after being dropped.
The standout was Bailey Banfield (31 disposals, two goals) while Brett Bewley gave hope to SuperCoach players with 29 touches and Tom North (27) continues to push his case.
- Al Paton
INJURIES
Cam McCarthy (ill) TBC
Brennan Cox (left) TBC
Harley Bennell (calf) TBC
Connor Blakely (hamstring) 1 week
Hugh Dixon (plantaris tendon) test
Stephen Hill (quad) 6 weeks
Shane Kersten (foot) TBC
Griffin Logue (hamstring) 1 week
Aaron Sandilands (calf) TBC
GEELONG
The Cats climbed back to the top of the ladder after their comfortable win over Hawthorn and could regain regain gun defender Zach Tuohy for Sunday’s clash against reigning premier West Coast in Geelong.
But the win over the Hawks did come at a cost with Brandon Parfitt hurting his quad early in the match and and is in doubt to take on the Eagles.
And they will also sweat on the match review officer’s assessment of Tom Hawkins behind-the-play hit on James Sicily.
INJURIES
Jed Bews (groin) 2 weeks
Nakia Cockatoo (knee) indefinite
Jordan Cunico (ankle) 11-13 weeks
Lachie Fogarty (hip) 2 weeks
Lachie Henderson (plantar fascia) 1-2 weeks
Brandon Parfitt (quad) TBC
Scott Selwood (hamstring) 1 week
Zach Tuohy (knee) test
GOLD COAST
The Suns travelled to Adelaide full of confidence after a 3-1 start to the season but were comprehensively beaten by a vulnerable Crows side.
Gold Coast started strongly in a scrappy opening quarter but were outplayed from there, conceding 17 goals to six for the rest of the match.
On the selection front, Chris Burgess is the most likely Sun to be dumped for the Q-Clash after winning just two disposals for the match. The mature-age swingman is running out of chances, after finishing with six touches in Round 4. Jesse Joyce (12 disposals) and Jack Lukosius (10 and a goal) may be pushed out but the Suns appear likely to persist with the pair — particularly the latter.
In the twos, Aaron Young put his hand up for a recall collecting 38 touches and booting a goal in a dominant display. Veteran Michael Rischitelli was named among the best players in the NEAFL Suns’ 38-point loss to GWS, along with young midfielders Brad Scheer and Josh Schoenfeld.
Forward Josh Corbett – signed to the club via the special assistance provided by the AFL commission – has played two NEAFL games after returning from injury and may also come into calculations, along with the young talent Callum Ah Chee.
Will Powell (concussion) could also be recalled after spending a week on the sidelines.
- Dan Batten
INJURIES
Will Powell (concussion) TBC
Sean Lemmens (ankle) 1-2 weeks
Brayden Crossley (hamstring) 1-2 weeks
Izak Rankine (hamstring) 2-3 weeks
Lachie Weller (hamstring) 3-4 weeks
Corey Ellis (ankle) 3-4 weeks)
Harrison Wigg (knee) season
Rory Thompson (knee) season
GWS GIANTS
The Giants’ yo-yo season continued, backing up a huge upset in Geelong with a flat performance on their home “fortress” in Canberra. The loss was compounded by a late ankle injury to Phil Davis, who limped off after landing horribly in a marking contest.
Coach Leon Cameron was confident his co-captain be available to play against Sydney next Saturday: “We think it’s only a rolled ankle, we’ll see how it goes. We’ll find out in the next 48 hours.”
Cameron defended his decision to send master tagger Matt De Boer to Bradley Hill, letting Nat Fyfe off the leash.
“I thought De Boer did a really good job on Hill and you can’t tag them all ... sometimes you win some of those, sometimes you lose some of those but I don’t think that match-up was the difference.”
Who will De Boer target against the Swans? Isaac Heeney might be in the gun.
One major positive was first-gamer Jackson Hateley who had 22 disposals — put him on the SuperCoach watch list for game two. Academy graduate Zach Sproule was the standout in the Giants’ NEAFL win against Gold Coast with five goals.
- Al Paton
INJURIES
Phil Davis (ankle) TBC
Brett Deledio (calf) TBC
Toby Greene (calf) 1 week
Zac Langdon (foot) 1-2 weeks
Jonathon Patton (knee) TBC
Harry Perryman (lung) TBC
Tommy Sheridan (calf) 2-3 weeks
Callan Ward (knee) season
HAWTHORN
Hawthorn is now 2-3 and face a resurgent Carlton next week in Launceston.
The Hawks ruled out Ben Stratton with concussion before their loss to Geelong but coach Alastair Clarkson was optimistic he will return against the Blues.
Liam Shiels should be ready to return after a Round 2 hamstring injury, while Shaun Burgoyne will also push to play after his own hamstring strain.
INJURIES
Grant Birchall (calf/knee) indefinite
Shaun Burgoyne (hamstring) test
James Frawley (hamstring) 2 weeks
Darren Minchington (hamstring) test
Tom Mitchell (broken leg) indefinite
Tim Mohr (dislocated knee/ACL) season
Ryan Schoenmakers (achilles) TBC
Liam Shiels (hamstring) test
Ben Stratton (concussion) Test
Mathew Walker (knee) test
MELBOURNE
The Dees’ season is on the line after a dreadful display on the hallowed MCG turf against St Kilda. A must-win game awaits them in their blockbuster Anzac Day eve clash off just a four-day break.
Many Dees will be nervous, with several players in the gun.
Tom McDonald continued his poor start to the season and has booted just two goals in five games. Veteran Jordan Lewis didn’t look 100 per cent in his return from injury, managing just 13 touches, and may be rested with the quick turnaround.
Corey Wagner won only six disposals to go with six tackles, while forwards Charlie Spargo (11 disposals), Jayden Hunt (13) and Sam Weideman (12) will be others in the firing line.
Making matters worse, Casey was beaten by a team of 18-year-olds on Saturday.
Admittedly, a talented bunch of them.
The AFL Academy side were a class above Casey, but a number of Dees players were on reduced minutes ahead of Wednesday night.
Jeff Garlett, Tim Smith, Billy Stretch and Declan Keilty were managed in Casey’s 23-point-loss, with all a chance to come in. Garlett looms as the most likely inclusion.
Omitted forward Alex Neal-Bullen may also be in line for a return despite playing out the full game on Saturday.
— Dan Batten
INJURIES
Jay Lockhart (back) test
Kade Kolodjashnij (injury) test
Neville Jetta (knee) 8-10 weeks
Steven May (groin) 2-3 weeks
Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) 3-4 weeks
Joel Smith (groin) 5 weeks
Mitch Hannan (knee) 5 weeks
Jay Kennedy-Harris (leg) 9 weeks
Guy Walker (shoulder) indefinite
Overrun in the last quarter to go down by 23 points! Under 18s side too good on the G | 📸: @natural_light_photo_ #caseydemons #caseyfc #vfl pic.twitter.com/P4p2Qq0nhu
— Casey Demons (@CaseyDemonsFC) April 20, 2019
NORTH MELBOURNE
Tarryn Thomas is likely to return for the Kangaroos’ Friday night clash with Port Adelaide, as coach Brad Scott expressed his intention of putting more time into the club’s next generation of players.
Thomas was rested for the Good Friday clash with Essendon, but his energy and spark could assist the club against the Power.
The Kangaroos could also consider Nathan Hrovat after his 28 disposal performance for the VFL side in their loss to the Bombers on Saturday, continuing his rich vein of form in the state league.
The club will regain Luke McDonald from suspension for Friday night’s trip to the Adelaide Oval.
Paul Ahern, who has been back for two weeks, could only muster nine disposals against Essendon, and will be under pressure to keep his spot.
Bailey Scott had only 11 disposals in the Good Friday game. The club will have to balance the need to make changes to a side that was not competitive this week, with the desire to keep getting more game time into its kids.
— Glenn McFarlane
INJURIES
Majak Daw (pelvis/hip) indefinite
Sam Durdin (finger) test
Ben Jacobs (head/neck) indefinite
Tom McKenzie (back) test
Tom Murphy (ankle) TBC
Ed Vickers-Willis (knee) season
Will Walker (PCL) indefinite
Marley Williams (ankle) test
Tristan Xerri (osteitis pubis) test
PORT ADELAIDE
After stunning the AFL premiers — and ending their long-running torment at the hands of West Coast — Port Adelaide has proven its new game plan and the manic “dirty footy” its players have adopted can stand up to any big-time rival.
At 3-2, the Power is well placed to start making a move to cement a spot in the top eight.
But the subdued tone of coach Ken Hinkley tells a story at Alberton.
He — along with many others — have tired of the Power winning the improbable and then slipping up against lowly ranked rivals in matches Port Adelaide is expected to win. And that is the script this week in the Anzac Round.
Port Adelaide plays lowly-ranked North Melbourne (1-4) at Adelaide Oval on Friday night when it will start as favourite and be expected to win.
Midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper did not finish the game against the Eagles after taking a knock to a calf.
He is expected to be available for selection against the Kangaroos.
It will be difficult for Hinkley to change his 22 to make way for Geelong recruit Steven Motlop who was dropped from the West Coast line-up.
Certainly there is no reason to dismiss any of the four first-year players — Connor Rozee, Willem Drew, Xavier Duursma and Zac Butters — who are giving new energy to the Port Adelaide game.
So it should be “unchanged” at selection — but Hinkley is hoping for a change in the script that has Port Adelaide stumble in the games it is expected to win.
— Michelangelo Rucci
INJURIES
Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) TBC
Karl Amon (knee) 1 week
Sam Hayes (knee) 3-5 weeks
Charlie Dixon (leg) TBC
Jack Watts (leg) Season
Jake Patmore (knee) season
RICHMOND
Richmond is in for a four-day weekend, though not the kind many across are enjoying across Australia this week.
There’ll be no chocolate eggs or camping trips away with mates - these Tigers mean business and recovery will be the strict agenda over the next few days with the beach, sleep and nutrition set to be key pillars.
One who staked his claim on Saturday at Punt Rd is forward Jack Riewoldt, who coach Damien Hardwick says is “highly likely” to return against the Demons on Wednesday night, but who makes way?
Until three-quarter time, you’d have said perhaps it was time to give Noah Balta a rest, but then he turned on that final term. Wouldn’t think it will be a case of any player being dropped due to performance after that showing, with the fleet of Shai Bolton, Jason Castagna and Kane Lambert all delivering, so it will be more about match-ups and who could do with a break.
“We’ve dealt with shorter breaks before and we’ve always played really well, so it’s a positive mindset from us,” Hardwick said.
“We’re really looking forward to the challenge. The Demons will come hard and they’ll be disappointed with their result today. We understand what a proud club they are, but I’m really confident our boys will come too and play the brand of footy Richmond people want to see, so we look forward to that challenge.”
Skipper Trent Cotchin remains another week away with that hamstring, while Richmond’s VFL team has a bye this week.
INJURIES
Oleg Markov (knee) 6-8 weeks
Shaun Grigg (knee) indefinite
Alex Rance (knee) season? Although after this week’s news, maybe sooner
Jack Riewoldt (wrist) test
Trent Cotchin (hamstring) 1 week
Jayden Short (elbow) 6-8 weeks
ST KILDA
Captain Jarryn Geary’s weekend surgery could pave the way for axed midfielder Hunter Clark to earn a recall for Saturday’s clash against Adelaide.
Clark lined up in in the VFL on Sunday and showed he was a class above in Sandringham’s 24-point victory over Williamstown.
He was the Zebras’ leading possession-winner with an equal game-high 28 touches and completed his day with a neat running goal in the final term.
“I thought some of his inside stuff was outstanding as an inside mid and his transition was really evident pre and post stoppage,” Sandringham coach Aaron Hamill said.
“Clearly there’ll be (selection) discussion around Hunter and a number of players.”
Mature-age draft pick Nick Hind kept himself in contention for an AFL debut with another 20-disposal effort off half-back after amassing 41 touches in Round 2.
Hind, 24, was playing for East Point in the Ballarat Football League as recently as August 2016 but could be on the verge of a call-up.
“I thought he got a good balance about when to attack, when to defend,” Hamill said.
“His working really well for us at the moment and he’ll press for selection as a number of the boys will.”
Brandon White also stood tall in defence with 26 touches and seven marks.
- Toby Prime
INJURIES
Jarryn Geary (leg) 4-6 weeks
Jack Bytel (back) season
Jake Carlisle (back) indefinite
Oscar Clavarino (ankle) 1-2 weeks
Dan Hannebery (hamstring/calf) indefinite
Max King (knee) 4-5 weeks
Paddy McCartin (concussion) TBC
Daniel McKenzie (concussion) test
Lewis Pierce (concussion) test
Dylan Roberton (heart) season
Logan Austin (shoulder) indefinite
Ben Long (corked thigh) test
SYDNEY
Sydney coach John Longmire is still holding hope his side can turn around its fortunes and its season, as they have done so before.
The Swans came back from a 0-6 start to play finals in 2017, but that was with a different side than Longmire has now.
Sydney finds itself 1-4, its only win having come over a struggling Carlton.
And the immediate outlook does not look great, a clash with Greater Western Sydney next up.
The Swans’ inability to score remains their biggest problem.
It still appears to be Buddy Franklin or bust when it comes to avenues to goal.
Sydney kicked 10 goals against Richmond on Saturday night – four came from Franklin, with Isaac Heeney (two goals) the only other multiple goalkicker.
The Swans have kicked 12 or more goals in just three of 15 games dating back to Round 14 last year and hold a 5-10 record from those matches.
There are plenty of concerns, and plenty of challenges, facing Longmire and his coaching team.
It’s hard to see a 2017-style turnaround coming this year.
INJURIES
Jarrad McVeigh (quad) 5-7 weeks
Will Hayward (jaw) 3-5 weeks
Heath Grundy (back) 1-2 weeks
Jack Maibaum (knee) season
Daniel Menzel (groin) 1 week
Sam Naismith (knee) TBC
Nick Smith (hamstring) TBC
Durak Tucker (knee) indefinite
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WEST COAST
Adam Simpson was as stunned as the rest of us at what happened at Optus Stadium on Friday night. “Where do I start really in terms of what we need to work on?,” he said.
Being “out-hunted” from the opening minutes and smashed 71-38 in the inside-50 count would be two places to start.
The Eagles just had a shocker — well into the third quarter they had just two goals on the board — with a breakout game from Jack Petruccelle the only positive.
“We’ve just come off winning three in a row, we’re 3-2, so we’re not in dire straits, but we’ve got some work to do, obviously,” Simpson said.
The loss knocked the Eagles out of the eight and with arguably the toughest road trip in footy to come — a trip to Geelong to face the Cats next Sunday. After that the draw gets a bit easier, at least on paper (but what’s that worth this season?) with fixtures against Gold Coast and St Kilda.
At least they got through the Port game without any injuries.
Young forwards Jarrod Brander (23 disposals, two goals) and Matthew Allen (21 disposals, eight marks) in the WAFL.
- Al Paton
INJURIES
Nic Naitanui (knee (indefinite)
Willie Rioli (foot) 5 weeks
Francis Watson (personal) TBC
WESTERN BULLDOGS
It was an untimely bye for Footscray in the VFL given Luke Beveridge will surely look to make changes after a 44-point loss to Carlton.
Does Josh Schache come back in without playing a VFL game? What about Pat Lipinski and Lin Jong?
If Jackson Trengove can’t make the trip to Perth to take on Fremantle you have to wonder where the man brought in on about $1.5 million over three years is at.
Tim English was better in the ruck against Matthew Kreuzer, but the versatile Trengove has more positions than just the ruck.
— Sam Landsberger
INJURIES
Matthew Suckling TBC
Taylor Duryea TBC
Ben Cavarra (ribs) 1-2 weeks
Fergus Greene (ankle) TBC
Buku Khamis (knee) 1 week
Dale Morris (knee) indefinite
Laitham Vandermeer (hamstring) 1-2 weeks
Originally published as AFL injury list Round 5: Will Phil Davis be fit for Buddy, Neville Jetta, Jarryn Geary face long injury layoffs
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