AFL teams: All the ins and outs for Round 15
Ruckman Sam Draper will play his first game since ANZAC Day, but the selection squeeze is well and truly on at Essendon. Plus, there’s good news for SuperCoaches. See the full round 15 teams.
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Essendon has regained Sam Draper but coach Brad Scott’s selection headache has culminated in the surprise omission of Will Setterfield against West Coast on Sunday.
Setterfield, who has struggled with knee issues this season, was squeezed out by the returns of Xavier Duursma (quad) and Mason Redman (hamstring) alongside Draper, who has not played since Anzac Day after undergoing knee surgery.
In-form recruit Jade Gresham will sit out the Eagles clash to deal with a personal matter, while former No. 5 pick Elijah Tsatas was dropped on Thursday.
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West Coast made four changes with veteran wingman Andrew Gaff axed for the second time this season along with Jai Culley and Harry Edwards, while Dom Sheed was sidelined by a hamstring injury.
Small forward Tyler Brockman has been named to play his seventh game for the Eagles after he was stood down last month following traffic charges from an incident in regional Western Australia in May.
The 21-year-old former Hawk is due to face court in Geraldton next month, but will return to the side along with spearhead Oscar Allen, Jayden Hunt and Josh Rotham.
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has not been afraid to make significant changes to his sides this season and dropped four players alongside injured leading goalkicker Ben King (knee) for the Suns’ trip to Perth to face Fremantle.
Brayden Fiorini was left out while pressure forward Nick Holman has also been dropped, with no room for Ned Moyle or Jed Walter as co-captain Jarrod Witts and foundation player Sam Day returned to the side.
Fremantle has regained important defender Heath Chapman for the Sunday afternoon clash but will be without Brandon Walker after he was withdrawn from the squad earlier on Friday due to illness.
Walker’s setback opened the door for Corey Wagner to return to the side at halfback, while teenage defender Hugh Davies will debut in place of the omitted Josh Draper.
Davies’ inclusion as a key back comes as the Dockers hope to recall Brennan Cox to the side by round 17.
The strong-marking defender will return from the serious hamstring injury he suffered in round 1 via Peel Thunder’s WAFL reserves side on Saturday.
‘PERFECT’ DEBUT WORTH THE WAIT FOR YOUNG GIANT
It’s the debut that’s been a long time coming for the Giants.
For weeks, Max Gruzewski has been on the cusp of finally playing in the AFL. A damaging forward on his day, the 19-year-old has kicked 22 goals in 10 VFL games this season and has consistently been one of the Giants’ best performers.
When Jesse Hogan was hit with a one-match suspension earlier this year, Gruzewski was set to finally get his chance on Anzac Day. The by-product of the club’s lawyers being successful in their challenge meant he had to bide his time once more.
But on one of the biggest occasions for the club this year, their home Sydney Derby against the Swans, Gruzewski will finally step out onto the biggest stage.
“You can’t really script it any better,” he said. “It’s probably the perfect game to debut in.
“Definitely there’s been frustrating moments. I think everyone wants to come in and play AFL straightaway and have that immediate impact, which hasn’t been the case for me.
“Obviously we started the year really well and the key forwards were playing well so you couldn’t really make a change. I just had to bide my time.
“But I think it’ll hold me in good stead for a long time having the longer stint in the VFL. I knew my chance would come eventually.”
Gruzewski was taken at pick 22 in the 2022 draft after impressing as a backman for Oakleigh Chargers. However, it was his work in school footy for Caulfield Grammar further up the field that caught the Giants’ attention.
They immediately pushed him into the forwards where he has received a baptism of fire training against elite defenders like Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley. It’s there where his marking has gone to the next level, and as an undersized key forward, it’s that facet of the game he hopes can shine in the AFL.
“This year, and last year as well, it’s been working on my forward craft,” Gruzewski said.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work with Laids (Jeremy Laidler – forwards coach), Moons (Cameron Mooney) has come up as well. Then Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene, those experienced forwards have helped out a lot.
“I think (marking) has always been my biggest strength throughout junior footy or for Oakleigh, then getting here as well, it’s something that I pride myself on. Being able to mark the ball at the highest point and taking contested marks, that’s what sets me apart.
“I did a lot of the pre-season playing on Sam Taylor, who is probably the best key back in the comp, so it doesn’t get much harder than that. Then at training every week you’re playing on Connor Idun, Leek Aleer, and Jack Buckley. It’s great preparation for the weekend … and it’s only going to set you up for success.”
It’s been a moment that Gruzewski has always wanted. His parents will be right there cheering him on, and had fortunately already organised a trip to Sydney for a Giants function.
But fulfilling a lifelong dream is one thing. Getting a win over the premiership favourites is another, and it’s clear he has no shortage of motivation to perform from game one.
“Everyone says it but it’s been a dream since I was a little kid to run around and play AFL,” he said. “For it to come true this weekend, it means the world.
“I called mum and dad before and they were super excited. They’ve been on the journey and rode the ups and downs.
“It probably would be a good scalp for us to take this weekend if we can, and really get out season going. It’s a very big challenge for us, but it’s super exciting.”
TIMELINE BECOMES CLEARER FOR MILLS’ RETURN
Swans captain Callum Mills is still at least a couple of weeks away from making his AFL return, but has taken significant steps this week as he looks to finally take the field again.
Mills hasn’t played a game since the Swans’ elimination final loss to Carlton last year after suffering a shoulder injury during the club’s Mad Monday celebrations.
While the rehabilitation for the serious rotator cuff tear progressed well, Mills has suffered a couple of other setbacks this year including calf and groin issues.
The 27-year-old commenced a full training block on Tuesday, where he was seen launching into tackling pads and participating in a main session.
While he confirmed he’s not even close to being ready for this week’s game against the Giants, Mills didn’t give an exact suggestion of when he would get to play his first game as the club’s sole captain.
“I won’t be available this week but things are going well,” Mills said. “I am training fully. I’m going to have a bit of a training block and reassess after a few weeks.
“My shoulder’s been sweet, been doing that for a while now so I don’t have any dramas.
“You’d love to be out there as much as possible. But from the club’s perspective, we’re in a good spot. We’re playing pretty good footy but we’ve also got even more improvement in us which we’re really looking forward to.”
Mills’ impending return is set to cause a welcome headache for coach John Longmire who will have to plan for how to fit the All-Australian midfielder into the side.
Club veteran Luke Parker has already found out the hard way that no spot is guaranteed, spending multiple weeks in the VFL because Longmire was reluctant to make changes. Taylor Adams also had to start in the reserves before eventually being called up to the AFL side.
The Swans’ current centre bounce set-up is Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and James Rowbottom alongside Brodie Grundy. While Adams, Errol Gulden, James Jordon and Justin McInerney have all been able to rotate through the wings and stoppages with ease.
It means Mills’ most likely position is set to be off half back, a position he is familiar with after playing there in the early years of his career.
However, he said that conversation is still a few weeks away with Longmire wanting to ensure he gets through the training block before talking about reintegration.
“We haven’t spoken about that actually. We just want to get the training under my belt and we’ll reassess where the team is at and where I’m at at that stage,” Mills said.
One of the next priorities for the club will be keeping the core of their side together. Robbie Fox re-signed for another year earlier this week, with Logan McDonald and Harry Cunningham the other two main players still off-contract at the end of the season.
However, Warner continues to command speculation following links with a return to his home state with Fremantle.
The 23-year-old doesn’t come off contract until the end of 2025, but put off negotiations earlier this year. Swans CEO Tom Harley confirmed there were no other updates on the barnstorming midfielder’s future.
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