AFL injury list: Who’s hot and who’s hurt after week one of finals
GWS has confirmed Josh Kelly tore the meniscus in his knee against the Swans, but hasn’t ruled out a remarkable recovery in time to face Collingwood. Every finals team’s injury list.
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GWS hasn’t ruled Josh Kelly out of Saturday’s semi-final against Collingwood after the star midfielder tore the cartilage in his knee.
Giants coach Leon Cameron said on Tuesday Kelly would be given every chance to play.
“Is he a chance, in terms of a chance of playing this week? It’s probably minor. But we’re gonna give him every chance,” he said on SEN radio.
“He’s actually settled pretty well ... The way he presented yesterday was a bit better than what we probably thought.”
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Kelly limped off the ground in the first quarter of Saturday’s elimination final against Sydney and sat out the rest of the match.
“His knee has got a little tear in that meniscus. But it’s something that he’s already been carrying throughout the last year or two,” Cameron said.
“We’ll give him every chance.”
Cameron said on Monday the Giants could roll the dice on Kelly in the “do or die” final.
Who is out and who could play this week and beyond? Scroll down to see the latest from every club still in the premiership race.
COLLINGWOOD
INJURIES
Taylor Adams (concussion) available
Darcy Moore (hamstring) test
Ben Reid (calf) test
Max Lynch (ankle) test
Levi Greenwood (head) test
Brody Mihocek (foot) available
Tim Broomhead (broken leg) season
Lynden Dunn (knee) season
Jamie Elliott (hamstring) season
Kayle Kirby (heart issue) season
Matt Scharenberg (knee) season
Daniel Wells (foot) season
ON THE BLOCK: No serious injury concerns from the trip to Perth. Brody Mihocek was spotted in a moon boot but scans on his left foot came back clear. Jeremy Howe, Tyson Goldsack and Adam Treloar all performed well returning from injury. Mason Cox had a team-low five touches against the Eagles but expect Nathan Buckley to back him in.
ON THE CUSP: Darcy Moore was reportedly available to play last weekend but Collingwood didn’t want to risk him on a long flight. He could boost the Pies’ defence this week but who would he replace? The Pies are out of the VFL finals so no chance for players on the fringe to push their case apart from on the training track. Callum Brown was the Pies’ best at that level the week before.
AL PATON’S FORECAST: A mighty performance out west won’t count for much if Nathan Buckley’s men go out in straight sets. That would be an injustice after Collingwood’s brave season and while the Giants are getting it together at the right time, home ground advantage — backed by 90,000 baying fans — might just get the Pies over the line. Cox might even get a free kick.
GWS
INJURIES
Aidan Corr (groin) available
Matt Flynn (quad) available
Ryan Griffen (hamstring) available
Josh Kelly (knee) test
Nick Shipley (ankle) 2 weeks
Dawson Simpson (ankle) 2-3 weeks
Sam Taylor (hamstring) available
Jonathon Patton (knee) season
Tom Scully (ankle) season
Will Setterfield (knee) season
Heath Shaw (knee) season
Lachie Tiziani (knee) season
ON THE BLOCK: All eyes are on Josh Kelly, who must be a long shot to front up a week after tearing his meniscus, but the Giants aren’t ruling it out. Zac Langdon had little impact in front of goal against Sydney but he did lay four tackles.
ON THE CUSP: If Kelly misses, it opens the door for Ryan Griffen to return for his first game since Round 22, and his first final since 2016. He’s competing with Aiden Bonar, who was dropped for the elimination final after four pretty handy games in the midfield. The Giants missed the NEAFL finals.
AL PATON’S FORECAST: Kelly would (and probably will) be a massive loss, but it didn’t bother the Giants too much last weekend when he went down in the first quarter. Collingwood will provide tougher resistance than the Swans but playing in from of a huge one-sided crowd in last year’s preliminary final will hold the visitors in good stead. What are the odds on Toby Greene kicking the matchwinner?
HAWTHORN
INJURIES
Grant Birchall (knee) TBC
Blake Hardwick (hip) test
Will Langford (hamstring) test
Ryan Schoenmakers (achilles) available
Ben Stratton (hamstring) TBC
Kurt Heatherley (hamstring) season
Harry Jones (shoulder) season
ON THE BLOCK: Ben Stratton has been ruled out of Friday night’s sudden-death final against the Demons, but the Hawks are hopeful he will be available the next week if they make it through. That means there will be at least one change, and Alastair Clarkon and his match committee will have some decisions to make over Conor Nash, who struggled against the Tigers, and whether to try the two-ruck setup again against Max Gawn.
ON THE CUSP: David Mirra, Ryan Schoenmakers, Kaiden Brand or Taylor Duryea are the leading candidates to replace Stratton. Schoenmakers was a late withdrawal last Thursday night’s loss to Richmond to make way for late inclusion Dan Howe. Mirra, Schoenmakers and Duryea did not play in Box Hill’s match in the VFL on Sunday to help keep the trio fresh. The Hawks won anyway with James Cousins dominant in the midfield.
AL PATON’S FORECAST: It’s hard to find a backer for the Hawks against the Melbourne fairytale, but history says top-four sides usually bounce back from qualifying finals losses. Hawthorn has recent history on its side — the last time these teams met the Hawks won by 11 goals. That was way back in Round 4 but recent form isn’t too bad either. Hawthorn had won six in a row and the Dees six of their past eight before the Hawks ran into the Richmond juggernaut and Melbourne got past a disappointing Geelong. This might be closer than a lot of people think.
MELBOURNE
INJURIES
Oskar Baker (hamstring) 1-2 weeks
Lochie Filipovic (hand) 2 weeks
Dean Kent (shoulder) test
Bernie Vince (shoulder) test
Jesse Hogan (foot) season
Jake Lever (knee) season
Corey Maynard (hip) season
Billy Stretch (toe) season
ON THE BLOCK: The Demons are all clear on this front. It was the ultimate team performance against Geelong so wouldn’t think any of the 22 would be having restless nights leading up to the semi-final. Melbourne says Michael Hibberd is a certain starter despite leaving training early on Tuesday.
ON THE CUSP: Jay Kennedy Harris was the last man out of the side, dropped for the elimination final to make way for captain Jack Viney. He heads a long list of eager players waiting for an injury to give them an opening. Joel Smith and Tim Smith are also playing that waiting game while Jayden Hunt is over his ankle injury and ready to go if required.
SCOTT GULLAN’S FORECAST: Nothing to see here. Viney has reportedly pulled up fine so there are no concerns there. It should be an unchanged Melbourne line-up for Friday night.
RICHMOND
INJURIES
Shai Bolton (knee) test
Dan Butler (ankle) test
Nathan Drummond (hamstring) test
Jacob Townsend (fractured fibula) season
ON THE BLOCK: Not too many passengers in the win over Hawthorn last Thursday night and no injuries of note. Nathan Broad was quiet in defence, his form over recent weeks not having been great. But, then again, his opponent for large periods, Jack Gunston, didn’t have much impact, either. Jack Riewodlt and Alex Rance were both limping at stages of the qualifying final but both will be right for the prelim.
ON THE CUSP: Premiership forward Dan Butler has only played half a game in the VFL since Round 16 due to an ankle but has plenty of time to get himself right before the preliminary final, the Tigers keen to get him back into the side if he can prove his fitness. Midfielder Brandon Ellis was dropped for Kane Lambert last week but shone for the Tigers’ VFL side on Saturday to push his case for a recall.
CHRIS CAVANAGH’S FORECAST: If Butler is declared fit, Richmond will have its best 22 available for the preliminary final — not a bad spot to be in at all. After finishing the home-and-away season with a few wobbles, the Tigers brought the heat in their qualifying final to sweep aside Hawthorn and are now firm favourites to win back-to-back flags. They now have 24 wins in a row at the MCG under their belt and will have some serious belief they can make that 26 and do what few have been able to do in recent times in defending their crown.
WEST COAST EAGLES
INJURIES
Fraser McInnes (adductor) 1-2 weeks
Andrew Gaff (suspension) 3 weeks
Brad Sheppard (hamstring) season
Eric Mackenzie (toe) season
Nic Naitanui (knee) season
Tony Olango (hamstring) season
ON THE BLOCK: Defender Brad Sheppard joined the Eagles’ injury list with a hamstring strain that will take 8-12 weeks to heal. Hard to find any other Eagles who would be too worried about holding their spots for the preliminary final although Mark Hutchings’ role will depend on match-ups.
ON THE CUSP: East Perth was knocked out of the WAFL finals at the first hurdle a week ago, but Will Schofield seems Sheppard’s likely replacement. Jake Waterman, Oscar Allen and Brayden Ainsworth are available if needed.
AL PATON’S FORECAST: How important were those last five minutes against the Pies? The Eagles can now put their feet up before a home prelim against either Melbourne or Hawthorn.
Originally published as AFL injury list: Who’s hot and who’s hurt after week one of finals