The stars in a race against time for finals at your club
Many of the game’s stars face a race against time to be fit for a bumper finals series. Who will be back when their sides need them most? Jon Ralph looks at the injured players from the teams in finals contention.
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Many of the game’s stars face a race against time to be fit for the finals.
Who will be back when their sides need them most, and which players may just miss out?
Jon Ralph assesses the injured and missing players from the teams in finals contention.
BRISBANE
Harris Andrews
The Lions say he will miss six weeks with a severe muscle tear that does not involve tendon damage, so that would put him out until the preliminary final.
They will reassess before the first final and while Jack Payne was excellent in his second game, Andrews is the Lions’ most valuable player.
Stef Martin
The Lions are hopeful he will play in a scratch match in Round 18 or perhaps in the first week of finals after a back stress fracture. He would displace Archie Smith, who has played the last two games.
COLLINGWOOD
Chris Mayne
Collingwood believes he should be available for the first final after his horrific facial fracture against Carlton’s Patrick Cripps.
Steele Sidebottom
After his partner gave birth to a daughter on Saturday he would need to get into a Queensland hotel room for a 14-day quarantine by Wednesday to even be released in time for the first finals on Wednesday September 30th.
But if he flew north by next weekend he would be ready for a potential semi-final at worst if the Pies progressed.
Tom Phillips
The Pies listed Phillips as 2-4 weeks away with his decent hamstring injury this week so he is no certainty for the first final.
PORT ADELAIDE
Ryan Burton
Burton’s recurring quad injury has him 2-3 weeks away from a return but the Power would be worried about slotting him back in for a final given he was injured immediately the last time he returned. Mitch Georgiadis (hamstring) will easily be available for finals.
GEELONG
Gary Ablett
Will be out of quarantine on Tuesday, will get through a training session and captain’s run and then play on Sunday
Joel Selwood
Selwood will play against Sydney and while Chris Scott continues to say he is fully recovered from a knee injury the Cats would have played him against Richmond if he was totally fit. The club is clearly aware of how many full-length games he has in him this year with a knee that is giving him concerns.
Rhys Stanley
The Cats listed him at one week away with a groin over the weekend so he should be ready to take on Sydney or at the worst be fit for the finals. They need him given their midfield clicks when he’s on fire.
MELBOURNE
Nathan Jones
If the Demons did make it to finals Jones (quad) would likely be fit given a 2-3 week rehab length but would they play him given they would fear he might again break down with that recurring injury.
RICHMOND
Tom Lynch
Has suffered the first hamstring strain of his career and given qualifying finals are likely to be played on a Wednesday or Thursday of the first week will have potentially 19-20 days to rehab it, short of the normal 21-day return. Still likely to play given it’s a minor strain.
Ivan Soldo
His season is over and the horrible timing of the injury will mean the Tigers not only bring Mabior Chol into the side but ensure the contracted Callum Coleman-Jones stays on in 2021 as the club’s second ruckman.
Dion Prestia
Had syndesmosis surgery and then suffered an infection in his ankle joint but the club wants him to play in a scratch match in the week of the bye before a potential return for the first final.
ST KILDA
Dan Hannebery
The Saints are giving serious consideration to playing Hannebery against GWS on Friday night after slashing training sessions coming back from successful hamstring surgery.
St Kilda has half a foot in the finals and if he is to break down, it would be better in the home-and-away season than finals.
Jade Gresham
Gresham is in the transition hub after a back stress fracture but isn’t training and his season is considered over by the Saints.
WEST COAST
Jeremy McGovern
McGovern’s season is alive after the Eagles feared hamstring tendon damage but he’s still likely missing for the first weekend. In 2015 he came back in three weeks and tore his hamstring again so a semi-final return would be the best-case scenario.
Luke Shuey
The Eagles say Shuey will still be ready for the first week of finals despite bringing him back onto the field against Essendon, where he hurt his other hamstring. Also available in that first final or the week after will be Jack Redden (thumb), Mark Hutchings (hamstring), Lewis Jetta (calf) and Dom Sheed (hamstring).
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Easton Wood
Originally listed as a test for Sunday’s clash against the Hawks, Wood missed the clash but could be ready to take on Fremantle next week in what shapes as a must-win clash for the club’s finals hopes.
Toby McLean
Went down with what looked to be a serious knee injury in the early stages of their win against the Hawks. The mood of Luke Beveridge post-game suggests his season may well be over.
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Originally published as The stars in a race against time for finals at your club