AFL Grand Final: Melbourne forward Charlie Spargo didn’t train with teammates on Monday but club insists he’ll play in the Grand Final

A rolled ankle forced one Melbourne forward to walk laps and watch on as his teammates continued their Grand Final preparations in Perth.

Melbourne is confident small forward Charlie Spargo will play in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final after he failed to train with his teammates on Monday.

Spargo injured his left ankle during a tackling drill on Saturday and was a mere on-field spectator while his teammates trained in Joondalup.

The 21-year-old instead talked to teammates and the club’s trainers without even putting on his boots.

But teammate Tom McDonald declared while Spargo could require painkillers, there was “absolutely no way he‘d miss it” as the Demons look to break a 57-year premiership drought against the Western Bulldogs in Perth on Saturday.

Spargo wasn’t expected to return straight to full training after the incident on Saturday. He didn’t have any scans but was expected to have residual soreness.

Charlie Spargo’s strapped ankle. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

McDonald insisted there was nothing to worry about and that Spargo was following a normal course of action for someone who rolls their ankle.

“He‘s going to be fine. Guys who have a normal rolled ankle, they’d never run on a Monday, probably not a Tuesday, and you’d try to get them to train for a Wednesday,” McDonald said.

“There would be absolutely no way he‘d miss it. He didn’t need a scan, they tape it up pretty tight, and worst-case scenario he’d have some painkillers for the game and be absolutely fine.

“It’s not going to be something that really nags him or affects him physically. He’ll be a little bit sore after the game, but it’s not going to affect him during the week.”

Charlie Spargo hurt his ankle at training on Saturday. Photo by Michael Klein

The Demons have previously said Spargo wasn’t in doubt for the decider against the Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.

Key defender Steven May, who injured his hamstring in the preliminary final win over Geelong, was able to complete the low-key session without any issues.

Defender Christian Salem was also on light duties on Monday, but McDonald said that was “pretty standard” for him, having suffered some groin issues during the season.

“I think he’s always just managed his groins through the year,” McDonald said.

“He missed a week mid-season, and they‘ve always just tried to make sure he doesn’t roll into that stage he did in the middle of the year where he had to miss a game.

The Demons face a big decision on whether to recall fit-again defender Joel Smith, who missed the preliminary final against Geelong with a hamstring injury.

Michael Hibberd replaces him and played well against the Cats, while Jayden Hunt is also fit again and vying for a return to the team after surgery. Hunt played every game until Round 21 before injuring his ankle.

“It‘s horrible, really, that someone has to miss out somewhere,” McDonald said.

“There‘s probably five or six guys who could lay claim to a spot in the side, and you really feel for guys who miss out.

“I‘ve got no idea what they’re going to do (with selection), but somebody is going to be pretty disappointed.”

Originally published as AFL Grand Final: Melbourne forward Charlie Spargo didn’t train with teammates on Monday but club insists he’ll play in the Grand Final