Panic Room: Late mail on selection, SuperCoach and betting for Round 8

UPDATE: RICHMOND and Sydney have both lost key players to late injuries plus the inside word on Adelaide’s tactics against Patrick Dangerfield. Late selection and SuperCoach mail.

Patrick Dangerfield returns to Adelaide this weekend.

RICHMOND and Sydney have both lost key players before their clash at the MCG tomorrow, the inside word on Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield tactics and the latest Travis Cloke news. Need the best late selection and SuperCoach mail? Step into the Panic Room.

WHO will get the job on Patrick Dangerfield tonight?

A better question might be, will anyone?

The Crows haven’t played a tagger this season and don’t expect them to start this week.

Assistant coach James Podsiadly dropped a very strong hint on Adelaide radio that the Crows will back themselves to go head-to-head with Geelong’s gun midfielders. And as Travis Cloke pointed out in 2011, the Crows “don’t talk a lot of smoke and shadows behind the windows”.

Podsiadly said: “Wherever he (Dangerfield) sets up we’ve just got to set up in our system. This game moves too quickly and is played too quickly to focus on one individual or a couple of individuals.

“It’s more about us, our system and focus on the ball because that’s where games are won.’’

Recent history suggests players perform well first up against their old team. Dayne Beams had 33 touches in his first game against Collingwood, Eddie Betts booted four goals against Carlton and Brendon Goddard had 23 disposals and a goal in an emotional game against St Kilda in 2014.

Dangerfield took his mind off the grudge match this week by filming a new ad for the TAC.

Patrick Dangerfield and Andrew Mackie filming a new road safety ad campaign at Simonds Stadium. Picture: Mike Dugdale

TRACK WATCH

SPEAKING of Travis Cloke, suggestions he could be a surprise late inclusion to take on Brisbane on Saturday are off the mark.

Cloke was not on the plane to Brisbane today and is no certainty to play in the VFL after pulling out last week with a back problem.

In better news for the Pies, Taylor Adams and Travis Varcoe are certain starters after overcoming injuries.

RICHMOND defender Bachar Houli is out of the team to face Sydney.

The Tigers revealed on Friday that Houli had suffered a wrist injury at training on Thursday.

There is no timeline on his return. Taylor Hunt replaces Houli in the Tigers’ 22.

The Swans have also suffered a key out with Josh Kennedy, fresh from a 40-disposal game against Essendon, pulling out with a hamstring injury. His replacement is first-gamer Jack Hiscox.

The Swans have also made the unusual move of changing their emergency line-up, calling up James Rose and Xavier Richards to replace Brandon Jack and Tyrone Leonardis.

Could there be another late change? Sydney named Ted Richards to return from a fractured eye socket and Kieren Jack who played on last week after hurting his ankle, but John Longmire said yesterday a final call would be made after assessing how they pull up from the Swans’ final training session.

MELBOURNE will finalise its squad for Sunday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs later today, but Oscar McDonald and Alex Neal-Bullen seem out of the running after leaving the training track soon after the VFL squad today. That says the last spot on the bench is between Christian Salem and forgotten man Jack Grimes.

Demon fans would be pleased to know Jesse Hogan was on the track after skipping the mid-week session to spend time with his family in Perth.

GOLD Coast has already made six changes but another one wouldn’t surprise. Touk Miller aggravated an ankle injury against Melbourne last week and could face a last-minute fitness test.

Josh Kennedy will miss the Swans clash against Richmond. Picture: Phil Hillyard

MONEY MATTERS

BEST BET

Adelaide (win) $1.92

The Crows have the best attack in the competition, and even Cats coach Chris Scott believes that could be the case, and they’re one of the toughest teams to beat at home.

VALUE BET

Melbourne (win) $2.75

If Jesse Hogan runs rampant, who can the Bulldogs call on to stop him? Plus, this is the Doggies’ first game away from Etihad Stadium this year.

MULTI

Adelaide (win) $1.92 + Sydney (-28.5) $1.90 + Port Adelaide (win) $1.55 = $5.65

Swans take on a Tigers side that have lost their past two by more than 30 points, and the Power is back in form after last week’s dominant win.

SUPERCOACH WATCH

Ross Lyon has done his best to distract us from the real priority in SuperCoach this week — getting Christian Petracca. The Demons young gun has fired in his first two matches at AFL level, turning it on with 24 disposals, four tackles and two goals against the hapless Suns last weekend. A future SuperCoach star, we will never see a price tag of $123,900 beside his name again — jump on this week before it’s too late. The good news is he can come into the forward line or midfield to cover holes left by the axing of Michael Barlow or injuries to Daniel Wells and Toby Greene. Our tip is to old on to those guys if you can, trading out a rookie who’s time is up (Lincoln McCarthy?) instead. And don’t miss your shot at SuperCoach Perfect 9 — it’s the five-minute version of SuperCoach with a $60,000 jackpot.

ON NOTICE

We’re going to take a break from putting the blowtorch on Nathan Buckley for a minute and turn our attention to Matthew Priddis. The Brownlow medallist rarely plays one bad game, and three in a row is cause for serious concern. Last week Priddis had the ball 28 times but recorded only nine kicks and a disposal efficiency of 57 per cent. His tackle numbers are still strong so we know he’s trying but on behalf of his 35,000 SuperCoach owners, Matt — LIFT!