AFL news 2022: All the injuries ahead of week one of the finals
Despite a former Melbourne skipper being adamant key forward Tom McDonald is in the side’s best 22, the sands of time are working against his dream finals return.
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Former Melbourne captain Nathan Jones rates the Demons as a better side with Tom McDonald, but concedes the big forward faces a battle to force his way into the premier’s finals line-up.
After a successful return from a serious foot injury in the VFL on Saturday, McDonald has kept his finals dream alive after a rapid recovery Jones described as “incredible”.
The key forward should have been sidelined for six months with a Lisfranc injury, but has returned in just three months — with a screw still inserted in his foot — in a bid to play a part in Melbourne’s premiership defence.
Off the back of the team’s big final-round win over the Brisbane Lions, Jones said he could not see the Demons rolling the dice on McDonald for Friday night’s qualifying final against Sydney at the MCG.
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But the former skipper said there was little doubt McDonald was in the Dees’ best 22, adding “another dynamic” to the team’s attack, although it would take an injury or misfiring forward line for him to get a look-in.
“With how well the team went when they last played against Brisbane, you are going into the final unchanged I would think,” Jones said.
“And then it will just sort of depend on how that unfolds … he would have to earn his spot back in some respect unless it (the forward line) doesn’t function.
“If you had asked me two weeks ago, I would’ve been like ‘Get him back in quickly’. But then watching them play the other night, the forward line functioned as well as it had for probably the whole year.
“I think he is in the best team but it is hard to change the team on the back of their most recent performance.
“But you just never know what is around the corner. An injury may bob up, his form … he may absolutely tear a game apart or maybe they won’t win the first week.”
Should the Demons name an unchanged line-up to face Sydney, McDonald’s next chance to press for a last-gasp finals spot will be with Casey in a preliminary final in two weeks.
Asked who could potentially make way for McDonald — who has not played since round 10 — if he was able to force his way in, Jones said “I could not tell you”.
“That is the representation of a good side that it’s tough to get a spot,” Jones said.
“From a team and club perspective, it’s a great luxury to have.
“For Tom it would be about trying to get back to playing as good as he can and hope in some way that forces the selectors hand really.
“Tom is an absolute professional, he would have ticked absolutely every box. So it’s a credit to him really and now he is well within the frame, he has just got to keep putting his hand up and run himself into form and maybe he squeezes his way back in.”
Jones said McDonald, who kicked 33 goals in Melbourne’s premiership campaign last year, said the premiership forward added another strong dimension to the Demons’ attack.
“He is in the best team for sure,” Jones said.
“His ability to take a key defender and his workrate up and down the ground and he really mastered his role in the last 12 months making a contest and bringing the ball to ground to put pressure on.
“He just adds another dynamic to that group and when they are all up and growing it is a pretty dynamic forward line when you add (Bayley) Fritsch, (Luke) Jackson, Ben Brown, Tom McDonald, even Jake Melksham forward in recent times, they all have all got the ability to be able to compete in the air and on the ground.”
Jones was bullish about the Demons’ prospects of going back-to-back, saying the team now had the belief they could deliver.
“At their best they are still the best team in it,” Jones said.
“But I also really respect Geelong, their club and their performances this season. I am a big fan of Sydney, I think they have got some real potential to do some damage.
“The one thing with the Dees boys is they have now got that belief and that may go a long way to instilling the belief again. They have been there and done it and they are not really overawed by the situation.
“It’s just about them playing at their absolute best, which If they do I think they will be plenty hard to beat.”
When Tigers may make Dusty call as Lions issued warning
Brisbane has been warned stopping Dustin Martin is the Lions’ No. 1 priority amid Richmond’s forward line riches as the Tigers finals hero prepares to prove his fitness this week.
Triple Brisbane premiership star Alastair Lynch said on Sunday the Lions had to send elite small defender Brandon Starcevich to Martin ahead of Shai Bolton, Noah Cumberland or Maurice Rioli Jr.
Martin is still far from a certainty to take on Brisbane, with Richmond senior club advisor Neil Balme saying he might prove his fitness as late as Wednesday’s final training session.
The triple Norm Smith Medallist will train on Monday and Wednesday after nine weeks out with a round 16 hamstring injury that failed him again as he attempted a comeback.
It means Martin will likely spend more time forward where Bolton has taken over as footy’s most dangerous mid-forward in his absence, Rioli is a tackling machine and Cumberland has kicked 18 goals in seven games.
Cumberland will play after a kick to the shin and Tom Lynch (groin) is a certain starter but Balme said the Tigers had to ensure Martin was fit enough to avoid a recurrence of that hamstring strain.
Fox Footy’s Lynch, who will be boundary-side for Thursday night’s elimination final, said the suspension of small defender Noah Answerth made the match-ups tougher for Chris Fagan.
“Brisbane will get Cal Ah Chee back (from concussion) and Marcus Adams so those two will be a big help down there,” Lynch said.
“Starcevich goes to Martin and then you have some flexibility with who goes to Lynch — Adams or Harris Andrews. Those two inclusions certainly help down there.
“Even a half-fit Dusty can do some damage so he will be causing an enormous amount of anxiety for the defenders. Dusty playing even more forward is going to be a real handful down there.
“But the biggest thing is the pressure up the field. At stages in the past month the ball has just been flying into the Lions’ defence. I know there has been criticism about the defenders but up the field will tell the main story.”
Lynch said the Lions’ inconsistency was a major concern.
“Brisbane’s best is good enough. The problem in the past month is we have seen the best and the worst. The gap is a fair gap.
“We saw early in the Richmond game and against Carlton and St Kilda the very good Brisbane, and in the same games we saw lapses where they drop off for a period and the opposition scores back to back goals very quickly.”
Balme said Martin wasn’t over the line to play just yet.
“He hasn’t played for quite a while so we can’t take a risk on him,” he said.
“He has been training very well, I would be very positive but he still has got to train Wednesday and have a decent training session and make sure he believes and we believe he can play without hurting himself.
“I am reasonably confident he will get up but there is no certainty as yet. It would be nice to have him.”
Facebook buy boosts Demon’s finals bid
— Sam Landsberger
Tom McDonald was nervous when he drove to Casey Fields on Saturday morning.
He drove home stiff and sore — but with his premiership dream, be it at AFL or VFL level, alive.
And if a Demons’ forward underperforms against Sydney at the MCG on Friday night you wonder whether they will drive home a touch nervous, given McDonald’s remarkable recovery.
The marking forward was diagnosed with a six-month Lisfranc injury, but he returned in just three months and with a screw still inserted in his foot.
The rollercoaster rehab was challenging.
“It's probably more the mindset to not give up,” McDonald said after kicking one goal in the VFL qualifying final victory.
“I probably had three or four times where I came home and said to ‘Rubes’ (wife Ruby), ’It’s just not going to happen, I’m not going to get there’.
“It's the hardest injury I’ve ever had because it wasn’t a linear progression.”
“To be honest, it was the minimum amount of work we could do.
“It was on a very rushed timeline. Typically it's a six-month injury, we’ve been able to do it in three months.
“It’s not going to be perfect but the (other) option was give up and miss out on a finals series at both at AFL and VFL.”
It's highly unlikely McDonald will be seriously considered to play Sydney at the MCG.
Instead, a back-up performance for Casey in the VFL preliminary final in two weeks — Saturday’s victory means the VFL Dees have a week off — looks like his next opportunity.
But another impressive VFL performance and the Demons would have to think long and hard about picking their big man should the AFL team progress to a preliminary final.
In fact, the Demons are flush for players who could step up in September. Midfielder Luke Dunstan had 38 disposals and kicked 2.1 in the 47-point VFL victory against Sydney while Sam Weideman (22 disposals) looked good in the ruck.
Mitch Brown bagged 5.1.
Sydney‘s Angus Sheldrick — a mini Tom Liberatore — had 30 disposals and looks a future gun, while young Dee Jacob Van Rooyen took a leaping mark before slotting a goal from the pocket.
As for McDonald’s white boots?
“I’m not joking, these are a second-hand pair from Facebook Marketplace,” he said.
ALL SMILES AS TIGERS ON TRACK FOR DO-OR-DIE FINAL
Regan Hodge
Richmond key forward Tom Lynch has declared himself fully fit ahead of his side’s elimination final against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
Lynch, who left the field late in round 23 against Essendon because of a sore groin, said he was raring to go as the Tigers prepare for a hostile Brisbane crowd.
“I feel fine so I’m right to go,” Lynch said on Saturday.
“Unless Dimma (Damien Hardwick) doesn’t pick me, I think I’ll be playing.
“We’re good to go.
“It’s nice having the bye for me personally, (I get) a bit of a freshen up.
“The scans (on his groin) came back fine and it was a good result in the end.”
Dustin Martin looks set to tear into another finals series after he trained with the main group at an open training session at Punt Rd on Saturday.
Hundreds of diehard Tiger fans flocked to watch Martin train in the late-winter sunshine and he didn’t disappoint. Martin, who has had a hamstring complaint, moved well and looks likely to take on the Lions.
“He trained today. I think he’s got a bit more to get through on Monday, fingers crossed, obviously we’d love to have him out there,” Lynch said.
Jack Graham, the man regarded by many as a future captain of the team, ran strongly away from the main group as he ramped up his recovery from a foot injury.
“I think Jack Graham’s been a warrior for our footy club for a number of years and he’s such a key part of our system,” Lynch said.
“Obviously we’d love to have him out there and we’ll wait and see.”
Noah Cumberland, who sent a scare through the Richmond camp on Thursday as he looked to injure his lower left leg at training, also ran laps away from the group. He looked fit.
The 21-year-old booted a career-high five goals against the Lions in round 20 at the MCG.
“It feels like he’s played (with us) for a while, he’s such an important player … it’s just great having young guys come in and perform really strongly,” Lynch added.
Co-captain Dylan Grimes completed light running and agility exercises away from the main group as he continues his recovery from a serious hamstring tear.
Tigers sweat on star’s injury concern after training scare
Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has ramped up his training as he pushes to play in his side’s blockbuster elimination final at the Gabba next Thursday night.
The three-time Norm Smith medallist trained away from the main group for most of the Tiger’s session on Thursday, on lighter duties as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Martin completed basic running drills with a fitness coach for most of the session, occasionally joining the sea of yellow and black for basic kicking exercises.
Co-captain Toby Nankervis said Thursday’s session at Punt Rd showed promising signs for their finals megastar.
“(Today was the most he’s trained) probably for a while,” Nankervis said.
“He’s been doing a mountain of work away from the group, he’s been training really well, obviously with the rehab group.
“But to have him back in the main group gave everyone a really big lift.
“He’s in really good shape so I think he’s quite frustrated, like anyone would be.”
Forward Noah Cumberland, who has been a revelation in the front half this year, was taken from the track in pain with a lower left leg injury, after colliding with a teammate as he shot for goal.
The 21-year-old, who booted a career-high five goals against the Lions just weeks ago, will be a watch but Nankervis says there was little to worry about.
“I just spoke to (Noah) briefly and I think he should be all right, we’ll find out this arvo, but I think he should be right.”
The Tigers are hopeful key forward Tom Lynch will make a return against the Lions as he also trained away from the playing group, completing light sets of run-throughs with Martin.
“Lynchy’s pretty confident he’ll be right, it was just a quieter session today, he’ll do more training at the main session as well, still plenty of time for Lynchy,” Nankervis said.
Lynch was substituted from the Tiger’s round 22 win against the Suns with a groin complaint.
Jack Graham, the 24-year-old who epitomises Richmond’s grit and determination, was walking laps with Dylan Grimes for much of the session as he recovers from a foot injury.
“I think Jack’s still a little bit sore, I’m not too sure on the exact details on that,” Nankervis said.
“We know Jack and the way he plays, he’s such a competitive warrior so it would be great to have Jack out there in the finals series.
“Whether he plays next week or not, I’m not too sure but he’ll give himself every chance, the deeper we go (into the finals) the more chance that he’s got.”
Nankervis said the pre-finals bye was advantageous to a bigger, older body like his.
“I feel really good, I think this week’s really helped me, although it’s a frustrating wait almost for next week,”
“My body feels really good, I think the last month or so has really freshened me up and we’re building toward a good finals series.”
INJURY WATCH: DOC’S VERDICT ON KEY FINALS PLAYERS
Rebecca Williams and NSN AFL team
Sports medical expert Dr Peter Brukner has backed Richmond superstar Dustin Martin to make a return for the Tigers’ cutthroat final against the Brisbane Lions, but expects he will be “underdone” after his extended time on the sidelines.
The triple Norm Smith medallist is pushing for a return from a hamstring injury for the Tigers’ elimination final against the Lions at the MCG on Thursday week, having not played a game since Round 16.
Martin has played just eight senior games in a disrupted 2022 season.
“They have always targeted the first final as the aim so you would imagine that he would be ready to go,” Dr Brukner said.
“He has had a pretty lengthy break this time, about six weeks. I know he had a slight setback at one stage that they reported in his rehab but he has certainly had plenty of time, they have given him plenty of time and they haven’t rushed him.
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“I think all the indications are that he is going to be OK, obviously he will be underdone, not having played for that amount of time but Dusty is Dusty and who knows?
“They would hope that while he may not be at his absolute best, he will be a reasonable contributor and then if they do progress through the finals, you would imagine he would improve each game.
“Hamstrings are always difficult. There is always a slight risk, but I think with appropriate rehabilitation – the Richmond rehab team is very good – I would be fairly confident he would be OK.”
TOM LYNCH
Dr Brukner also did not anticipate any doubt over Tigers’ spearhead Tom Lynch’s availability for the first final after he was subbed out of the clash against Essendon with a sore groin.
“It didn’t seem to be too severe, I suspect that was a precautionary measure and I would be quite confident that he will be OK,” Dr Brukner said of Lynch, who has kicked 13 goals in the past two matches.
“I’m sure if they had to win the game he would have stayed on.”
TAYLOR ADAMS
Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams is also pressing for a return for the Magpies’ qualifying final against Geelong on Saturday week after being sidelined with an adductor injury.
Adams was spotted being put through a fitness session at club headquarters on Monday after missing the past three matches.
Dr Brukner expected the Magpies’ vice-captain to get up for the clash against the Cats with the benefit of the bye.
“(Week one of finals) has always been the target for him,” Dr Brukner said.
“Again they said right from the start that they weren’t going to try and get him back before the finals. Everything is dictated by finals and that’s where the week off now is a huge help to all these players. It makes a big difference that extra week.”
JEREMY CAMERON
Several key players are pushing for a finals return with doubt over Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron’s availability for the first week of the finals.
Dr Brukner rated Cameron a “50-50” chance to get up for the clash after it was revealed last week he had a hamstring injury.
“It would be 21 days I think between his injury and (the first final),” Dr Brukner said.
“There are various degrees of hamstring injury, but generally speaking a standard hamstring injury is usually about three-weeks.
“But it just depends on the type of hamstring injury, the severity of it.
“Probably of all of them (he is in the most doubt) because his is the most recent injury. But I still think he has a chance to play. It would not be unusual, if it’s a relatively minor hamstring,
“He is probably a 50-50 chance but he will have to tick the boxes … he will have to hit top speed and repeat runs and there will be strength parameters that he has to meet as well.”
TOM MCDONALD
Melbourne key forward Tom McDonald will push for a finals return from a Lisfranc foot injury in the VFL this weekend where the club expects him to play “significant” minutes.
Dr Brukner said match conditioning would be the biggest issue for McDonald, who has not played since Round 10.
“They have certainly been pushing it, an injury like this would normally be a few weeks longer than they are going,” Dr Brukner said.
“So, they have pushed his rehab and so far he has ticked all the boxes and reached all the milestones they wanted. They have always aimed for around this time to get him right.
“I think he is probably going to be OK. The question of course is he hasn’t played for a long time now and he is coming back from a fairly serious injury.
“The great advantage for Tom McDonald is that he is a great athlete, he is a really good endurance athlete. Fitness wise I think there wouldn’t be a problem, it is more just fitness and touch.
“Whenever you accelerate the rehabilitation of these things, it’s alway a slight risk, it’s risk versus reward, you accept that if it was earlier in the season they would probably take a bit longer.
“They wouldn’t be putting him out there this week if they thought it was a massive risk, he has got through all the training that they have asked him to do.
“I think he is going to be OK from a foot point of view, the question is from a football point of view how he goes.
HURT LOCKER: EVERY FINALS CLUB’S INJURY LIST
BRISBANE LIONS
Marcus Adams — Concussion — test
Callum Ah Chee — Concussion — test
Blake Coleman — Concussion — TBC
The Lions will be close to full strength for their elimination final against Richmond at the Gabba, as Marcus Adams, Callum Ah Chee, and Blake Coleman are all strong chances to play if required. Cam Rayner’s one-game suspension for his dangerous tackle on Melbourne’s Ben Brown will be challenged at the tribunal tomorrow night, which, if successful, would see him play against the Tigers. Noah Answerth has accepted his one-match suspension after he was charged for striking Alex Neal-Bullen.
—Regan Hodge
COLLINGWOOD
Taylor Adams — adductor — Finals week one
Nathan Kreuger — shoulder — Finals week one or two
Tyler Brown — fatigue-related illness — TBC
Brodie Grundy — ankle — season
Harvey Harrison — hamstring — season
Tom Wison — back — season
Reef McInnes — shoulder — season
Charlie Dean — foot — season
Midfield star Taylor Adams was spotted working hard in a one-on-one fitness session at club headquarters on Monday as he pushes for a return for the Magpies’ qualifying final against Geelong at the MCG next week. The Magpies are expecting Adams to be available for week one of the finals after being sidelined with an adductor injury. Adams has not played since the Pies’ Round 20 win over Port Adelaide. Nathan Kreuger (shoulder) is the other sidelined Magpie who could potentially come into the frame for the finals after being sidelined since Round 6. He has started contact work and the Magpies hoped to expose him to match play within the next two weeks to have him available should he need to be called on.
—Rebecca Williams
FREMANTLE
Rory Lobb — Chest/Shoulder — Test
Griffin Logue — Groin — Test
Matt Taberner — Calf — Test
Josh Treacy — Illness — Test
Fremantle’s chances in next weekend’s cutthroat elimination final may hinge on the availability of forwards Matt Taberner who remains a chance after his calf injury and Rory Lobb who is likely to play after injuring his shoulder. Key defender Griffin Logue was a late withdrawal with a groin complaint from Saturday’s win over Giants but is likely to play in the clash with the Bulldogs. Nat Fyfe will play the first final but could spend a week playing for Peel Thunder in the WAFL during the pre-finals bye to get extra game time in after playing only seven matches so far this season. “We’ll see how he goes,” Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said. “See how he pulls up. See what his gut feel is and if he feels he needs it. We’ll cross that bridge when it comes.”
—Regan Hodge
GEELONG
Jeremy Cameron — hamstring — test
Rhys Stanley — adductor (test
Mitch Duncan — hip (test
Cam Guthrie — shoulder — available
Jake Kolodjashnij — concussion — test
Sam Menegola — soreness — test
Sam Simpson — quad — test
James Willis — quad — 1-2 weeks
Flynn Kroeger — knee — season
Cooper Whyte — groin — season
No excuses for Geelong ahead of its monster qualifying final against Collingwood, with the Cats set to be at full strength. All eyes will be on Jeremy Cameron’s famous right hamstring but he has been running and is on track to face the Magpies. Each of Rhys Stanley, Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie and Jake Kolodjashnij should be also available. Sam Menegola has battled a sore knee all year and will be tested, otherwise the remainder of Geelong’s injury list has combined to play zero AFL games this year.
—Josh Barnes
MELBOURNE
Luke Jackson — corked calf — TBC
Christian Salem — groin — TBC
Tom McDonald — foot — VFL
Melbourne is confident star ruck-forward Luke Jackson will be fit to play in the Demons’ qualifying final against Sydney after he was subbed out of the club’s big win over Brisbane with a corked calf. Jackson was replaced by medical sub James Jordan in the last quarter. Demons football boss Alan Richardson was confident Jackson would “be right” to take on the Swans with the club not taking any risks against the Lions. Christian Salem was a late out from the Lions’ clash with groin soreness. Key forward Tom McDonald is set to make his return from a Lisfranc injury in the VFL this weekend as he presses his case to return for the finals. The Demons said the plan was for McDonald, who has not played since Round 10, to play “significant minutes” in the VFL hitout.
—Rebecca Williams
RICHMOND
Jack Graham — Foot — 1-2 weeks
Dustin Martin — Hamstring — 1-2 weeks
Dylan Grimes — Hamstring — 3-4 weeks
It’s good news for Tigers fans with gun Tom Lynch a certain starter for the elimination final against the Lions. The big query is on Dustin Martin and just how fit he will be in a week and a half’s time but it’s expected he will return. Jack Graham remains in doubt with a toe injury while Dylan Grimes looms as unlikely to return this year after hamstring tendon surgery.
—Jon Ralph
SYDNEY
Josh Kennedy — hamstring — 4-6 weeks
Lewis Melican — hamstring — test
Sam Naismith — knee — season
Colin O’Riordan — hip — season
Tom Papley — concussion — test
Marc Sheather — foot — season
The Swans got their way when the AFL scheduled their qualifying final against Melbourne on Friday next week rather than the night before. That means Papley will be able to move through the 12-day concussion protocols in time to play, if everything goes according to plan. Coach John Longmire said post-match on Sunday that Papley was “fine” but that retirement-bound club champion Kennedy was a “long shot” to play in September. The only other injuries are to fringe players, so the Swans will effectively be full strength for the Demons showdown.
—Marc McGowan
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Hayden Crozier — Ankle — Test
Jason Johannisen — Ankle — Test
Dom Bedendo — Knee — Test
Mitch Wallis — Foot — Season
Laitham Vandermeer — Knee — TBA
Western Bulldogs speedster Jason Johannisen will be racing the clock to be available for next Saturday’s elimination final as he overcomes an ankle injury. The Norm Smith medallist has missed the past three matches and will be attempting to play a key role in the Dogs’ premiership chances. The severity of utility Laitham Vandermeer’s knee injury is unknown after he was subbed out of Sunday’s match against the Hawks. Hayden Crozier will benefit from the week off to remain a chance after his ankle injury.
—Regan Hodge
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