That's a wrap for the first AFL Daily of 2020. Scroll down to recap all today's footy headlines and join us again from 7am tomorrow for another edition of AFL Daily.
Taylor Adams fined for high bump on Nick Vlastuin, rolling footy news for Monday March 2, 2020
Adam Treloar's injury blow, now key midfielder Taylor Adams has been cited for a high bump on Richmond's Nick Vlastuin. Could the Pies be without two important midfielders to start the season?
Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams has been charged over a late bump on Tiger Nick Vlastuin in Wangaratta.
Adams was charged with rough conduct after collecting Vlastuin in the final quarter of the Magpies' Marsh Series win.
The bump was assessed as careless, low impact and high contact. Adams can accept a $2000 fine with an early guilty plea.
Seven other players were charged from the weekend's pre-season matches, all in the Dockers-Blues clash on Saturday night. Returning Blue Sam Docherty, Jack Newnes, Blake Acres were all charged with engaging in a melee.
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Carlton recruit Jack Martin was charged with careless contact with an umpire, as was young Docker Andrew Brayshaw.
All five players can accept $1,000 fines.
Blue David Cunningham has escaped suspension for striking Fremantle's Bailey Banfield and can accept a $1,500 fine with an early plea.
Meanwhile, Geelong's Jordan Ivey has been offered a one-match ban for making front-on contact with Richmond AFLW captain Katie Brennan.
Teammate Aasta O'Connor can accept a reprimand on two charges of kneeing and rough conduct from the same game.St Kilda's Kate Shierlaw copped a $400 fine for misconduct and Lion Jess Wuetschner can accept a reprimand for a charge of misconduct against Giant Alyce Parker.
We will be providing rolling news as it happens and giving you all the latest insights from our experts around the country.
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Recap all the footy news from March 2, 2020.
Updates
Double injury blow for Kangaroos
Talented North Melbourne youngster Luke Davies-Uniacke has been struck down by injury on the eve of the season with the club giving no timeline for his return.
The No.4 pick from the 2017 draft is battling a "pubic overload" and will be off the track for weeks with tests to shed light on when he will return to training
Entering his third season, Davies-Uniacke was primed for a year having built his tank over the off-season, but may have to wait some time before adding to his 21 career games.
North Melbourne footy boss Brady Rawlings said the blow was "extremely disappointing".
“Fitness-wise he was setting himself up for a big year,"Rawlings said in a statement.
“We all know what ‘LDU’ is capable of so we’ll put him in a rehabilitation program to build him back up to full strength when the time is right.”
“We’ve decided to take an aggressive off-load approach with Luke given his age,” Rawlings said.
“When he’s clinically ‘all-clear’, we will re-load him conservatively and start him on a running program.”
The Kangaroos also confirmed Kayne Turner could miss half the season with a broken foot.
“We sent him off for scans the following Monday which revealed he’d sustained a medial sesamoid fracture in the ball of his foot, under his left big toe,” Rawlings said.
“We feel that a conservative rehabilitation approach is the best course of action for now to let the bone heal.
“Because of the nature of the injury, we hope to see Kayne just after the bye in June.”
Essendon's Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Collingwood's Darcy Cameron and West Coast's Bailey Williams all put up their hands to play in Round 1 over the weekend.
And that's great news for KFC SuperCoach players.
Cheapies are the key to a successful squad and we need players who will get games early for their AFL sides.
The Rookie Bible rates more than 90 of the best cheapies including every Marsh Series SuperCoach score. Spoiler alert: Lock in Tiger Marlion Pickett.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ROOKIE BIBLE
Updated SuperCoach Rookie Bible
Essendon's Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Collingwood's Darcy Cameron and West Coast's Bailey Williams all put up their hands to play in Round 1 over the weekend.
And that's great news for KFC SuperCoach players.
Cheapies are the key to a successful squad and we need players who will get games early for their AFL sides.
The Rookie Bible rates more than 90 of the best cheapies including every Marsh Series SuperCoach score. Spoiler alert: Lock in Tiger Marlion Pickett.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ROOKIE BIBLE
Injury blow for Hawks defender
Hawthorn defender Blake Hardwick appears set for an extended stint on the sidelines with a chest muscle injury.
Hawks football staff are reportedly due to meet on Monday to determine a course of action.
Hardwick has become an integral member of Hawthorn’s back six over the past three years and the injury comes as a major blowahead of the Hawks' season opener against Brisbane at the MCG on March 22.
The 23-year-old played every game for the Hawks across 2018 and 2019 and secured top-five finishes in the club’s best-and-fairest award in both years.
The injury could open the door for rookie Damon Greaves, who impressed in defence in the Hawks' Marsh Series game against St Kilda.
Hawthorn takes on Melbourne in its final pre-season hitout in Launceston on Friday night.
AFL 2020 crystal ball
No Cats in the top eight?
That's David King's brave 2020 prediction, along with a West Coast premiership and Marcus Bontempelli Brownlow.
Click here to see all our expert predictions in this year's crystal ball.
Blues breathe a sigh of relief as Docherty returns unscathed
LUCY BISHOP – HERALD SUN
Carlton fans got their first glimpse at the No.15 in action after a long 900 days on the sidelines, as much-loved Blue Sam Docherty made his return to football on Saturday in Mandurah.
Reminding the Carlton faithful that he is still the defensive general, Docherty collected 19 disposals and 10 rebound 50s in what was a disappointing 47-point loss to Fremantle in the Marsh Community Series clash.
“It’s good to be out here and have a run around. It’s better than sitting on the bench with the headset on,” Docherty said.
“It was pleasing to get through the full game and play the minutes I was supposed to.
“In the last quarter I went to take off and a couple of cramps set in. I think that’s pretty normal for this time of year. Other than that, the knee felt awesome.”
With co-captain Patrick Cripps representing the All Stars in the Bushfire Relief State of Origin match, and Marc Murphy and Lachie Plowman absent, Docherty hopes he will be joined by the Carlton stars on Sunday when they take on Brisbane at Ikon Park.
“It wasn’t the result we were after and we’ve got a bit to work on before Round 1 which is good.”
Tiger’s cheeky Moore pitch
Lauren Wood
Darcy Moore has more than just a potential new team on offer should he choose to leave Collingwood at the end of this season.
The star defender has revealed that there might be a handy feed on offer, too.
Moore, who represented Victoria in Friday night’s State of Origin bushfire clash alongside key Tigers Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch and Bachar Houli, revealed that there had been “a little bit” of needling from the premiership crew about him potentially moving to Punt Road.
“Bachar was telling me about the Lebanese barbecues that he hosts,” Moore laughed.
Full Story: https://bit.ly/2TsmSdj
Cox’s spot under fire? New Pie takes his shot
Lucy Bishop
Collingwood’s bargain recruit Darcy Cameron is eyeing off a round 1 debut, threatening Mason Cox’s spot after an impressive hit out in the ruck against Richmond in Wangaratta.
Determined not to take his AFL lifeline for granted, Nathan Buckley said Cameron’s performance has been a big strength to the side, finishing the Richmond game with two goals, 12 disposals and four tackles, further edging his way closer to face the Western Bulldogs on March 20.
“It was a good way to start the season, there’s been a lot of hard work since the Christmas break and it’s good to get out on the track and have a bit of fun,” Cameron said.
“All the boys help me with that [getting my hands on the ball] and back me in, so I just go out there and try and do my role.
“I think we started well. Our second and third quarter we sort of went away from what was working. Bucks gave a good speech at three quarter time and we sort of brought it back to what we do best.
“[Jordan De Goey] put on a bit of a show; it’s nice to watch right up and close.”
Cameron will get his next chance to outshine Cox on Sunday 8 March, when they head to Morwell to take on St Kilda for their final preseason game.
“It’ll be nice to get out there again and hopefully play four quarters of football and get ready for round 1.”
LAUREN WOOD
Collingwood has confirmed it sustained not one but two ACL injuries over the last week.
Defender and cross-code star Ash Brazill ruptured her ACL on Friday night, the Magpies confirmed today, and also sustained injury to her medial crucial ligament and meniscus in the process.
But a 12th ACL injury since the start of the AFL Women’s preseason was revealed after Georgia Gourlay injured her knee at training last Wednesday, marking a third ACL injury for the young Magpie.
“The whole club is devastated for ‘Braz’ who will sit aside for not one but two campaigns this year,” Collingwood’s women’s sport boss, Jane Woodlands-Thompson said.
“With Braz being in the prime of her career, with Australian honours across both of her codes, the news is extremely disappointing.
“Another heartbreak for the club (with Georgia) It’s hard to comprehend this is the third occurrence for Georgia. This is a case of extreme bad luck.”
It is understood that Brazill will not face surgery immediately with the surrounding issues to be dealt with first.
In a third blow, Ruby Schleicher will miss the remainder of the AFLW season after injuring her wrist in Friday night’s loss.
“Our support is also behind Ruby who had shown such resilience in making a return from a earlier injury,” Woodlands-Thompson said.
