First-round draftee Isaac Quaynor will make his debut for Collingwood on Friday night against Hawthorn.
Here's how coach Nathan Buckley announced the news:
AFL trade whispers: Essendon's Orazio Fantasia dismisses report he wants out of Bombers
Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia says he was as surprised as anyone to hear he'd been linked with a trade request back to his home state while his manager has declared Fantasia is going nowhere.
Essendon speedster Orazio Fantasia says he will not pursue a trade.
Fantasia, 23, was yesterday linked to a move to Port Adelaide.
But the gun goal kicker said he was not exploring his options.
“I heard that (trade report) today, it was a bit of a laugh and the boys had a bit of a laugh about it,” Fantasia said.
“I signed (a contract) last year in August, so I think that shows my commitment to the footy club.”
The South Australian is tied to Essendon until 2021.
Fantasia is one of Essendon's most important players, his speed and nous around goal crucial to the club's hopes of playing finals in coming seasons.
His manager Anthony McConville, from Mac’s Sports, told the Herald Sun the Bomber was not exploring a trade.
“He is going nowhere,” McConville said.
“He is happy where he is and he has just signed a contract.”
Port Adelaide declined to enter into any public speculation surrounding the swirling rumours that Fantasia was looking to move home.
Port issued a quick “no comment” when asked about the Fantasia rumour that started on Wednesday at lunchtime.
Updates
Isaac Quaynor to debut for Collingwood
Epic finish to Under-18 national carnival
Cats coach confident on Kelly
Geelong coach Chris Scott is confident star midfielder Tim Kelly is on track to continue his AFL career with the Cats beyond this season.
Kelly, who is out of contract at the end of the year, was a revelation in his stunning debut season and has taken his game to another level to be installed as favourite for the 2019 Brownlow Medal.
Citing family reasons, Kelly requested a trade to West Coast last year and it has been widely expected he will attempt to take his young family home to Perth again at the end of this campaign.
Scott doesn’t know for certain where Kelly sees his football future, but he told reporters on Wednesday that the signs are positive he will remain in Geelong.
“If you separate the footy side, which has never been in doubt – he’s having the time of his life on the footy field and is playing accordingly,” Scott said. “But his family life, according to him and he’s said it publicly, is much better than it was.
“I think that has less to do with where he’s living and more to do with the fact that his twins are a year older.
“They can be a handful, young kids, for anyone … much less having moved across the country and playing AFL footy every week with all of the difficulties that entails.
“If Tim’s happiness is the measure then I think it’s all on track.”
Manager denies Fantasia trade rumours
Essendon speedster Orazio Fantasia is going nowhere, according to his manager Anthony McConville.
Fantasia, 23, was today linked to a move to Port Adelaide as part of a shock trade.
But McConville, from Mac’s Sports, told the Herald Sun Fantasia was not exploring a trade.
The South Australian signed a contract last August, tying him to Essendon until 2021.
“He is going nowhere,” McConville said.
“He is happy where he is and he has just signed a contract.”
Fantasia is one of Essendon’s most important players with his speed and nous around goals crucial to the club’s hopes of playing finals in coming seasons.
I’ll always be that punch guy: Staker
Former AFL star Brent Staker is stepping back into the spotlight — on reality television.
But the retired Eagles and Lions player says he’s learned to accept that, even with a new television audience, he will be seen as the footballer who was knocked out by Barry Hall.
The vicious blow to Staker’s head, which happened during a West Coast-Sydney game in 2008, shocked the football world.
Hall, who has since described the punch as a “low act” that “could have killed” Staker, was suspended for seven weeks over the incident.
Full Story: https://bit.ly/2Ns2Hwl
An injury concern at the Under-18 National Championships
Essendon’s Jake Stringer is closing on an AFL return after a frustrating injury- enforced absence, the mercurial forward a chance to take on Sydney at the MCG on Saturday.
Stringer hasn’t played since the Bombers’ win over Hawthorn on June 14 when he suffered a heavy blow to his right shin.
Initial fears he had suffered a break were allayed, but the 2015 All Australian’s attempts to return to the field have been thwarted by the onset of soreness as he’s increased training loads.
“It was one of those injuries where he was pretty sore post-game, but he was thinking ‘Don’t rule me out next week’,” said coach John Worsfold on Wednesday.
“He quickly realised after three or four days he wasn’t going to get up.
“He couldn’t quite put the full body weight through it for longer periods but it’s coming along.
”… He’s done some running earlier in the week and is feeling pretty good so he’ll do some training today as part of assessing where he’s at.
“He’s a chance to be selected this week.”
Stringer’s availability would be a huge boost for Worsfold as he ponders an injury-enforced change to his on-field structure for Saturday’s game against the resurgent Swans.
Essendon’s delight at their stunning last-minute win over GWS has been tempered by the loss of No.1 ruckman Tom Bellchambers, who will be sidelined for six weeks with a calf injury.
The ruckman’s departure in the second quarter forced a reshuffle, with Cale Hooker the hero with two goals, including the winner, after switching from defence, and Shaun McKernan impressing after he was thrown into the ruck. Worsfold could go with McKernan in the ruck again or look to former Fremantle big man Zac Clarke, who has managed three senior games since the Bombers offered him a chance to revive his AFL career.
“Zac’s been great in terms of understanding the role that he’s been playing for us this year,” Worsfold said.
“He’s fit, available and ready to go.
“If selected we’re confident he’s going to perform well for us.” The Swans have their own issues in the ruck with Callum Sinclair sidelined after a dislocating a shoulder in the win over Gold Coast.
Teague 'doing it his way' - And it's working
MICHAEL RANDALL
Interim Carlton coach David Teague says he has been delivered a simple message from Carlton’s hierarchy — ‘do it your way’.
Teague, who sports a 2-1 record with the Blues since taking over from Brendon Bolton said he had been given a licence by the Blues to “coach the way I want to coach”.
And it appears to be working, with the club finally enjoying a little success with a last-gasp road win over Fremantle on Sunday.
“I’m having a ball at the moment, I’m loving what I’m doing, I’m passionate about the game and the way it’s played and it’s something that I enjoy,” Teague said on 3AW.
“To see the players’ faces (after the win) on the weekend and to see them smile the way they do and know that you’re playing a role in that, it’s a pretty cool feeling.
“We want our players to play well and we think we’ve got a fair bit of attacking flair in us but we’re also keen to defend strongly and so far the balance has been pretty good.
“So far, the way the guys have applied themselves and the way they’ve tried to execute it has been really enjoyable and pleasing to watch.”
Teague admitted the club had given him “no guarantees”, but had fully supported his endeavours as caretaker.
“I looked at our group and I was excited by our group and I knew pretty much what I wanted to change, I knew the key areas I wanted to adjust as a group,” he said.
“I’m pretty aggressive in the way we play and (when) an opportunity like this came up I was jumping at it.”
The Blues’ win — courtesy of a late match-winning goal from Marc Murphy — came without stars Patrick Cripps and Harry McKay and they lost Charlie Curnow to a knee injury early in the first term.
Lyon not interested in Cornes’ comments
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is doing his best to bite his tongue after former Port star Kane Cornes accused the Dockers of being arrogant.
Cornes criticised star Dockers duo Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters for mocking players during games.
Fyfe ruffled the hair of Port opponent Robbie Gray three weeks ago, while Walters blew kisses at some opponents in that same match.
The Dockers have since dropped games to strugglers Melbourne and Carlton, with Cornes believing Fremantle have been bitten by their arrogance. But Lyon was in no mood to engage in a tit-for-tat when asked about the comments of the 300-game Port legend.
“I have a rule of thumb, I don’t really comment on commentators’ opinions,” Lyon told the Seven Network.
“So I’ll keep it at that and make no comment.
“I’m not here to validate. It’s only important if you value someone’s opinion, so it’s a moot point with me.” The Dockers (7-7) were left clinging to eighth spot following Sunday’s shock four-point loss to Carlton, and they’ll be aiming to bounce back in Saturday night’s western derby.
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