AFL teams: Geelong recalls Rhys Stanley for semi-final with West Coast
Geelong was roundly criticised for their controversial ruck ploy last week against Collingwood but the Cats will take on West Coast with a recognised ruckman — unless coach Chris Scott pulls another late swiftie.
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Geelong has recalled ruckman Rhys Stanley and midfielder Cam Guthrie for Friday night’s semi-final against West Coast, which has forced to withdraw Willie Rioli because of an anti-doping ban.
Cats coach Chris Scott was criticised for not playing a recognised ruckman against Collingwood in last week’s qualifying final after Stanley was a shock late change.
Magpies big Brodie Grundy dominated in Collingwood’s 10-point win.
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It’s no surprise Stanley returns to help the Cats curb Nic Naitanui, while Guthrie returns from a calf injury.
They replace injured pair Gary Rohan and Mitch Duncan.
Naitanui was outstanding in the Eagles’ home annihilation of Essendon last week in only his fourth game for the year after a long recovery from a knee reconstruction and then a late-season ankle injury.
West Coast went like-for-like in replacing brilliant small forward Willie Rioli, who was last night sensationally suspended in relation to an ASADA investigation, calling in Jack Petruccelle.
Second-year opportunist Petruccelle has been a regular for the Eagles and will play his 20th game for the season tonight.
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TOMLINSON’S INSTANT RETURN
Jon Ritson
Adam Tomlinson’s brief exile from the Giants side is over and while his future remains uncertain — with both the Demons and St Kilda keen to tempt him away — his selfless attitude has been lauded by coach Leon Cameron.
Having played in 80 of the previous 81 games, the 26-year-old was a shock exclusion from last weekend’s elimination final-winning team against the Western Bulldogs at Giants Stadium.
Brett Deledio was given the nod for the game but suffered another calf injury during the game that has all but ended his playing career.
A tearful Deledio was chaired off by two teammates after the win — skipper Phil Davis on one side, Tomlinson on the other.
Cameron later said that gesture “spoke volumes” about Tomlinson.
Deledio’s woe opened the door for an instant return.
“It was a tough decision last week but Adam’s attitude has continued to be first class. He’s worked really hard and he’s ready to take his opportunity,” Cameron said.
“We know what he brings to our side, the boys love playing with him and he’s looking forward to getting out on to the Gabba on Saturday night.”
Speaking to Macquarie Radio, Tomlinson said he knew earlier in the week that he could miss out as possible match-ups were discussed.
“It’s unfortunate for me but it worked out pretty well for the team that we won the game,” he said.
ROBBO OUT, ROBBO IN
Andrew Hamilton
Brisbane has prepared themselves for war with GWS by calling up one aggro Robbo to replace the other.
In trying to find a replacement for the injured “unique beast” Mitch Robinson, coach Chris Fagan and his match committee found they couldn’t look past tough-as-nails utility Nick Robertson.
His selection is the only change to the side that lost to Richmond last week.
Fagan described Robinson as a unique beast this week when he admitted any coach in the league would struggle to find an identical replacement for him, and Robertson, while a good runner, is not as athletic as the injured Tasmanian.
But he is every bit as physical.
GWS made a deliberate attempt to unsettle the Bulldogs last week, with Toby Greene’s antics landing him in front of the tribunal where he was slapped with a massive $7500 fine.
Lions great Alastair Lynch has no doubts Brisbane will lose nothing in the physical stakes with the West Australian’s call-up.
“He is going to be ferocious,’’ Lynch said.
“He is the perfect one to come in against GWS given the way they want to play and what they showed last weekend against the Western Bulldogs.
“You don’t want him to cross the line but he will definitely fight fire with fire.’’
Robertson has always played on the edge and occasionally steps over it.
He was rubbed out for a week in 2017 for head butting Trent Cotchin and copped an additional fine for kneeing superstar Dustin Martin during a spiteful contest in which he tagged the Tigers superstar.
He was banned for another week last year for striking Giant Harry Himmelberg.
He has also copped fines for tangling with Sun Tom Nicholls, Port’s Travis Boak and Melbourne’s Jordan Lewis over his career, and drove Swans star Lance Franklin over the edge with his physicality on the SCG in 2017.
WEEK 2 FINALS TEAMS
GEELONG V WEST COAST
Friday September 13, 7:50pm at the MCG
CATS
B: Kolodjashnij, Blicavs, Henry
HB: O’Connor, Taylor, Stewart
C: Guthrie, Dangerfield, Selwood
HF: Ablett, Ratugolea, Atkins
F: Dahlhaus, Hawkins, Miers
FOLL: Stanley, Parfitt, Kelly
I/C: Tuohy, Menegola, Narkle, Bews
EMG: Selwood, Smith, Parsons, Henderson
IN: Guthrie, Stanley
OUT: Rohan (injured), Duncan (injured)
EAGLES
B: Barrass, Schofield, Sheppard
HB: Hurn, McGovern, Jetta
C: Redden, Yeo, Gaff
HF: Cripps, Darling, Masten
F: Petruccelle, Kennedy, L. Ryan
FOLL: Naitanui, Shuey, Sheed
I/C: Waterman, Hickey, Nelson, Hutchings
EMG: Allen, Duggan, Vardy, Ah Chee
IN: Petruccelle
OUT: Rioli (suspension)
BRISBANE V GWS
Saturday September 14, 7:25pm at the Gabba
LIONS
B: Hodge, Andrews, Adams
HB: Witherden, Gardiner, Rich
C: Zorko, Berry, Bailey
HF: Cameron, Hipwood, McCluggage
F: McInerney, McStay, Rayner
FOLL: Martin, Neale, Lyons
I/C: Christensen, McCarthy, Robertson, Answerth
EMG: Bastinac, Walker, Taylor, Lester
IN: Robertson
OUT: Robinson (injured)
GIANTS
B: Davis, Corr, Kennedy
HB: Shaw, Taylor, Haynes
C: Whitfield, Hopper, Finlayson
HF: Kelly, Cameron, Daniels
F: Tomlinson, Himmelberg, De Boer
FOLL: Mumford, Perryman, Greene
I/C: Williams, Taranto, Reid, Lloyd
EMG: Hately, Cumming, Keeffe, Hill
IN: Tomlinson
OUT: Deledio
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