Panic Room: Late Round 20 selection whispers, SuperCoach advice and best bets

PANIC ROOM: Luke Beveridge has opened up on Bob Murphy’s listing as ‘travelling emergency’ on this week’s team sheet. What does it all mean? Get all the latest selection news here.

Bob Murphy will not play for the Western Bulldogs this week. Picture: Michael Klein

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has opened up on Bob Murphy’s listing as “travelling emergency” on this week’s team sheet.

The skipper was on Thursday night named as the emergency that will travel to Brisbane ahead of the reigning premiers’ clash with Brisbane, and while Beveridge stressed that Murphy is “not dropped, not rested”, in another situation he would have stayed in Melbourne and had a weekend off playing.

Beveridge said the Bulldogs have three players returning to the VFL after limited game time who the team couldn’t afford have travel north and then not play.

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And with two six-day breaks thrown into the mix, Beveridge said Murphy would have needed to miss one of the two weeks and given the “slim” chance of being required, the current situation is at hand.

“With Bob, we really wanted him to play this week but we figured that there might be a chance that he might need to miss one of these two because of the short turnaround. He’s still got a little bit of residual soreness because of that knee procedure earlier on in the year when he had a clean-up,” Beveridge said.

“As much as we wanted him to play this week, he hasn’t quite come up as cherry-ripe as we’d like. As far as taking someone up to Brisbane, there’s still a chance he might play. If we need him, he’ll play.

Bob Murphy will not play for the Western Bulldogs this week. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“He’s definitely not omitted, but we’ve decided that we may as well give him this week off and go into next Friday feeling fresh. He’s still capable of playing. We just went with what his status is (in listing the team), not why. But he’s still available to play. We’ve probably invented some terminology, but that’s the way it is.”

Beveridge said it is “a shame that we have to provide explanations these days” around selection.

MEANWHILE, Greater Western Sydney’s injury woes continue with star forward Jon Patton out against Melbourne.

The 24-year-old felt some hamstring tightness at training during the week and was withdrawn on Friday.

He joins fellow key forward Jeremy Cameron on the sidelines.

Patton missing is a huge win for Melbourne, with the Demons looking to bounce back from last week’s horror loss to North Melbourne.

The Demons have struggled against opposition key forwards this year, with Ben Brown, Taylor Walker, Lance Franklin and Drew Petrie kicking four or more goals against Melbourne throughout the season.

Jon Patton in action for the Giants last week. Picture: Getty Images

Uncertainty still surrounds the status of star Adelaide forward Eddie Betts as he pushes to come back after having his appendix out.

Betts told radio FIVE-AA on Friday morning he needed to pass a fitness test on Saturday morning when the Crows will train behind locked gates at Adelaide Oval.

Adelaide will recall defender Jake Lever (knee-hamstring) and midfielder Brad Crouch who will wear a helmet to protect the cheekbone fractured during the home clash with Geelong a fortnight ago.

That puts defender Andy Otten and either Paul Seedsman or Wayne Milera under pressure to hold their spots.

Port Adelaide looks set to recall forward Angus Monfries for his first AFL match since Round 22, 2015.

Monfries spent all of 2016 on the sidelines, serving a WADA imposed ban.

In his 10 SANFL matches this year, Monfries has booted 13 goals and has been named in the Power’s best players three times.

Dan Houston is also in the mix to come into the final 22.

Sydney has named both Jake Lloyd and Gary Rohan for Friday night’s clash with Geelong.

Both Lloyd (hip) and Rohan (back) were late withdrawals against Hawthorn last week.

The pair trained away from the main group during the week but they have been cleared to play.

Gary Ablett looks set to play his first away game since Round 12 when the Suns take on the Dockers this week.

Angus Monfries looks set to play for Port Adelaide this weekend. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The two-time Brownlow Medal winner flew out with the Suns on Thursday.

Ablett was a late withdrawal last week with a calf injury.

Carlton has named Matthew Kreuzer for its clash with Essendon.

Kreuzer suffered concussion in a much publicised tackle from Patrick Dangerfield last week.

He was under close watch from the Blues doctors all week and was cleared fit to play on Thursday night.

ON NOTICE — MELBOURNE

Last week’s loss to North Melbourne was a shocker. Now Melbourne must travel to Western Sydney to take on one of the premiership favourites.

With Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton out, this is a real chance for the Demons to get one back.

A win and Melbourne could be knocking on the door of the top four.

However, a loss and the Demons could be out of the eight.

The stakes don’t get much bigger.

Last week did not go well for Christian Petracca and the Demons. Picture: Getty Images

SUPERCOACH ADVICE

No Patrick Dangerfield, no worries.

We think we have found the man who is going to fill the void.

This week we suggest putting the “captain tag” on Fremantle star Nat Fyfe and watch the points come in.

Fyfe has hit top form in recent weeks, averaging 136 over his last five games and 142 over his last three.

The Dockers take on a Suns outfit that is on the road with not much to play for. This could lead to a HUGE score.

THE BET

We like the Demons as an underdog this week. As previously mentioned, no Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton is huge.

TAB has Melbourne listed at $2.60 while you can get them +11.5 points at the line.

If you’re looking for some Saturday night interest, multi the Magpies to beat North Melbourne into the Dockers to take care of the Suns paying $2.29.