Panic Room: Late Round 22 selection whispers

RORY Sloane has had a light week on the training track after hurting his knee against Essendon, while Will Hoskin-Elliott is in doubt and two teams have already made late changes. SELECTION WHISPERS

Rory Sloane at Adelaide training this week. Picture: Sarah Reed

ADELAIDE is guaranteed a home final barring a calamitous final two home and away rounds so will coach Don Pyke risk his star midfielder Rory Sloane?

Sloane injured his knee last Saturday night against Essendon at Etihad Stadium and has been on light duties at training this week.

He trained during the club’s main session on Wednesday and said it was all a matter of how he pulled up.

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The Crows are on a six-day break and Sloane himself admitted on Wednesday there would be “no risks” taken at this time of year.

“I’ve been icing it flat out, didn’t do too much early in the week, six-day break, so I was doing plenty of recovery,” Sloane told Triple M in Adelaide.

“(I) did the full session today and got through pretty well so I reckon if it pulls up well, I should be right to go.

Rory Sloane at Adelaide training this week. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Obviously there are no risks at this time of year with where we sit, but it’s a big game as well.

“If I’m fine to play, I absolutely can’t wait to play this game.”

COLLINGWOOD will be sweating on the fitness of midfielder Will Hoskin-Elliott after he suffered a hip injury against Port Adelaide last Sunday and was clearly hobbled despite playing out the game — albeit not in his natural wing position but rather up forward.

Hoskin-Elliott has been named on the bench for Saturday’s clash against Geelong but must pass a fitness test.

Will Hoskin-Elliott suffered a hip injury against Port Adelaide. Picture: Getty

GEELONG, meanwhile could swing a late change after defender Tom Lonergan was treated for a leg injury against Richmond.

With rain likely at the MCG, the Cats may choose to rest the veteran and use Lachie Henderson and Jake Kolodjashnij as match-ups for in-form Magpie Ben Reid and Darcy Moore.

Also keep an eye on Daniel Menzel’s name when the final 22 is named 90 minutes before the bounce tomorrow.

Menzel has been rested a number of times this year already and despite helping the Cats to a vital win over the Tigers, he looked proppy at various stages.

GWS has already been forced to make a change to its selected 22 to face the Eagles, with ruck-forward Rory Lobbe to miss with hamstring tightness.

Youngster Harry Himmelberg is his replacement.

Dale Morris is back from a broken arm. Picture: Michael Klein

WHO said Dale Morris might have played his last game for the year?

The veteran Bulldog is set to make a quicker-than-expected return from a broken arm against Port Adelaide in Ballarat.

Morris missed just three weeks with the injury.

NORTH Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell is a certain starter against St Kilda on Sunday despite requiring surgery on his foot post-season.

The Kangaroos have been assured the midfielder is at no risk of further damage by two separate specialists.

“We were obviously really careful with that (injury), we sought a second opinion and it was exactly the same as the first, so we’re very confident that there’s very little risk,” coach Brad Scott said today.

Jack Ziebell will play against St Kilda. Picture: Michael Klein

“There’s always a risk in any contact sport but the surgeon’s advice is that he’s right to play.

“That’s pain permitting but that rarely stops Jack.”

But the Kangaroos have been forced to make a change to its extended squad with defender Aaron Mullett withdrawn.

Mullett will miss with a calf injury. Yougnster Josh Williams comes into the extended squad.

FREMANTLE has also made a change to its extended squad for the clash against Richmond at Subiaco, with forward Shane Kersten out with a groin injury.

Garrick Ibbotson comes into the squad.