AFL 2023: All the latest selection news and Round 16 teams

Richmonds confirms its key forward could miss the rest of the season as Marlion Pickett is set to return, while Geelong could welcome back two key player. Here’s the latest.

The surge of Richmond under caretaker coach Andrew McQualter won’t be boosted by the return of star forward Tom Lynch any time soon.

Amid ongoing concern over the best and fairest winner’s recovery from a broken foot, the Tigers confirmed on Wednesday that Lynch would be sidelined indefinitely and the club could only hope he plays again in 2023.

Lynch, who has booted 192 goals in four seasons at Richmond, hasn’t played since he sustained the injury in round 4 against the Western Bulldogs.

“The bone healing process takes time, and we want to be absolutely certain that it is right before we step up Tom’s training load,” Richmond high performance Manager Luke Meehan said.

“While we remain hopeful that we can get him back at some stage later in the season, it is still difficult to put an exact timeframe on right now.

“Tom will have another scan on the fracture in a couple of weeks, giving us a much clearer picture.”

Tom Lynch could miss the remainder of the 2023 season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/Getty

The Tigers have won three matches in a row and sit 12th on the ladder and within striking distance of the top eight ahead of a Thursday night clash with the Lions in Brisbane.

Despite having the chance to make finals, Meehan said the club wouldn’t risk further injury by bringing Lynch back sooner than he was ready.

“He is clearly a significant player and someone with a lot of football ahead of him, so his long-term health is our priority,” Meehan added.

“Any long-term injury is frustrating, but Tom is a pro and attacking his rehab really hard, providing leadership around the group and direction for younger forwards.”

Lynch has played 85 matches for Richmond since crossing from the Gold Coast Suns in 2019.

CATS BOOST AS KEY PLAYERS RETURN FOR SWANS

Geelong is set to welcome back star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield and defender Esava Ratugolea for its crunch clash against Sydney.

Dangerfield missed the win over Melbourne with a rib and lung injury after copping a big bump against Port Adelaide in round 14. The Brownlow medallist completed a full session on Monday and coach Chris Scott confirmed after training on Tuesday that he is expected to face the Swans on Friday night.

Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said Ratugolea could have played last Thursday night and will partner Cats interceptors Tom Stewart and Sam De Koning in their back six.

Patrick Dangerfield is close to a return for Geelong. Picture: Alan Barber

Spearhead Jeremy Cameron has been managed through the AFL’s concussion protocols after copping an accidental blow from teammate Gary Rohan against the Demons and will continue to be assessed throughout the week.

“Esava could have played last week, he was very close to playing and expect Esava to be available this week,” Lloyd said.

“Obviously it was a very big hit on Thursday night and Jezza is being managed and being managed very well by our medical team and now gone into the concussion protocols and we will be guided by our medical team on his progress and he will be assessed throughout the week.”

PICKET RETURNS FOR TIGERS TO FACE LIONS

Marlion Pickett is set to return for Richmond on Thursday night as the club steamrolls towards September.

Pickett missed the Tigers’ clash with St Kilda in Round 14 after he was arrested in Perth earlier this month and charged with a string of offences including four counts of aggravated burglary.

But after training strongly over the bye period, Pickett is expected to fly to Brisbane on Wednesday where the Tigers will play Brisbane on Thursday night.

“Marlion has trained to a high standard since returning to the club from a short break and will put his hand up to play against Brisbane,” Richmond football boss Tim Livingstone said on Monday.

“His teammates love what he brings to us on and off the field.

“As we have said, we think the best thing for him is to be back at the club, working hard and in a football routine of preparing to play and enjoying the company of his teammates.

“We will continue to support Marlion for his return to football and going forward.”

Marlion Pickett will return on Thursday night. Picture: Michael Klein.

As part of Pickett’s bail conditions, he is required to attend Reservoir police station every Tuesday before he faces a committal mention via video-link to Perth in August.

The prospect of Thursday night games and associated interstate travel, such as this week’s, was raised in court in setting his weekly check-in day.

Pickett had also been battling a hip pointer issue that also benefited from the extra lay-off into the bye week.

Richmond sits just half a game outside the top eight and has won five of its past seven games.

Tigers midfielder Dion Prestia won’t travel after the club revealed he had suffered a calf strain that will sideline him for the short term.

Fellow ballwinner Jacob Hopper (calf), ruck Samson Ryan (ankle) and Noah Cumberland (calf) are all available for selection after completing Monday morning’s main training session.

CLARRY’S TROUBLESOME HAMMY STRIKES AGAIN

The Clayton Oliver saga rolls on for another week with the Melbourne star to miss Sunday’s clash with the GWS Giants.

Further scans of Oliver’s troublesome hamstring have revealed he still hasn’t fully recovered from the injury which originally struck back in Round 10.

The Demons were forced to dispel rumours there was more to the midfield’s absence who also spent five nights in hospital with an infected blister.

Oliver trained last week, including the light captain’s run before Thursday night’s game against Geelong, but is believed to have tweaked the hamstring again.

Melbourne football performance manager Alan Richardson confirmed Oliver’s return was on hold for another week.

“Clayton had follow-up scans on his hamstring last week, those scans - in combination with some of our objective markers - have shown he’s not quite ready to progress through the final stages of our return-to-play program,” Richardson said.

“He’s continuing to integrate into team training as we continue to build him through those final stages of his hamstring rehabilitation program.”

Clayton Oliver has still not recovered from a nagging hamstring injury. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Oliver hurt the hamstring during the Round 10 loss to Port Adelaide but was then able to run freely the following week with suggestions he may not even miss a week.

That didn’t eventuate and then the mysterious blister issue set him back further before the re-injuring of the hamstring which means he will now be sidelined for six weeks.

Demons defender Michael Hibberd will also miss the Giants clash after suffering a minor injury to his kidney in last Thursday night’s loss to Geelong.

“Unfortunately for Michael, during one of the early contests in the game he suffered an injury to his lower ribs,” Richardson said.

“Following further imaging, it’s shown that he has minor damage to his kidney, which will require him to be limited from contact for a short-term period to allow healing.

“Once we get clearance from the medical professionals we’ve been consulting with, he’ll re-integrate into contest work.”

On a positive note forward Tom McDonald is back running after major ankle surgery earlier this month.