AFL Round 21 teams: See this week’s ins and outs plus expert tips and injury news

Collingwood has provided an update on Brodie Grundy’s latest setback which is worse than first thought.

Collingwood star ruckman Brodie Grundy faces more time on the sidelines to repair a bone stress injury in his ankle.

As News Corp reported on Thursday, the gun big man’s ankle injury was worse than first expected following scans this week.

Grundy, 28, hurt his ankle playing in the VFL at the weekend and reported more soreness after battling through training on Tuesday.

The dual best-and-fairest winner and All-Australian ruckman is in doubt to play next weekend against Sydney Swans and could yet be sidelined for the rest of the regular season.

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Brodie Grundy faces more time on the sidelines. Picture: David Crosling

It is an unfortunate setback for the ace ruckman whose future at Collingwood remains uncertain as the Magpies consider trading him.

Collingwood was hopeful Grundy would be fit to help lead the club’s ruck division in finals but the ankle injury has put his comeback plans on hold.

Collingwood football manager Graham Wright confirmed Grundy’s setback and said the Magpies were still considering how to treat the injury. The club was hopeful surgery is not required.

“He won’t play this week and we will make an assessment over the weekend. He isn’t a certainty (to play) in relation to next week,” Wright said on Fox Footy.

“It is a bone stress issue. It wasn’t something he took into the game.

“The pleasing thing is the knee feels really good.

“It is something we need to get in top of and we aren’t 100 per cent sure which way we will go.”

Grundy has not played since he hurt his knee in Round 6 against Essendon in the ANZAC Day blockbuster.

Talls Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox have fired in Grundy’s absence, giving Collingwood the scope to consider trading Grundy.

The star big man has five years to run on a $950,000-a-season deal.

Port Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney has shown interest in Grundy, while other clubs are also expected.

Collingwood will be active in this year’s exchange period with the club set to target Brisbane’s Daniel McStay and GWS pair Tim Taranto and Bobby Hill.

The Magpies have put off talks on Jordan De Goey’s future until the end of the season following a behavioural issue in Bali on his midseason break.

St Kilda has some interest in De Goey but has not made the free agent an offer.

Key Blues duo ‘managed’ for crunch clash

Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet has surprisingly been managed just a week after returning from a PCL injury as the Blues’ finals hopes hang in the balance.

Pittonet has been listed as an emergency after being named in the ruck in the initial team on Thursday night, with small forward Corey Durdin also managed after a fitness test on Friday.

The 26-year-old ruck had eight touches and 30 hitouts in the Blues’ shock loss to Adelaide, his first match back in the senior side since round six.

One more win should secure a finals berth for the Blues but they face three tough fixtures, starting with the Lions.

Jack Martin will return for his first senior outing since he was subbed out with a calf injury in round 14, with fringe midfielder Paddy Dow also elevated along with defender Caleb Marchbank and Jack Newnes.

Paddy Dow has been included in Carlton’s squad. Picture: Michael Klein

Last week’s medical substitute Jack Silvagni has also been included in the 22.

Brisbane has dropped veteran Mitch Robinson again and its defence has been boosted by the inclusions of rebounder Daniel Rich and stopper Brandon Starcevich.

North Melbourne has axed three players and will welcome back experienced pair Aaron Hall and Aiden Corr among four inclusions.

Adelaide will go in unchanged for its trip west against the Eagles, who regain veteran Josh Kennedy for his 293rd and final game of his career after announcing his retirement this week.

Two spearheads will return for the blockbuster Melbourne-Collingwood clash on Friday night, with Brody Mihocek and Ben Brown both recovering from their respective injuries.

First-year key defender Josh Gibcus will replace the injured Dylan Grimes, with the Tigers opting to manage Shane Edwards after his 300th game, giving Maurice Rioli a spot in the 22.

Port Adelaide has suffered a blow leading into its clash with the Tigers with top goalkicker Todd Marshall sidelined through Covid protocols, replaced by mid-season draftee Brynn Teakle.

Dan Houston makes his way back into the side after missing with Covid protocols last week.

In a blow for KFC SuperCoach teams, popular backline rookies Jacob Wehr (GWS), Buku Khamis (Western Bulldogs) and Massimo D’Ambrosio (Essendon) will all miss round 21. Wehr has a calf injury while Khamis and D’Ambrosio were dropped.

Darcy has had a difficult year after he was sidelined for nearly half of the year with a navicular bone stress fracture in his foot.

But the mobile big man has excelled in the VFL since his return, highlighted by a dominant 20 disposal, 14 mark performance against Werribee on Saturday.

The 19-year-old was recruited at pick 2 in last year’s draft, taken as a father-son selection with Dad Luke playing 226 games for the Dogs.

Coach Luke Beveridge revealed the news to the playing group after training on Thursday which was met by rousing scenes from teammates.

“Yeah, just unbelievably excited, pretty overwhelming to be honest, emotional but nah just super excited to get out there,” the youngster said.

Sam Darcy will make his AFL debut against the Dockers. Picture: Michael Klein.

AFL TEAMS ROUND 21

MELBOURNE v COLLINGWOOD

Friday, August 5, 7:50pm at MCG

DEMONS

B: Rivers, Petty, May

HB: Jordon, Lever, Hibberd

C: Brayshaw, Oliver, Hunt

HF: Pickett, Fritscg, Langdon

F: Neal-Bullen, Brown, Spargo

R: Gawn, Viney, Petracca

I/C: Salem, Jackson Melksham, Sparrow

EMG: Harmes, Tomlinson, van Rooyen, Chandler

IN: Brown

OUT: Weideman (omitted), Chandler (sub)

MAGPIES

B: Murphy, Moore, Howe

HB: Pendlebury, Maynard, Quaynor

C: J.Daicos, Crisp, Noble

HF: Elliott, Cameron, Sidebottom

F: McCreery, Mihocek, DE Goet

FOLL: Cox, N.Daicos, Lipinski

I/C: Carmichael, Johnson, Hoskin-Elliott, Ginnivan

EMG: Bianco, Henry, C.Brown, kelly

IN: Mihocek

OUT: Adams (injured), Bianco (omitted)

HAWTHORN v GOLD COAST

Saturday, August 6, 1:45pm at UTAS Stadium

HAWKS

B: Sicily, Jeka, Scrimshaw

HB: Impey, Hardwick, Grainger-Barras

C: Ward, Mitchell, Morrison

HF: Serong, Breust, Macdonald

F: Butler, Gunston, Moore

FOLL: McEvoy, Nwcome, O‘Meara

I/C: Maginess, Nash, Day, Koschitze

EMG: Blank, Phillips, Howe

IN: Impey, Grainger-Barras, Serong

OUT: Jiath (suspended) Morris, Lewis (both injured), Blank (managed)

SUNS

B: Graham, Collins, Lemmens

HB: Faraar, Andrew, Ellis

C: Sharp, Miller, Hollands

HF: Ainsworth, Chol, Swallow

F: Lukosius, Casboult, Hollman

FOLL: Witts, Rowell, Anderson

I/C: Davies, Rankine, MacPherson, Rosas

EMG: Moyle, Bowes, Fiorini, Atkins

IN: Ellis, Davies

OUT: Atkins, Markov (both omitted), Oea (sub)

GWS GIANTS v ESSENDON

Saturday, August 6, 2:10pm at GIANTS Stadium

GIANTS

B: Cumming, Taylor, Haynes

HB: Kennedy, Keefe, Perryman

C: Kelly, Ward, Whitfield

HF: Taranto, Greene, Peatling

F: Coniglio, Hogan, Lloyd

FOLL: Preuss, Hopper, Green

I/C: Himmelberg, Aleer, Briggs

EMG: Brown, Ash, Fleeton, Bruhn

IN: Coniglio, Briggs, Riccardi

OUT: Ash, O‘Hallaran, Brown, (all omitted), Wehr (injured)

BOMBERS

B: Ridley, Laverde, Zerk-Thatcher

HB: Redman, Kelly, Hind

C:Durham, Langford, Heppell

HF: Guelfi, Martin, Hobbs

F: Wright, Stringer, Stewart

FOLL: Draper, Merrett, Parish

I/C: McGrath, Perkins, Snelling, Jones

EMG: D‘Ambrosio, Menzie, Bryan, Cutler

IN: Parish, McGrath

OUT: Caldwell, (injured), D‘Ambrosio, Menzie (sub)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE

Saturday, August 6, 4:35pm at Marvel Stadium

DOGS

B: Williams, Keath, Cordy

HB: Treloar, Darcy, Dale

C: Richards, Liberatore, Smith

HF: Johannisen, Bruce, Dunkley

F: Weightman, Naughton, Ugle-Hagan

FOL: English, Bontempelli, Macrae

I/C: West, McNeil, Daniel, Garcia

EMG: Martin, Vandermeer, McLean, Khamis

IN: Keath, Treloar, Darcy

OUT: Khamis, Hannan, McComb (all omitted), Gardner (injured)

DOCKERS

B: Chapman, Cox, Walker

HB: Young, Pearce, Ryan

C: Clark, Brayshaw, Acres

HF: Schultz, Lobb, Serong

F: Frederick, Taberner, Walters

FOL: Darcy, Brodie, Aish

I/C: Logue, Tucker, Mundy, O’Driscoll

EMG: Banfield, Johnson, Henry, Wilson

IN: Tucker, O’Driscoll

OUT: Henry, Colyer (both omitted), Banfield (sub)

GEELONG v ST KILDA

Saturday, August 6, 7:25pm at GMHBA Stadium

CATS

B: Guthrie, De Koning, Bews

HB: Kolodjashnij, Stewart, Henry

C: Duncan, Blicavs, Smith

HF: Close, Cameron, Stengle

F: Hawkins, Stanley, Dangerfield

FOL: Ceglar, C.Guthrie, Parfitt

I/C: O’Connor, Holmes, Atkins, Miers

EMG: Menegola, Tuohy, Dahlhaus, Evans

IN: Stanley

OUT: Selwood (managed), Rohan (injured)

SAINTS

B: Wilkie, Howard, Webster

HB: Battle, Sharman, Sinclair

C: Clark, Windhager, Wood

HF: Membrey, Hill, Butler

F: Higgins, King, Owens

FOL: Marshall, Steele, Ross

I/C: Paton, Hannebery, Crouch, Long

EMG: Jones, Lienert, Byrnes, Campbell

IN: Howard

OUT: Lienert, Byrnes (both omitted)

PORT ADELAIDE v RICHMOND

Saturday, August 6, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: Burton, Jonas, McKenzie

HB: Byrne-Jones, Aliir, Houston

C: Amon, Boak, Duursma

HF: Butters, Finlayson, Farrell

F: Gray, Dixon, Powell-Pepper

FOL: Teakle, Wines, Rozee

I/C: Bergman, Drew, Burgoyne, McEntee

EMG: Bonner, Clurey, Mead, Georgiades

IN: Houston, Teakle

OUT: Jones (injured), Marshall (HS protocol), Georgiades (omitted)

TIGERS

B: Gibcus, Tarrant, Balta

HB: Baker, Vlastuin, Rioli

C: Pickett, Short, McIntosh

HF: Graham, Cotchin, Bolton

F: Riewoldt, Cumberland, Lynch

FOL: Nankervis, Prestia, Sonsie

I/C: Ross, Miller, Rioli, Broad

EMG: Mansell, Dow, Edwards, Soldo

IN: Gibcus

OUT: Edwards (managed), Grimes (injured)

NORTH MELBOURNE v SYDNEY

Sunday, August 7, 1:10pm at Marvel Stadium

KANGAROOS

B: Corr, McKay, La.Young

HB: Dawson, McDonald, Stephenson

C: Scott, Davies-Uniacke, Taylor

HF: Powell, Zurhaar, Greenwood

F: Curtis, Larkey, Ziebell

FOL: Goldstein, Simpkin, Horne-Francis

INT: Anderson, Coleman-Jones, Lazzaro, Hall

EMERG: Walker, Turner, Goater, Perez

IN: Corr, Young, Curtis, Hall

OUT: Bonar, Spicer, Turner (all omitted), Archer (injured), Walker (sub)

SWANS

B: McCartin, Rampe, McCartin

HB: Lloyd, Fox, Florent

C: McInerney, Mills, Stephens

HF: Hayward, Reid, Gulden

F: Papley, Franklin, Heeney

FOL: Hickey, Warner, Parker

INT: Blakey, Clarke, Rowbottom, McDonald,

EMERG: Roberts, Ladhams, Ronke, Kennedy

IN: McDonald

OUT: Amartey (omitted), Kennedy (sub)

BRISBANE v CARLTON

Sunday, August 7, 3:20pm at Gabba

LIONS

B: Gardiner, Adams, Rich

HB: Starcevich, Andrews, Coleman

C: Bailey, Zorko, McCluggage

HF: Rayner, Hipwood, McCarthy

F: McStay, Daniher, Cameron

FOL: McInerney, Neale, Berry

INT: Ah Chee, Lyons, Mathieson, Answerth

EMERG: Lohmann, Prior, Fort, Robinson

IN: Rich, Starcevich

OUT: Cockatoo, Robinson (both omitted), Fort (sub)

BLUES

B: Saad, Le.Young, Docherty

HB: Marchbank, Weitering, McGovern

C: Cottrell, Cripps, Cerra

HF: O’Brien, McKay, Owies

F: Motlop, Curnow, Silvagni

FOL: De Koning, Walsh, Fisher

INT: Martin, Setterfield, Dow, Newnes

EMERG: Pittonet, Kemp, Hayes, Durdin

IN: Marchbank, Martin, Dow, Kemp, Newnes

OUT: Kennedy, Newman (both injured), Pittonet, Durdin (both managed), Plowman (omitted)

WEST COAST v ADELAIDE

Sunday, August 7, 4:10pm at Optus Stadium

EAGLES

B: Hurn, Barrass, Duggan

HB: Hough, Edwards, Jones

C: Waterman, Kelly, Gaff

HF: Ryan, Darling, Cripps

F: Williams, Kennedy, Rioli

FOL: Naitanui, Redden, Shuey

I/C: Langdon, Petrevski-Seton, O’Neill, Foley

EMERG: Bazzo, Nelson, Clark, Dixon

IN: Kennedy, Langdon, Petrevski-Seton,

OUT: Petruccelle, West (both injured), Culley (suspension), Dixon (sub)

CROWS

B: Worrell, Butts, Hamill

HB: Smith, Murray, Dawson

C: Hinge, Laird, Jones

HF: McAdam, Fogarty, Keays

F: Milera, Walker, Murphy

FOL: O’Brien, Berry, Schoenberg

I/C: Soligo, Himmelberg, Parnell, McHenry

EMG: Frampton, Hately, Sholl, Davies

UNCHANGED

EXPERT TIPS

See who the Herald Sun and The Advertiser experts are picking this week:

Jane Bunn 129

Melbourne 6

Hawthorn 4

Essendon 5

Western Bulldogs 4

Geelong 20

Port Adelaide 10

Sydney 20

Brisbane Lions 10

Adelaide 5

Last Week 8

Scott Gullan 129

Melbourne 18

Hawthorn 11

Essendon 3

Western Bulldogs 7

Geelong 21

Port Adelaide 1

Sydney 55

Brisbane Lions 32

West Coast 5

Last Week 8

Rebecca Williams 126

Melbourne 10

Hawthorn 7

Essendon 11

Western Bulldogs 9

Geelong 12

Port Adelaide 10

Sydney 15

Brisbane Lions 8

Adelaide 6

Last Week 7

Jay Clark 124

Melbourne 12

Hawthorn 6

Essendon 16

Fremantle 14

Geelong 24

Port Adelaide 6

Sydney 36

Brisbane Lions 18

West Coast 6

Last Week 6

Sam Landsberger 123

Melbourne 32

Hawthorn 10

Essendon 1

Western Bulldogs 12

Geelong 22

Port Adelaide 2

Sydney 33

Carlton 5

West Coast 1

Last Week 7

Lauren Wood 123

Melbourne 11

Hawthorn 14

Essendon 22

Western Bulldogs 9

Geelong 22

Port Adelaide 9

Sydney 30

Brisbane Lions 21

West Coast 7

Last Week 7

Glenn McFarlane 122

Melbourne 1

Gold Coast 3

Essendon 6

Western Bulldogs 7

Geelong 25

Richmond 1

Sydney 30

Brisbane Lions 12

Adelaide 4

Last Week 7

Gerard Whateley 121

Melbourne 6

Hawthorn 4

Essendon 10

Western Bulldogs 8

Geelong 20

Richmond 2

Sydney 30

Brisbane Lions 1

Adelaide 12

Last Week 7

Tim Watson 120

Melbourne 16

Gold Coast 6

Essendon 12

Western Bulldogs 12

Geelong 28

Port Adelaide 6

Sydney 36

Brisbane Lions 10

West Coast 6

Last Week 5

Jon Ralph 118

Melbourne 9

Gold Coast 22

Essendon 2

Western Bulldogs 3

Geelong 38

Port Adelaide 5

Sydney 5

Brisbane Lions 9

Adelaide 3

Last Week 6

Mark Robinson 118

Melbourne 22

Gold Coast 11

Essendon 37

Western Bulldogs 12

Geelong 39

Richmond 2

Sydney 37

Brisbane Lions 31

Adelaide 3

Last Week 6

Simeon Thomas-Wilson 117

Melbourne 12

Gold Coast 6

GWS Giants 10

Western Bulldogs 16

Geelong 32

Richmond 6

Sydney 36

Brisbane Lions 18

West Coast 6

Last Week 7

Mick Malthouse 115

Melbourne 12

Gold Coast 6

Essendon 12

Western Bulldogs 16

Geelong 26

Port Adelaide 6

Sydney 32

Brisbane Lions 18

West Coast 6

Last Week 7

Liz Walsh 115

Melbourne 10

Gold Coast 6

Essendon 16

Western Bulldogs 14

Geelong 28

Port Adelaide 6

Sydney 30

Brisbane Lions 12

Adelaide 6

Last Week 6

Ebony Marinoff 114

Collingwood

Gold Coast

Essendon

Western Bulldogs

Geelong

Richmond

Sydney

Brisbane Lions

Adelaide

Last Week 8

Sally Capp 113

Collingwood 12

Gold Coast 14

Essendon 10

Western Bulldogs 20

Geelong 40

Richmond 17

Sydney 22

Brisbane Lions 18

West Coast 6

Last Week 7

Chris Cavanagh 113

Melbourne 12

Hawthorn 1

GWS Giants 1

Western Bulldogs 12

Geelong 36

Port Adelaide 1

Sydney 36

Brisbane Lions 12

Adelaide 18

Last Week 6

David King 111

Melbourne 6

Gold Coast 10

Essendon 15

Western Bulldogs 12

Geelong 26

Richmond 6

Sydney 32

Brisbane Lions 9

West Coast 7

Last Week 7

Matt Turner 111

Melbourne 6

Gold Coast 12

Essendon 10

Western Bulldogs 8

Geelong 26

Port Adelaide 6

Sydney 32

Brisbane Lions 9

West Coast 6

Last Week 7

James Hird 110

Melbourne 6

Gold Coast 6

GWS Giants 8

Western Bulldogs 6

Geelong 15

Richmond 8

Sydney 7

Brisbane Lions 9

Adelaide 15

Last Week 6

Kath Loughnan 110

Melbourne 12

Hawthorn 6

Essendon 10

Fremantle 12

Geelong 26

Richmond 10

Sydney 32

Brisbane Lions 12

West Coast 6

Last Week 6

Mick McGuane 110

Melbourne 17

Hawthorn 8

GWS Giants 11

Western Bulldogs 14

Geelong 27

Richmond 5

Sydney 40

Brisbane Lions 19

West Coast 10

Last Week 6

Dermott Brereton 109

Melbourne 12

Hawthorn 6

GWS Giants 9

Western Bulldogs 14

Geelong 28

Richmond 6

Sydney 36

Brisbane Lions 12

West Coast 6

Last Week 7

Sarah Jones 108

Melbourne 8

Hawthorn 12

Essendon 7

Western Bulldogs 6

Geelong 20

Richmond 8

Sydney 60

Brisbane Lions 9

West Coast 3

Last Week 7

Graham Cornes 107

Melbourne 6

Hawthorn 10

GWS Giants 8

Western Bulldogs 12

Geelong 28

Port Adelaide 6

Sydney 36

Brisbane Lions 14

Adelaide 6

Last Week 6

Chloe Molloy 100

Collingwood

Hawthorn

Essendon

Western Bulldogs

Geelong

Richmond

Sydney

Carlton

Adelaide

Last Week 6

Kiss of Death 51

Collingwood 13

Hawthorn 13

GWS Giants 13

Fremantle 13

St Kilda 13

Richmond 13

North Melbourne 13

Carlton 13

West Coast 13

Last Week 1

Season over? Bad news for Pies on Grundy injury

– Jay Clark

Collingwood star ruckman Brodie Grundy may miss the rest of the regular season with an ankle injury which is worse than first thought.

The gun big man will have more assessments on Thursday but could be sidelined for the next few weeks as Collingwood strongly considers trying to trade him at season’s end.

Greater Western Sydney and Port Adelaide have shown interest in Grundy, 28, who remains contracted at Collingwood for five more years and could yet elect to stay at the Magpies.

Other clubs are also expected to emerge in the race for Grundy post-season, with Collingwood open to moving Grundy on after signing him to a seven-year deal worth about $950,000 a season.

Grundy, who is one of the most damaging players in the competition at his best, reported ankle soreness after his comeback game in the VFL at the weekend.

The two-time Copeland Trophy winner trained on Tuesday but again pulled up sore and has since consulted specialists on the best course of action.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae said Grundy would not play at any level this week but could potentially press for selection the following week.

However, the next 48 hours will be significant as Grundy discusses his recovery options with medicos.

Brodie Grundy pulled up sore after his comeback game in the VFL. Picture: David Crosling

The damage in his ankle is believed to be worse than first thought, putting him in doubt to play in Collingwood’s run home to the finals against Sydney Swans and Carlton in the final two rounds.

It means Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox will remain in the box seat to spearhead the club’s big man division in finals, with the cloud hanging over Grundy’s fitness.

Collingwood will take no risks with the jet big man and dual All-Australian, who has not played AFL since hurting his knee against Essendon in round 6.

Surgery set to end key Tiger’s season

– Jon Ralph

Richmond co-captain Dylan Grimes is unlikely to take part in the rest of the Tigers’ 2022 campaign after hamstring surgery this week.

The Tigers confirmed on Friday that Grimes needed the surgery after pulling up short with hamstring damage during the win over Brisbane.

Grimes estimates he had done up to 10 hamstrings across his career and has already had previous surgery on both of his hamstrings.

Most hamstring tendon surgeries sideline players for 10 or more weeks.

It means the Tigers will not only have to qualify for finals without their star defender and on-field marshal, they will likely have to push for the premiership without him.

Richmond did not give a return date but the club said earlier in the week his latest hamstring issue was near his tendon.

“He had some scans yesterday and it’s a high hamstring strain up around the upper tendon and the upper hamstring, an area where he’s had an issue in the past, 10 years ago he had some surgery on that same area,” the club had said in a statement.

Dylan Grimes requires hamstring surgery. Picture: Michael Klein

That 2012 surgery put him out for months, with Grimes telling the Herald Sun in 2017 he had been close to retirement after his second hamstring surgery.

He recovered to play a key role in the club’s three premiership triumphs.

“It sounds funny, but it literally feels like tearing muscle, tearing flesh,’’ he said.

“In some ways it’s like when you get a really good hit on your funny bone and there is this tingling. There is that shock of pain that hits you and then there is the aftermath with all the bleeding and recovery that goes with it.

“There are different grades and more severe ones, but instantly you know what has happened. “You know it’s five-weeks plus sidelined and there are times when you just throw your hands up in the air, you feel like there is absolutely nothing more you can do.”

Richmond has some defensive depth with first-year tall Josh Gibcus playing in the VFL last weekend after a solid debut campaign and Noah Balta a capable swingman.

Robbie Tarrant has also been in excellent form for the Tigers after a slow start to his first season at the club, but Grimes is as close to irreplaceable as any player in the competition.