AFL Teams Round 5: Richmond swing axe, Andrew Phillips to debut for Essendon, Collingwood recalls defender Matt Scharenberg
A Tiger will get his first taste of senior footy in Richmond’s must-win clash, but two small forwards have been axed. Hawthorn will also unearth a debutant and have left out their spearhead recruit. FULL ROUND 5 TEAMS
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Mature-age rookie Jake Aarts, who spent six years in the VFL before joining the Tigers in 2018, will become the club’s first debutant this season.
The hardworking 25-year-old small forward has been a consistent performer in Richmond’s recent scratch matches and will replace Sydney Stack, who was dropped.
Sparkplug Shai Bolton has also been axed and is one of three omissions along with Stack and ball-winner Jack Ross, with dumped forward Dan Rioli earning a reprieve after a strong scratch match hit-out last week.
Hawthorn have a debutant of their own with midfielder Harry Jones set to play his first game in the brown and gold, but highly touted recruit Jon Patton will miss the clash against his former side GWS, named as an emergency.
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Small forward Paul Puopuolo has been recalled as a like-for-like swap for injured star Luke Breust.
Melbourne have gone in unchanged for their Sunday afternoon clash with Richmond.
Versatile Tiger big man Noah Balta will replace injured defender David Astbury, and may have a date with Demons spearhead Tom McDonald, while Mabior Chol comes in for his first game of 2020.
Hardwick said Stack was low on confidence, but would be back.
“Sydney has to rediscover who he is and how he wants to play,” Hardwick said.
“He is lacking a bit of confidence, he’s probably fumbled a ball early in the game which he has dwelled on too much. It’s un-Sydney like.
“He doesn’t normally worry about mistakes, but he’s thinking about the things he’s not doing.”
BOMBER DEBUTANT’S ALMIGHTY TEST
Andrew Phillips will make his Essendon debut after the Bombers chose to manage fellow ruckman Tom Bellchambers for Friday’s clash with Collingwood.
Phillips will go at it alone in the ruck against Brodie Grundy in what is set to be just his 12th AFL game in four seasons.
The former Carlton and Greater Western Sydney ruckman played in both of Essendon’s pre-season games and impressed in a scratch match against Carlton’s reserves last weekend.
The Bombers have recalled Jayden Laverde, who kicked three goals in that scratch match against the Blues, while former North Melbourne midfielder Mitchell Hibberd is set to join Phillips in making his Essendon debut.
However, Conor McKenna has been left out of the side despite being eligible to return after serving his quarantine period following a positive COVID-19 test.
Matt Scharenberg and Travis Varcoe will play his first games for Collingwood since Round 23 last year, while Adam Treloar has been picked for his first game of the year.
The trio replace Jeremy Howe (knee), Steele Sidebottom (suspension) and John Noble (omitted).
The Western Bulldogs have named key forward Josh Schache to play his first game of the year, while Easton Wood and Lin Jong return from injury for tomorrow night’s clash with North Melbourne.
The Kangaroos have named Ben Cunnington to return, but a cloud remains over his availability for the match.
Defender Jeremy McGovern will return for West Coast’s clash with Sydney tomorrow, while Adelaide has named Matt Crouch on the extended interchange bench for its clash with Fremantle on Sunday after sensationally dropping the midfielder last week.
CROUCH BACK BUT ONLY IN CROWS’ EXTENDED SQUAD
—Grady Hudd
Matt Crouch has been recalled to Adelaide’s midfield for its Sunday afternoon clash with Fremantle after previously being named on an extended bench.
The 25-year-old onballer was sensationally dropped from the Crows’ side last week and watched on as his teammates suffered a 37-point defeat to Brisbane in Queensland.
Crouch joins Kyle Hartigan, Ben Davis and uncapped Woodville West-Torrens export Andrew McPherson as the ins for Adelaide’s 26-man squad, which will be trimmed on Friday.
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide has named an unchanged side for its highly-anticipated clash against the Lions at the Gabba.
The Power are the only undefeated team in this year’s coronavirus-impacted competition and enter the contest having made light work of West Coast, in a match where key forward Charlie Dixon asserted his dominance with six goals.
Jarrod Lienert, Cam Sutcliffe, Pete Ladhams and Sam Mayes are the emergencies.
SWANS’ BIG MAN ISSUES HITS BREAKING POINT
— Ben Horne
Sydney Swans are officially in a big man personnel crisis, with Callum Sinclair the latest key tall ruled out with injury.
As the Swans prepare to go up against one of the most imposing ruck experts of the past 10 years in West Coast man mountain Nic Naitanui, Sinclair was to be trusted by coach John Longmire to fill Sam Naismith’s giant shoes on Saturday.
But now the Swans have lost their back-up too after Sinclair hyper-extended his knee at training on Tuesday and failed to come up for selection.
Sydney are now missing key tall forwards Lance Franklin and Sam Reid, while Naismith is gone for the season with an ACL rupture. Now Sinclair is out indefinitely.
In addition, young gun Tom McCartin will miss another week after suffering a concussion against North Melbourne a fortnight ago.
It’s a worry given his family history with head knocks.
By the club’s count, they now have a total of seven big men unavailable.
The Swans are likely to run with the versatile Aliir Aliir in the ruck, but at 195cm, he’s giving away six centimetres and a ton of experience to Naitanui.
If there’s one team you don’t want to go small on, it’s against the towering Eagles, who are aerially brilliant across the park with the likes of Naitanui, Kennedy, Darling and McCovern.
Sydney also brings in Sam Gray, Lewis Melican, Colin O’Riordan and Ryan Clarke to face an Eagles team equally desperate for a win.
PORT TAKES CAUTIOUS APPROACH WITH BURTON
— Liz Walsh
Port Adelaide will take an unchanged side into Saturday’s clash with Brisbane as the Power looks to continue its unbeaten run.
In what is shaping up as the game of round 5, the top-of-the-ladder Power has opted to give defender Ryan Burton another week on the sidelines as he returns from a knee injury.
Despite Burton making a speedy recovery after minor surgery following the Power’s 75-point demolition of the Crows in round 2, the Power is playing it safe and going into Saturday night’s game with the same side that defeated West Coast by 48 points.
Vice-captain Ollie Wines said the 191cm Burton had trained in both Port’s major sessions this week, but the team was currently blessed with a healthy squad.
“We’ve got plenty of options throughout the team, fortunately,” Wines said.
“We’re 4-0 and in a really good spot, it is very helpful having a full list to pick from.”
Midfielder Wines said coach Ken Hinkley had his side humming thanks to everyone being very clear on their on field roles.
“Myself as an individual and us as mids, understand it’s not about how many possessions you get or particularly the impact you have on a game, it’s what you do around the footy, the non-negotiables that we hold so highly,” Wines said.
“So if your opponent does win a clearance, (making sure) it’s a dirty clearance and it doesn’t come out clean, we work hard, we run together, we outnumber a contest and as long as I’m doing that and we’re doing that as a midfield, we feel like we’re contributing to the team and at the moment it’s paying dividends.”
Wines said Port would look at every avenue when trying to stop the impact of Brownlow-contender Lachie Neale in Saturday’s blockbuster clash, but reiterated the importance of a team game as the Power looks to further cement its top billing on the ladder.
“I don’t think the footy club’s been in such an exciting position in all their history with the young talent and the mix of experience in the team, so we’re in a really good spot at the moment … we think we can get some special things done this year,” he said.
SAINTS SKIPPER COULD GET DOCHERTY ROLE
St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary will make his return from a hamstring injury in Round 5 — potentially in the forward line.
Geary, 32, did such an impressive job tagging Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen in Round 2 that Carlton star Sam Docherty could find himself receiving similar treatment on Thursday night.
Geary strained his hamstring in the first quarter of Round 2 however the inspirational leader played out the match and kept Johannisen to 14 disposals.
Docherty collected 32 disposals across halfback last week and was best-afield in the Blues’ upset win against Essendon.
The Saints have lost Zak Jones to hamstring tightness while Rowan Marshall has again been backed in as the only ruckman, with Paddy Ryder missing selection.
The Blues will be boosted by the return of key forward Harry McKay and speedster Zac Fisher.
Twin towers Levi Casboult and Mitch McGovern combined for 5.0 last week and the addition of McKay will further stretch St Kilda’s inexperienced backline.
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McGovern helped the Blues down the Saints with three goals last year while Casboult has morphed into one of the AFL’s best power forwards and has not kicked a behind this season.
Jack Silvagni will sit out the match as he recovers from the rib injury that resulted in Essendon’s Zach Merrett receiving a one-match suspension.
The Blues and Saints will finish are set to finish tonight’s match at Marvel Stadium unaware who their next match will be against, when it will be played or what state it will be in as the AFL revises Round 6.
But the players and staff will benefit from having the entire weekend to regroup and, almost certainly, prepare for life in an interstate hub.
DAVIS IN A NEW FITNESS TEST DILEMMA
GWS has declared Phil Davis’ grand final nightmare will not impact on the looming decision over whether he plays against Hawthorn on Sunday.
Davis suffered a back spasm in last Friday night’s win over Collingwood which he felt in his hamstrings, but the star defender is being given every chance to back-up a week later after training strongly on Thursday.
The race against time draws some similarities to last year’s grand final, when Davis bravely took the field at the MCG to lead his team despite battling a calf problem which required an extraordinary fitness test just an hour before the decider against Richmond.
Davis’ call to play was justifiable risk to take given the number of personnel issues a banged up GWS were battling across the board, and the presence he felt he could provide as captain on the club’s biggest ever day.
However, it didn’t stop him copping a mountain of criticism after he was ultimately outplayed by opposite Jack Riewoldt and Richmond romped to runaway premiership glory.
Giants’ coach Leon Cameron insisted the club is not scarred by the Davis fitness test and it would not make them hesitate about playing their strongest defender if they feel he is fit.
“It’s a different case. Phil clearly had a calf issue going into the grand final and it’s like anything. A lot of people will jump on when you make those bold decisions and they don’t come off,” said Cameron.
“We made some bold decisions on grand final day, you look back and say, ‘would you do it again? Do you think twice?’ Maybe. But it wasn’t just Phil. We probably took in about four players who were a little bit underdone and Richmond were too good.
“We can’t discount that. That’s the nature of the beast. You win some, you lose some. If Phil and the doctors and we are all really comfortable and ready to play against some of the keys against Hawthorn on the weekend then we’ll pick him. What’s not going to come into consideration is what happened 10 months ago.”
If passed fit Davis could be set for a blockbuster match-up against the Giants’ former No.1 draft pick Jon Patton, who will line-up against his old club for the first time on Sunday.
Straight after full-time last week, GWS were almost resigned to Davis missing a couple of weeks, but now there is genuine optimism.
It would be a much needed boost given fellow defender Zac Williams has been sidelined.
“I think he’s giving himself every chance. He’s trained today and ran at a really good clip,” said Cameron.
“We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow and then if he can complete the captains run then definitely more favourable than not.”
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ROUND 5 TEAMS
Find the Round 5 teams here when they are announced.
Carlton v St Kilda
Thursday, July 2, 7.40pm, Marvel Stadium
BLUES
B: L.Plowman, L.Jones, T.Williamson
HB: S.Docherty, J.Weitering, S.Petrevski-Seton
C: J.Newnes, P.Cripps, S.Walsh
HF: M.McGovern, L.Casboult, J.Martin
F: E.Betts, H.McKay, M.Gibbons
FOLL: M.Pittonet, D.Cunningham, E.Curnow
I/C: K.Simpson, M.Murphy, W.Setterfield, Z.Fisher
EMG: S.Philp, L.O’Brien, C.Moore, M.Kennedy
IN: H.McKay, Z.Fisher
OUT: J.Silvagni (Injured), S.Philp (Omitted)
SAINTS
B: B.Paton, C.Wilkie, J.Carlisle
HB: B.Long, D.Howard, J.Geary
C: B.Hill, H.Clark, S.Ross
HF: D.Butler, M.King, J.Billings
F: D.Kent, T.Membrey, J.Battle
FOLL: R.Marshall, J.Steele, J.Gresham
I/C: D.Hannebery, N.Coffield, J.Lonie, J.Marsh
EMG: J.Sinclair, N.Hind, P.Ryder, R.Byrnes
IN: J.Geary
OUT: Z.Jones (injured)
COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON
Friday July 3, 7:50pm at the MCG
MAGPIES
B: Crisp, Roughead, Scharenberg
HB: Maynard, Moore, Varcoe
C: Daicos, Pendlebury, Hoskin-Elliott
HF: Stephenson, Mihocek, Phillips
F: De Goey, Cox, Elliott
FOLL: Grundy, Adams, Treloar
I/C: Mayne, Wills, T.Brown, C.Brown
EMG: Madgen, Thomas, Cameron, Noble
IN: Scharenberg, Varcoe, Treloar
OUT: Howe (injured), Noble (omitted), Sidebottom (suspension)
BOMBERS
B: Gleeson, Hooker, Saad
HB: Zaharakis, Hurley, Ridley
C: Ham, McGrath, Langford
HF: Fantasia, McKernan, McDonald-Tipungwuti
F: Snelling, Stringer, Townsend
FOLL: Phillips, Parish, Shiel
I/C: Smith, Hibberd, Redman, Laverde
EMG: Cahill, Guelfi, Clarke, Zerk-Thatcher
IN: Phillips, Hibberd, Laverde
OUT: Francis (injured), Merrett (suspension), Bellchambers (managed)
WEST COAST EAGLES v SYDNEY SWANS
Saturday June 4, 1:45pm at Metricon Stadium
EAGLES
B: Hurn, Barrass, Duggan
HB: Nelson, McGovern, Sheppard
C: Gaff, Kelly, Sheed
HF: Cripps, Darling, Redden
F: Ryan, Kennedy, Ah Chee
FOLL: Naitanui, Yeo, Shuey
I/C: Waterman, Allen, Cole, Jones
EMG: Williams, Ainsworth, Rotham, Edwards
IN: Nelson, McGovern, Waterman, Allen
OUT: Jetta, Hickey (both omitted), Schofield (suspension), Brander (injured)
SWANS
B: Mills, Rampe, Melican
HB: Lloyd, Aliir, Dawson
C: Cunningham, Parker, Florent
HF: Heeney, Blakey, Hayward
F: Ronke, Papley, Gray
FOLL: McLean, Kennedy, Rowbottom
I/C: O’Riordan, Hewett, McInerney, Clarke
EMG: Foot, Fox, Taylor, Warner
IN: Melican, Gray, O’Riordan, Clarke
OUT: Taylor, Fox (both omitted), Sinclair, Naismith (both injured)
GEELONG CATS v GOLD COAST SUNS
Saturday July 4, 4:35pm at GMHBA Stadium
CATS
B: Kolodjashnij, Blicavs, Henry
HB: O’Connor, Taylor, Bews
C: Parfitt, Dangerfield, Selwood
HF: Tuohy, Rohan, Duncan
F: Ratugolea, Hawkins, Dahlhaus
FOLL: Fort, Ablett, Steven
I/C: C.Guthrie, Narkle, Menegola, Miers
EMG: Simpson, Clark, Parsons, Z.Guthrie
IN: Taylor, Narkle
OUT: Stewart, Atkins (both injured)
SUNS
B: Budarick, Collins, Lukosius
HB: Hanley, Ballard, Harbrow
C: Weller, Greenwood, Anderson
HF: Powell, Day, Ellis
F: Sexton, King, Ainsworth
FOLL: Witts, Swallow, Rowell
I/C: Bowes, Miller, Holman, MacPherson
EMG: Flanders, Wright, Smith, Sharp
No changes
WESTERN BULLDOGS v NORTH MELBOURNE
Saturday July 4, 7:40pm at Marvel Stadium
BULLDOGS
B: Williams, Keath, Daniel
HB: Johannisen, Cordy, Crozier
C: Richards, Bontempelli, Macrae
HF: Dale, Schache, McLean
F: Wallis, Bruce, West
FOLL: English, Liberatore, Smith
I/C: Wood, Vandermeer, Lipinski, Jong
EMG: Butler, Gowers, Sweet, Gardner
IN: Schache, Wood, Jong
OUT: Naughton, Lloyd (both injured), Butler (omitted)
KANGAROOS
B: McDonald, Tarrant, Atley
HB: Pittard, Walker, Williams
C: Polec, Cunnington, Hall
HF: Anderson, Zurhaar, Taylor
F: Thomas, Brown, Xerri
FOLL: Goldstein, Higgins, Simpkin
I/C: Dumont, Macmillan, Mahony, Hayden
EMG: Scott, Ahern, Bonar, McKay
IN: Cunnington, Macmillan
OUT: Ziebell (injured), Ahern (omitted)
BRISBANE LIONS v PORT ADELAIDE
Saturday July 4, 7:40pm at the Gabba
LIONS
B: Lester, Andrews, Gardiner
HB: Rich, Birchall, Ah Chee
C: Robinson, J.Berry, McCluggage
HF: McCarthy, Hipwood, Rayner
F: Bailey, McStay, Cameron
FOLL: McInerney, Lyons, Neale
I/C: Martin, T.Berry, Ellis-Yolmen, Starcevich
EMG: Skinner, Hinge, Witherden, Mathieson
IN: Martin, T.Berry
OUT: Zorko (injured), Smith (omitted)
POWER
B: McKenzie, Clurey, Houston
HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones
C: Westhoff, Wines, Amon
HF: Ebert, Marshall, Rozee
F: Butters, Dixon, Gray
FOLL: Lycett, Powell-Pepper, Boak
I/C: Motlop, Rockliff, Bonner, Farrell
EMG: Lienert, Sutcliffe, Ladhams, Mayes
No changes
ADELAIDE CROWS v FREMANTLE
Sunday July 5, 1:05pm at Metricon Stadium
CROWS
B: Kelly, Talia, Brown
HB: Laird, Smith, Doedee
C: Crocker, Jones, Lynch
HF: Murphy, B.Crouch, Walker
F: Frampton, McAdam, McHenry
FOLL: O’Brien, Sloane, Keays
I/C: M.Crouch, Poholke, Hartigan, Hamill
EMG: Himmelberg, McAsey, McPherson, Davis
IN: M.Crouch, Hartigan
OUT: Himmelberg, McAsey (both omitted)
DOCKERS
B: Hill, Logue, Conca
HB: Wilson, Ryan, Hughes
C: Cerra, Brayshaw, Aish
HF: Colyer, Taberner, Bewley
F: Lobb, Hogan, Walters
FOLL: Darcy, Mundy, Tucker
I/C: Schultz, Sturt, Serong, Young
EMG: Banfield, Duman, Blakely, Matera
IN: Darcy, Sturt
OUT: Fyfe (injured), Matera (omitted)
MELBOURNE v RICHMOND
Sunday July 5, 3:35pm at the MCG
DEMONS
B: Smith, May, Hibberd
HB: Harmes, Lever, Salem
C: Langdon, Oliver, Tomlinson
HF: Hannan, T.McDonald, Brayshaw
F: Pickett, Petracca, Fritsch
FOLL: Gawn, Melksham, Viney
I/C: vandenBerg, Rivers, Hunt, Lockhart
EMG: Jackson, Spargo, O.McDonald, Brown
No changes
TIGERS
B: Vlastuin, Grimes, Balta
HB: Houli, Broad, Short
C: McIntosh, Prestia, Caddy
HF: Higgins, Edwards, Castagna
F: Martin, Lynch, Riewoldt
FOLL: Nankervis, Cotchin, Lambert
I/C: Rioli, Baker, Aarts, Chol
EMG: Bolton, Graham, Pickett, Ross
IN: Balta, Rioli, Aarts, Chol
OUT: Stack, Bolton, Ross (all omitted), Astbury (injured)
GWS GIANTS v HAWTHORN
Sunday July 5, 6:10pm at Giants Stadium
GIANTS
B: Shaw, Davis, Corr
HB: Whitfield, Haynes, Ash
C: Kelly, Coniglio, Perryman
HF: Ward, Cameron, Greene
F: Daniels, Himmelberg, Finlayson
FOLL: Mumford, Hopper, de Boer
I/C: Keeffe, Hately, Green, Lloyd
EMG: Jacobs, Sheridan, Caldwell, Buntine
IN: Keeffe, Lloyd
OUT: Taylor, Williams (both injured)
HAWKS
B: Hardwick, Frawley, Frost
HB: Gunston, McEvoy, Stratton
C: Henderson, Burgoyne, Scully
HF: Sicily, O’Brien, Smith
F: O’Meara, Lewis, Wingard
FOLL: Ceglar, Worpel, Mitchell
I/C: Scrimshaw, Shiels, Jones, Puopolo
EMG: Patton, Cousins, Hanrahan, Morrison
IN: Puopolo, Jones
OUT: Breust (injured), Hanrahan (omitted)
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