By Peter Ryan
In today’s AFL briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Injury blow for Hawthorn as defender Frost ruled out of finals.
- AFL investigates clash between McCartney and Papley.
- Gary Rohan fractures skull in VFL.
Hawthorn have been dealt a major blow ahead of their semi-final clash against Port Adelaide on Friday night with key defender Sam Frost out for the rest of the season with bone stress in his foot.
Frost appeared in some discomfort late in the Hawks’ elimination final win over the Western Bulldogs after taking a mark and left the ground. He then reported more soreness post-game and was sent for scans by the club’s head doctor Liam West.
Sam Frost (second from left) after the Hawks defeated the Bulldogs on Friday night. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“Unfortunately, the scans have confirmed that Sam has a bone stress injury in his foot, and given his specific injury, he will not be able to take any further part in our 2024 finals campaign,” West said.
“Sam will spend the next period offloading in a moon boot whilst we continue to assess him to determine a more accurate recovery timeline.”
The Hawks have been stretched for height in defence this season after James Blanck ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the pre-season, while Denver Grainger-Barras has been playing both forward and back for Box Hill in the VFL in an attempt to resurrect his career.
Jai Serong has been outstanding in the VFL and has been biding his time with Box Hill. However, he could be considered as a replacement for Frost, as could Changkuoth Jiath or Ethan Phillips.
Frost has played every game for the Hawks this season. He was also one of the few Hawks with finals experience before Friday night’s game, having played with Melbourne in their 2018 finals campaign.
Hawthorn’s defensive talls were outstanding against the Bulldogs on Friday night. Jack Scrimshaw and captain James Sicily were among the best players on the ground in the first half, with their intercept marking a feature of the Hawks’ brilliant performance.
The Hawks are also uncertain whether best and fairest winner Will Day will be available to play Port Adelaide as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Hawthorn football manager Rob McCartney said on Friday, before the elimination final, they would declare whether he was potentially available for selection early in the week.
They also lost midfielder Cam McKenzie to a hamstring injury last week.
Hawthorn will head into the semi-final as warm favourites against Port Adelaide despite the game being played in Adelaide. The Hawks have lost just three of their matches since round seven and coughed up a 41-point lead late in the third quarter to lose to Port Adelaide by a point when the teams met in round 10.
AFL investigates half-time altercation
The AFL will speak to Giants football manager Jason McCartney and Sydney small forward Tom Papley after they made contact with each other as the teams left the ground at half-time in a fiery qualifying final at the SCG.
McCartney had approached Giants player Toby McCullin and looked to be telling the players to stay separated before he step forward and made contact with Papley. The pair exchanged words but kept walking towards the rooms and it did not escalate.
The AFL will investigate the altercation between Sydney Swans player Tom Papley and GWS Giants official Jason McCartney. Credit: Seven
It was a subplot in a classic match that saw tempers fray in several melees in the first half, with Papley agitating his Giants’ opponents at every opportunity before he played a key role in sparking the Swans to overcome a 21-point deficit at the final break to win by a goal.
Officials are encouraged to stay out of the fray, with Essendon runner Travis Cloke becoming involved in an early season melee at the SCG which prompted the AFL to send all clubs a letter to remind them of runner responsibilities.
Both protagonists in Saturday’s incident are highly regarded at their clubs, with McCartney a respected football manager.
However, he was fined $20,000 in 2021 when he gave umpires some feedback at half-time in a match at Manuka Oval that the Giants lost by 39 points. Papley is known as one of the game’s best agitators and classiest small forwards.
The AFL are not expected to reach an outcome on Sunday but will speak to the key protagonists. Sydney and the Giants had no comment when contacted.
Gary Rohan fractures skull in VFL
Geelong premiership forward Gary Rohan is in hospital after suffering a fractured skull in Saturday’s VFL semi-final against Southport.
The Cats veteran, who had been diagnosed with concussion after copping an errant elbow, revealed via social media that he had fractured his skull in the incident.
The 33-year-old was attempting to push his case for selection in Geelong’s preliminary final team, but only played one quarter after a below-par performance in the VFL qualifying final against Werribee.
Rohan wrote on Instagram he was awaiting surgery and was in good hands.
The Cats had five premiership players in their VFL loss to Southport, with club champions Tom Hawkins and Cam Guthrie both returning from long lay-offs.
The pair kicked a goal apiece but are unlikely starters in the preliminary final, while Sam DeKoning played well and may return depending on match-ups. Brandan Parfitt also played, but has played one senior match since round 10.
Tom Stewart missed the qualifying final after failing recover from a hamstring injury suffered in the final round and also falling ill on the eve of the match. He is likely to be available for the preliminary final against either GWS or the Brisbane Lions.
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Lions are waiting to see the extent of the injury to Jack Payne, with Chris Fagan telling 3AW the defender would have scans on Monday. Payne has avoided an ACL injury, but there were concerns he may have suffered an MCL injury. He is a vital part of the Lions backline but missed last year’s grand final to injury.
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