AFL 2024: Round 22 injury news and selection updates

Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh can breathe a sigh of relief after Hawthorn left tagger Finn Maginness out of the team for their blockbuster clash on Sunday. FULL ROUND 22 TEAMS.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 21: Finn Maginness of the Hawks celebrates kicking a goal during the round six AFL match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium, on April 21, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Hawthorn will back its first-choice midfielders to go head-to-head with Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps after leaving out tagger Finn Maginness for Sunday’s blockbuster clash.

Maginness was named in the Hawks’ extended squad to face the Blues after wingman Josh Ward was dropped, but coach Sam Mitchell instead chose to recall former top 10 pick Cam Mackenzie.

Young Carlton speedster Jaxon Binns will need to wait longer for his full senior debut despite injuries to Adam Cerra and Matthew Cottrell, with Lachie Cowan and Zac Williams the Blues’ only two inclusions for the MCG clash.

Key position prospects Samson Ryan and Jacob Bauer will return along with Kaleb Smith and Thomson Dow for Richmond against St Kilda, after Liam Baker was concussed during Thursday’s training session and forced out of the match at Marvel Stadium.

Richmond’s Dow will miss out on a clash against his brother though after the Saints dropped Paddy Dow to make way for Hunter Clark in the middle.

The Hawks have resisted the temptation to call on Finn Maginness. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Eleventh-hour debutant Angus McLennan has held his spot in the side after the 20-year-old defender had a tidy 14 disposals at 93 per cent efficiency against Brisbane, while Ryan Byrnes has returned from illness at the expense of Riley Bonner.

Saints coach Ross Lyon said he had no concerns for Mitch Owens after the hard-nut forward wore a non-contact cap during training at Moorabbin on Friday.

“He’s just been a little bit sore, and he’s a really physical, contest player in front of the ball, so sometimes it’s like ‘just leave him alone’ a little bit,” Lyon said.

“(Josh) Battle had that on last week … he was a bit sore, Battle, but he was fantastic, he was virtually our best player last week.”

Adelaide stuck to only one change against an unchanged Western Bulldogs, with Izak Rankine returning from his four-match suspension and Billy Dowling dropped for the Sunday twilight clash at the Adelaide Oval.