AFL Round 24 teams: All the ins and outs as Charlie Curnow and Zac Williams are ruled out of Saints clash

Already reeling from losing Charlie Curnow, Carlton’s finals chances have taken another hit with a star ruled out on Friday evening. SEE THE FULL ROUND 24 TEAMS

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 11: Charlie Curnow of the Blues celebrates kicking a goal during the round 22 AFL match between Carlton Blues and Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on August 11, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Charlie Curnow will not face St Kilda on Sunday while Mitch McGovern is in serious doubt in what could be a hammer blow to Carlton’s finals hopes.

Blues coach Michael Voss said Curnow would not play after failing to make enough progress from the ankle injury which he aggravated against Hawthorn in round 22.

Carlton was also forced to withdraw Zac Williams from its side due to the injury after the luckless 29-year-old was seen in conversation with Voss on the perimeter of training on Friday.

While Adam Saad will return from the hamstring injury he sustained against the Hawks, Mitch McGovern, who was named in the final 23, was absent from the session as the Blues said he was on a modified program.

Voss would not rule out a miracle finals comeback for Sam Docherty as the former captain pushes hard to return from the ACL tear he suffered in pre-season training.

Docherty joined in main training with his shoulder strapped to receive contact, but an absent Curnow meant Carlton would again rely on Brodie Kemp to provide a tall target against the Saints.

“We thought that (Curnow) might be able to pull up pretty well from some of the things he did the other day, but he hasn’t pulled up as well as we expected,” Voss said.

Charlie Curnow will miss a second game with the ankle injury which has affected him over the last two months of the season. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

“I think after he kicked four, I can confirm that (Kemp) will probably end up forward … he did a great job last week, (our forwards) were able to share the load throughout the entire game.”

McGovern’s hamstring tightness puts considerable doubt over whether the Blues would risk their important defender given his injury history.

Voss said he would be given “every opportunity” to prove his fitness for the Marvel Stadium clash.

“(McGovern) has got to get through a couple of things today. He won’t do as much as the others, obviously he played last week,” he said.

“He’s scheduled a little bit differently to everyone else.”

Harry McKay (quad), Adam Cerra and Jack Martin (hamstring injuries) ran laps at strong pace at Ikon Park as the trio pushed claims to return should the Blues reach the finals.

Former Blues skipper Sam Docherty is pushing for a finals return as he recovers from the third ACL tear of his career suffered during pre-season. Picture: Mark Stewart

Voss said he could not give attention to finals selection until his side had taken care of this weekend’s result, but joked his ladder predictor had the Blues finishing in fourth with a double chance.

He said there were “so many variables” at the selection table with the senior players returning, which meant Docherty was no guarantee to play even if he was deemed ready.

“He’s progressing really well, he’s joining in the main training. You’ll probably see him running around out there again today,” Voss said.

“He knocks on my door every single day, and I tell him to go away until next week, and we’ll see where he goes from there.

“I’ve said ‘mate, when the knock on the door comes and you say you’re ready, we’ll look at it then’ … I’d love to be able to give him that opportunity if he’s ready, because it means we’ll be playing finals footy.”

Small forward Corey Durdin trained fully with the shoulder he dislocated against West Coast heavily strapped, and could keep his spot following an impressive performance as Voss weighs up whether to recall Orazio Fantasia.

Revealed: Pendles’ warrior effort to save Pies’ premiership defence

– Jay Clark

Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury suffered two broken ribs in his 400th game against Carlton but played on to help save the Magpies’ season.

The brilliant ballwinner received a knock early in the second term of the Round 21 win over the Blues and required some painkillers to help stay out on the field in the second half.

Despite the injury, Pendlebury was one of the best players on the ground in the nail biting win over Carlton as he became only the sixth man in the game’s history to notch 400 games.

The superstar onballer racked up 27 disposals, nine clearances and six tackles against the Blues at a packed-out MCG in his milestone match three weeks ago.

He was chaired off the ground after the three-point win and received a guard of honour from the Blues and his Collingwood teammates.

Scott Pendlebury won’t play against the Demons. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The 36-year-old has been wearing some rib protection in recent weeks to help guard the injury, as well as some strapping around his partially torn left elbow tendon.

But the Magpies have bowed out of finals contention after a costly run of four-straight losses to Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Geelong and Essendon in Round 17- 20.

The brilliant ballwinner, who has won five best and fairests and six All-Australian jumpers, is hopeful of avoiding surgery on his elbow in the off-season.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae said he would consider resting some of the veterans including Pendlebury against Melbourne on Friday night, but he is tipped to play.

Pendlebury, who will play game 403 against the Demons, has agreed to a contract extension to play on next season when the Magpies will attempt to bounce back into finals in what could be his 20th and final AFL season.

WILL SWANS REST GRUNDY, STAR FORWARD?

- Lachlan McKirdy

Swans coach John Longmire has suggested he won’t make too many changes for this Saturday’s clash against Adelaide but has left the door ajar for some of his stars to have an extra week off with a home qualifying final all but secured.

After Sydney’s dominant second-half display against Essendon, Longmire’s side essentially wrapped up the minor premiership thanks to their superior percentage.

It means they are guaranteed to play in the first week of finals at the SCG, and could potentially have two weeks off in the next four months if they progress straight to the preliminary final.

That would result in an unprecedented period in Sydney for a team so accustomed to travelling interstate for games. If they win their first two finals, it would be 41 days straight in NSW before they head to Melbourne for the grand final.

Longmire is yet to make a decision whether players like Brodie Grundy will be given an extra week off with the minor premiership all but secured. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

It’s a massive advantage for a team desperate to end a run of three-straight defeats on the final Saturday of September, but Longmire knows it’s dangerous to start thinking too far ahead.

“My experience over many years has told me that you go too far one way, too far the other and not get the balance right,” Longmire said.

“You can go too far down a conservative route and then that impacts the way you play.

“If any players are at risk or sore, they don’t play. But if they’re fit and ready to go, and there’s no reason for them not to play, you can’t live in the space of we shouldn’t play half the team because they might get injured. That’s a pretty dangerous space to be in. You want to make sure you keep your footy going.

“Once we get through Saturday night and have hopefully what is a strong contest against Adelaide, we’ll then sit down and see what the coming weeks look like.”

Tom Papley won’t make a pre-finals return but is tracking well. Picture: Brett Costello

Longmire confirmed that injured players Tom Papley and Justin McInerney won’t make a return against the Crows. However, he did suggest that the pair were both training strongly and looked set to play in the first week of finals.

“Juzzy did a fair bit more than what I expected today and moved really well which is a really good sign,” Longmire said. “They’re tracking well for the first week.”

However, midfielder Chad Warner is appearing likely to play against Adelaide after missing the Bombers clash with a sore calf.

“Chad was actually declaring himself fit last week,” Longmire said. “He felt a little bit tight before the Collingwood game … and only mentioned after the game.

“We were really conservative last week giving him last week off and he was keen to play. So, if you considered we were conservative last week, he’s still got to get through training on Thursday … it’s looking positive for him at the moment.”

Warner is looking set for a return after missing the Essendon game with a sore calf. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Two players who appear primed for a week off are Brodie Grundy and Will Hayward. Grundy has had an increased workload throughout 2024 in a fantastic first season for the Swans, while Hayward has pushed through countless knocks and injuries to produce a career-best year.

Internally, Longmire suggested that the club is comfortable with where the pair are placed. But they will make a definitive call later this week.

“Only if they need it,” he said.

“Will has had a sore knee for a number of weeks, and he actually feels a bit better today.

“Brodie has had a big workload, we’ve been able to manage him during the week, he’s been able to have some time off and down tools and regenerate there as well. So once again, you have to be mindful that it’s about this week, but there’s also a bye the following week.

“You’ve just got to get the balance right. We’ve got some experienced coaches and experienced medical condition staff that would generally try and sit down and make the right decisions.”

BERRY A CHANCE AS LIONS CHASE TOP-FOUR FINISH

— Callum Dick

Brisbane midfielder Jarrod Berry remains a chance to play in Saturday night’s clash with Essendon at the Gabba after scans cleared him of any serious injury to his hamstring.

Berry was sent for scans on Monday after being subbed out in the second quarter of the loss to Collingwood with hamstring tightness.

The 26-year-old was seen running at training on Tuesday and will have to pass a fitness test at main training on Thursday before a decision is made on his availability.

If Berry is anything other than 100 per cent it is unlikely he will be risked against the Bombers, given the Lions have almost certainly locked up a place in the top eight.

Berry has blossomed into one of the premier wingers in the competition and played every game so far this season.

Jarrod Berry remains a chance to feature in round 24. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

He has worn multiple hats in the Brisbane midfield, capable of playing a lockdown defensive role on the opposition’s best on-baller while also getting forward to impact in attack.

Fellow midfielder Hugh McCluggage said Berry’s absence was felt in Saturday’s loss to Collingwood.

“He plays so many different positions for us and that wing position he plays at times is a spot that’s really important because you’re often setting up your teammates and using your leadership and voice to organise around stoppage,” McCluggage said.

“That’s probably one thing we took away from the game – we weren’t quite good enough at that side of things with our communication – so we missed him out there at the weekend.”

Meanwhile, Jack Payne (foot) and Bruce Reville (fibula) remain a week away.

The club expects the pair to be available for week one of the VFL finals next weekend, with an eye to pushing for AFL selection the following week.

Originally published as AFL Round 24 teams: All the ins and outs as Charlie Curnow and Zac Williams are ruled out of Saints clash