AFL finals injuries 2021: How is your team’s injury list looking heading into the semi-finals
Brisbane started the season with one of the most potent attacks in the league, now left with just the single key forward how they structure their team will be crucial to success.
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Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield has zeroed in on improving his composure with ball in hand after a “far from ideal” performance in his side’s qualifying final loss last week.
The midfield dynamo has confirmed he will have surgery once his finals campaign ends on a fractured finger but he is determined to play through the pain in coming weeks.
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Dangerfield faced criticism this week for his 23 disposal effort in a 43-point loss to Port Adelaide – which included eight clangers as he went at 56 per cent disposal efficiency – which left AFL legend Leigh Matthews to ponder if he was “trying too hard”.
The Cats vice-captain’s worrisome finger played a part as he uncharacteristically dropped multiple marks on the night, including an uncontested grab that slipped through his hands and resulted in an Orazio Fantasia goal.
Dangerfield said his finger would “need a bit of work” at the operating table at season’s end but it was “nothing that can’t wait until then”.
The Brownlow medallist said he had heard the talk around his game and conceded that there was some truth to the criticism.
“When I reflect on my game from the weekend, it was far from ideal and one of those things that I have got to improve on is that composure,” he told SEN.
“I wouldn’t say ‘trying too hard’, what I would say is it is a level-headedness you need under the heat of battle that I didn’t execute last week.
“That presence of mind to slow things down a bit rather than just rush at times.”
Geelong will hope to keep its good record in semi-finals going against GWS Giants on Friday night, with the club having won in the second week of finals in three of the past four seasons.
In two of those games Dangerfield led the charge, dominating Sydney with four first-half goals in 2017 and stunning Collingwood with another bag of four last year.
“It is something that we haven’t been great at, that first week of finals, but what we have been is good at responding and that is the challenge ahead of us now,” he said.
Dangerfield also acts as the president of the AFL Players Association and sat on the fence on Giants forward Toby Greene’s three-match ban for intentional contact with umpire Matt Stevic.
But Dangerfield said that players “need to get better” in their treatment of umpires and that both the players and football media “complain far too often” about umpiring decisions.
‘Sorry mum’: Dee’s toothy message to mother
Melbourne Rising star Luke Jackson will have a plate inserted to repair his two missing front teeth by Wednesday.
The Demons young gun posted a graphic photo of his missing teeth on his social media the day after having them knocked out in a collision in Melbourne’s qualifying final win over the Brisbane Lions.
Jackson lost the false tooth he had already had inserted but also damaged his other “good” front tooth, which was also left hanging after the mishap and was removed by a dentist.
The 19-year-old was still missing his teeth as the Demons took to the track in Perth where they are quarantining ahead of their preliminary final.
Jackson expected to have the dental work done by midweek and said he would make sure he wore a mouthguard in the future.
“I’ll be fine, I went to the dentist yesterday and they pulled the other one out because it was pretty much already out,” Jackson said.
“I will get a plate by Wednesday and I will be fine.
“Obviously I had my other tooth knocked out quite a few years ago and always wanted me to wear a mouthguard but I never did so now I will. Sorry mum.
“Just make sure you wear your mouthguards, kids, you don’t want to look like this.”
Jackson was named as the league’s Rising Star last week after a standout second season with the Demons, in which he has kicked 15 goals.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin paid tribute to Jackson after he was able to return to the field against the Lions after the nasty collision.
“The character of the kid was unbelievable,” Goodwin said after the Demons’ win.
“To keep going, to keep playing, to keep competing the way he did speaks volumes for him.
“Obviously he’s got some work to do now to fix up his mouth but he’s a quality kid.”
Danger’s painful fracture
Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield will again play in pain in Friday night’s cutthroat semi-final as he deals with a fractured finger.
The Brownlow medallist faces postseason surgery on his right ring finger to repair the injury he suffered late in thrilling loss to Melbourne in Round 23.
The injury hampered the jet midfielder in the qualifying final loss to Port Adelaide on Friday night which has put the Cats at risk of a crushing straight sets finals exit against GWS Giants.
Geelong has confirmed Dangerfield, 31, will definitely take on the Giants in Perth on Friday night after playing with his ring and little fingers taped together against the Power.
Dangerfield’s efficiency and cleanness was down in the loss to Port, but football manager Simon Lloyd said the jet ballwinner would defy the injury for a second week.
He is almost certain to go under the knife at season’s end on the injury, pending a final medical assessment.
“Patrick is playing with a hand injury that he sustained in the final home and away game against Melbourne,” Lloyd told News Corp.
“Many players are carrying something this time of year and there is no concern about Patrick’s availability this week.
“He will play against the Giants, there are no issues there, and he will be ready to give it a red hot crack.”
Speedster Mark O’Connor won’t tackle the Giants after hurting his hamstring which could rule him out for the remainder of the finals series.
Utility Zach Tuohy is his likely replacement.
The Cats are under pressure to bounce back after suffering their eighth loss from nine matches in the first week of the finals.
Another defeat will reignite discussions about the Cats’ finals record even though they have been the most successful home and away team in the competition over the past decade.
Since 2012, the Cats have won 150 matches and lost 62, the best regular season record in the competition, according to Champion Data.
But Lloyd said Geelong was firmly focusing on snapping back to its best form on Friday night in a bid to reignite its premiership ambitions ahead of a potential preliminary final match up against Melbourne in Perth, if the Cats prevail.
“We expect he (Dangerfield) and his teammates and the club to respond after last week,” Lloyd said.
The Cats managed only 43 points in the loss to the Power, their lowest score of the season. It was the fourth time since 2017 Geelong has kicked its lowest score of the year in the first final.
Courageous captain Joel Selwood also played with a hand injury in last year’s finals series but backed Dangerfield to deliver his normal output against the Giants.
“He (‘Danger’) will be fine,” Selwood said.
“He will probably handle the balls a little bit more this week (at training) to work out how to best use it (the finger).
“He has played with a number of injuries throughout his career so it is not something new to him.
“It is quickly forgotten about in the heat of battle I can tell you that. The adrenaline will get to Paddy. He is a professional and he will deal with it.”
BRISBANE
The Lions will likely be without Dan McStay this weekend after he was forced from the field when he copped a stray boot from teammate Nakia Cockatoo. It’s a big blow for the Lions forward line who have also lost Eric Hipwood to a season-ending knee injury. The club is waiting on scan results to see if Callum Ah Chee could also make his return this weekend from a groin injury.
Noah Answerth (groin) Test
Eric Hipwood (knee) season
Harry Sharp (ankle) season
Cam Rayner (knee) season
Dan McStay (concussion) One Week
GEELONG
It could be a case of one Irishman in for the other as Zach Tuohy prepares to return from his hamstring injury at the same time Mark O’Connor goes down with a strain of his own. O’Connor will hold out hope of returning at some point this finals series, but the odds are against him given he missed six weeks earlier this year with the same injury. Tom Stewart is making slow progress on his slim chance of returning from a foot injury in time for the grand final, if the Cats get there. Superstar Patrick Dangerfield (hand) will play through discomfort for the second finals series running after dealing with achy groins last year.
INJURY LIST
Zach Tuohy (hamstring) Test
Mark O’Connor (hamstring) 2-3 weeks
Tom Stewart (foot) Indefinite
Cooper Stephens (ankle) Season
Cameron Taheny (hamstring) Season
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
The Giants might be looking to cover more than just the loss of Toby Greene if he fails to beat an ump-bump charge at the tribunal on Tuesday. Lively forward Tom Green has been ruled out of the finals series with a broken arm, while Isaac Cumming is battling to overcome an ankle injury after being subbed out against the Swans. Sam Reid came off late in the Giants’ narrow finals win at the weekend with a hamstring concern but will press for selection to play this week’s semi-final against Geelong in Perth “Scans on Sunday revealed a fractured radius and he’ll (Green) undergo surgery at some point in the coming week,” Giants head of medical Cullan Ball said on Monday. The Giants said Braydon Preuss, Xavier O’Halloran, Brent Daniels and Nick Shipley will all miss this week.
INJURY LIST
Callum Brown (hamstring) available
Tom Green (arm) season
Sam Reid (hamstring) test
Isaac Cumming (ankle) test
Adam Kennedy (hamstring) test
Brent Daniels (hamstring) TBC
Xavier O’Halloran (calf) TBC
Nick Shipley (ankle) TBC
Braydon Preuss (back) TBC
Jeremy Finlayson (personal) TBC
Jack Buckley (knee) season
Matt Flynn (shoulder) season
Tom Hutchesson (hamstring) indefinite
Lachlan Keeffe (knee) season
Will Shaw (shoulder) season
MELBOURNE
The Demons are in a desirable spot, with season-ending injuries that have been known for some time the only issues heading into a preliminary final. Jayden Hunt was “pushing pretty hard” to return for the qualifying final but just fell short. He is expected to be available and to have done enough work in time to warrant preliminary final selection.
INJURY LIST
Jayden Hunt (ankle) test
Marty Hore (knee) season
Aaron Nietschke (knee) season
Adam Tomlinson (knee) season
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power are so confident Orazio Fantasia will be fine for the preliminary final that they won’t send him in for scans on his knee after he slightly hurt it against Geelong. Mitch Georgiades could play in the SANFL this weekend after missing out on the win over the Cats and will be joined by Hamish Hartlett. Lachie Jones will also be available.
INJURY LIST
Kane Farrell (knee) season
Trent Burgoyne (hamstring) season
Taj Schofield (hamstring) season
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Hayden Crozier (concussion), Ed Richards (shoulder) and Zaine Cordy (illness) all missed the elimination final win over Essendon but are expected to come into the selection frame this week. Ruckman Stefan Martin is available but is still lacking fitness. He won’t play against the Lions and is now doubtful to return this finals series at all unless an “emergency” arises.
INJURY LIST
Toby McLean (knee) season
Josh Bruce (knee) season
Originally published as AFL finals injuries 2021: How is your team’s injury list looking heading into the semi-finals
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