Barometer: Geelong, GWS, Sydney Swans, Western Bulldogs injury lists ahead of preliminary finals
LACHIE Henderson and Kurt Tippett almost certain to return for this week’s preliminary final, while Gary Rohan and Jarrard McVeigh race the clock to be fit.
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GEELONG and Sydney look certain to be boosted ahead of Friday night’s preliminary final clash.
The Cats look set to recall defender Lachie Henderson (knee) while the Swans will regain Kurt Tippett (broken jaw).
However, the news isn’t all good for Sydney with co-captain Jarrad McVeigh (calf) and Gary Rohan (knee) set to miss through injury.
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In Saturday’s game, Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs look to have a full bill of health.
The Giants have had the week off but will have to make at least one change with Steve Johnson suspended.
The Bulldogs ended Hawthorn’s premiership run in the semi-final last week and could be unchanged for the trip to Sydney.
GEELONG
INJURIES
Lachie Henderson (knee) available
Cory Gregson (foot) season
Jackson Thurlow (knee) season
ON THE BLOCK: Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Ruggles and Josh Cowan are facing a very nervous week at the Cattery as selection for Friday night’s preliminary final edges closer and closer. Kolodjashnij hasn’t done much wrong but could be the unlucky one, while Ruggles had a shocker against the Hawks in the qualifying final. Cowan’s tackling pressure could be handy against Sydney.
ON THE CUSP: The Cats have all but declared Lachie Henderson a certain starter for Friday night after recovering from knee surgery. He trained last week and on Saturday with his teammates as he aims to prove his fitness this week. Jed Bews was omitted from the qualifying final but could get back in if Chris Scott doesn’t think Ruggles can do the job on a Tom Papley or Ben McGlynn.
KATE SALEMME’S FORECAST: Patrick Dangerfield said on the weekend Hawthorn’s second half fade out against the Dogs proves how important the extra week off will be for the Cats but time will tell. No doubt Geelong heads into Friday night as favourites but as we’ve seen in this finals series, it’s not over until it’s over. Dangerfield, Joel and Scott Selwood, Mitch Duncan and Josh Caddy will match the Swans in the midfield but it will be Geelong’s ability to score — which it struggled to do against Hawthorn — against the best defence in the league this year that will decide whether or not the Cats are into another Grand Final.
GWS GIANTS
INJURIES
Steve Johnson (suspension) 1 week
Jack Steele (foot) season
Paul Ahern (knee) season
Jarrod Pickett (foot) season
Caleb Marchbank (shoulder) season
ON THE BLOCK: There will be at least one change with Steve Johnson missing thanks to his high bump on Josh Kennedy last week. Callan Ward (shoulder) was a bit sore after the qualifying final but that has never stopped him before. After two big weeks Jon Patton couldn’t get near it against the Swans but hard to see Leon Cameron making any unforced changes. The Giants had their main training session on Friday and a lighter run on Saturday, following the same routine they did prior to the qualifying final.
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ON THE CUSP: GWS has almost a full list to choose from, with Matt Kennedy cleared of any damage after sitting out the second half of the Giants’ NEAFL Grand Final win against Sydney last week with a foot issue. The three qualifying final emergencies Adam Kennedy, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Rhys Palmer are at the front of the queue and ex-Dog Sam Reid is also in the mix. “Do we just bring in a forward (to replace Johnson)?” Cameron said on Monday. “Is it Reid? Is it Palmer? Is it Hoskin-Elliott? We’ll probably select the 22 by the end of Tuesday just to let everyone settle.”
AL PATON’S FORECAST: No Stevie J, playing only two matches in a month, first ever prelim ... can any of these things stop the GWS juggernaut? It’s hard to see how, but there are a lot of unknowns ahead of this showstopper. The Giants accounted for the Dogs comfortably in their only meeting this year, when Heath Shaw ran amok in Round 9 with 38 disposals (36 kicks) at 97 per cent efficiency. Don’t expect him to be given that latitude this time.
SYDNEY SWANS
INJURIES
Gary Rohan (knee) TBC
Jarrad McVeigh (calf) TBC
Kurt Tippett (jaw) test
Zak Jones (concussion) test
Callum Mills (hamstring) 1-2 weeks
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ON THE BLOCK: Gary Rohan (knee) and Jarrad McVeigh (calf) face the agonising prospect of having to sit on the sidelines for a preliminary final after both suffering injuries in the win over Adelaide. Both appeared likely to end the pair’s season but scans will determine their fate. Toby Nankervis appears the one to miss out in the ruck.
ON THE CUSP: Kurt Tippett is almost certain to return from a broken jaw, while Zak Jones is in the mix to replace one of Rohan or McVeigh if he can prove he’s shaken off the effects of concussion after a heavy knock in the NEAFL Grand Final. Dean Towers could come back in as a third tall option to replace Rohan inside forward 50 after playing 13 games this year, while Harry Cunningham is also in the mix.
KATE SALEMME’S FORECAST: Battle hardened or bruised? That’s the big question and it won’t be answered until Friday night. The Swans looked ferocious and hungry for the contest against the Crows, a far cry from the performance against the Giants. Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker are back in form, while the defence was as solid as ever on Saturday night, which are all good signs. But when Buddy is up and going the Swans are dynamic and hard to stop and he loves playing on the big stage at the MCG. Expect something special from him and he’ll need to produce it because if he doesn’t, it might be season over for the minor premiers.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
INJURIES
Lin Jong (collarbone) TBA
Marcus Adams (foot) season
Kieran Collins (shoulder) season
Jack Redpath (knee) season
Mitch Wallis (broken leg) season
Robert Murphy (knee) season
Josh Prudden (knee) season
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ON THE BLOCK: The Bulldogs ended their eight-game losing streak against Hawthorn - and a finals curse dating back to 1961 - and maybe their injury curse as well. After a year blighted by injuries, the Dogs came through the semi-final unscathed and could head to Sydney unchanged. If Luke Beveridge was to make a change Toby McLean could make way in a “last in-first out” type situation. Tory Dickson’s spot is safe but he’d want to put in a big week on the track to make up for his inaccuracy on Friday night.
ON THE CUSP: Footscray surged into the VFL Grand Final with a 119-point win over Collingwood on Saturday, with several AFL-listed players impressing. Lukas Webb, Roarke Smith, Koby Stevens, Mitch Honeychurch and Fletcher Roberts could all count themselves unlucky to miss the preliminary final. One from left field, could the Dogs bring in Will Minson to counter Giants big man Shane Mumford? He starred in last year’s elimination final against Sam Jacobs and could do a similar job on Saturday.
BEN HIGGINS’S FORECAST: It’s been some sort of a ride, the past fortnight, for Bulldogs fans. A rout of West Coast followed by the ending of Hawthorn’s premiership run. Next up, a trip to Spotless Stadium for a preliminary final against GWS. If the Dogs bring the same tenacity and desire they showed against the Eagles and Hawks there’s absolutely no reason they can’t beat the Giants. The problem is the Giants have a similar gameplan with a more potent attack. Winning the midfield battle becomes even more crucial this weekend.
SEASON OVER FOR ...
ADELAIDE
LONG-TERM INJURIES
Nil
LIST CHANGES SO FAR
Nil
MATCH REPORT: SWANS EARN CATS CLASH AFTER DOWNING CROWS
IT’S A BIG PRE-SEASON FOR: Sam Jacobs
The big Crow didn’t have his finest season in 2016 and copped more than a little heat on social media after Adelaide’s exit at the hands of Sydney. Jacobs enjoyed a career year in 2014 and backed it up with another strong season in 2015 but dropped off dramatically this year. The Crows like youngster Reilly O’Brien and Jacobs will need to regain his best form to see off the young buck.
HAWTHORN
LONG-TERM INJURIES
Jonathon Ceglar (knee)
Will Langford (illness)
Teia Miles (collarbone)
Jarryd Roughead (illness)
LIST CHANGES SO FAR
Shem-Kalvin Tatupu (NRL)
MATCH REPORT: DOMINANT DOGS END HAWKS’ REIGN
IT’S A BIG PRE-SEASON FOR: Graeme Wright
It what looms as a Geelong-esque “regeneration”, the Hawks are chasing Jaeger O’Meara, Tyrone Vickery and Tom Mitchell and it’s up to Wright to fit them all in. Surely, someone has to make way - the Hawks only have so many draft picks - but a warning. Don’t end up like Essendon after 2000 when they had to jettison several key role players only too see their burgeoning empire crumble.
Originally published as Barometer: Geelong, GWS, Sydney Swans, Western Bulldogs injury lists ahead of preliminary finals
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