A weekend of state league footy has enabled key players to gain fitness ahead of crucial week one finals selection.
Plus the latest on injury concerns at elimination final sides Richmond and Fremantle.
Catch up on the latest line-up and injury news ahead of week one of the AFL finals in Team Whispers!
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BRISBANE LIONS v RICHMOND
Second Elimination Final, Thursday September 1, 7:20pm AEST at the Gabba
Dustin Martin is firming to return in Richmond’s elimination final against Brisbane after ramping up his training loads with the main group on Saturday in his most intense hit-out yet.
Martin hasn’t played since Round 16 due to a serious hamstring injury, but looked in great shape in Saturday’s open session in front of hundreds of Tigers fans as he firms to face the Lions next Thursday night at the Gabba.
“He trained today. I think he’s got a bit more to get through on Monday, fingers crossed, obviously we’d love to have him out there,” Tigers star Tom Lynch said of Martin.
Lynch has been dealing with his own groin issue that caused him to get subbed out of Richmond’s Round 23 win over Essendon.
But the star forward declared himself a certain starter for the knockout final in Brisbane after scans cleared him of any serious injury.
“It’s nice having the bye for me personally, a bit of a freshen up and I had a run around today and will train Monday and be good to go,” he said.
“Unless Dimma (Damien Hardwick) doesn’t pick me, I think I’ll be playing. I feel fine so I’m right to go.
“The scans (on his groin) came back fine and it was a good result in the end.”
Jack Graham (foot) trained away from the main group on Saturday and will be touch and go for the Brisbane clash, while Noah Cumberland (lower leg) also ran laps away from the main group.
BRISBANE could have a fully fit list to choose from in their first elimination final appearance under Chris Fagan.
Three players – Marcus Adams, Callum Ah Chee and Blake Coleman – are all listed as a week away with concussion but with the pre-finals bye, should have time to recover to face Richmond on Thursday week.
Jarrod Berry was subbed out of last Friday’s loss to Melbourne with an ankle injury but is not listed.
The Lions’ only unavailabilities may be forced by suspension with Cam Rayner challenging his dangerous tackle ban on Tuesday night, but Noah Answerth already accepting his striking suspension.
MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS
Second Qualifying Final, Friday September 2, 7:50pm AEST at the MCG
Premiers MELBOURNE are hopeful young star Luke Jackson will be ready to take his place for Friday’s qualifying final but may have a forward replacement ready if he’s not.
Jackson was subbed out of the thumping win over Brisbane with a corked calf, which was getting tighter throughout the match.
The huge win allowed the Demons to be conservative with the premiership player, with Demons GM of football Alan Richardson conceding on SEN after the game: “Given its two weeks (until the game) we’re really comfortable he’ll be right.
“We know what the (sub) rule is there for, this was one where there was a chance he could do a pretty significant injury and then he does miss a potential final, so we didn’t want that to happen.”
Likewise Christian Salem, who suffered a groin strain last week and was a late withdrawal from the Lions clash, is rehabbing.
“He is recovering well and had done some rehab training this week and will look to fully train next week to hopefully play,” club doctor Laura Lallenec said.
Tom McDonald could be available after kicking a goal from 11 disposals in the Demons’ VFL qualifying final win over Sydney.
The 29-year-old has not played several months due to foot surgery after a Lisfranc injury, but got through the game unscathed in a major boost to their forward stocks.
“I got through, a bit sore towards the end with a bit of stiffness and soreness,” he told Melbourne Media.
“Been a bit of a rushed timeframe but the aim was to get back and play finals.
“I was nervous driving in, just because you’re nervous to play footy again.
“I’ll try to do as much training as I can.
“The gym stuff is probably the most important to get the foot strength back.”
McDonald kicked seven goals in his final two games before getting injured this year, and bagged two in last year’s Grand Final.
Luke Dunstan also pushed for a spot with a best-on-ground haul of 38 disposals, 11 clearances and two goals, though he’s almost certain to remain a high-quality emergency option.
SYDNEY had a major win when their qualifying final was scheduled for Friday night rather than the Thursday.
It allows Tom Papley to play if he successfully passes through the concussion protocols in the minimum 12 days, which is expected given coach John Longmire said he was “fine” post-match.
The only other player really in best 22 contention on the sidelines is retiring veteran Josh Kennedy (hamstring) but he is a “long shot” to feature in the finals series.
At VFL level, Peter Ladhams had 13 disposals and 14 hitouts and could be an option if the Swans look to go taller, while Ben Ronke kicked four goals.
GEELONG CATS v COLLINGWOOD
First Qualifying Final, Saturday September 3, 4:35pm AEST at the MCG
GEELONG midfielder Cam Guthrie is expected to be fit for next Saturday’s qualifying final against Collingwood.
Guthrie was ruled out during last week’s win over West Coast following a bruising collision with teammate Patrick Dangerfield in the second quarter.
While coming from the field and not taking any further part in the match, the diagnosis has been positive for the 30-year-old.
“Cameron got a knock on his shoulder joint in a collision incident during the game against the Eagles,” fitness boss Harry Taylor.
“He was taken off the field as a precautionary measure and we expect him to be available for selection for the first final.”
The biggest question mark is over superstar Jeremy Cameron, who sent a scare through the hearts of all Cats fans when his right hamstring injury was revealed following Round 22.
Despite his history of soft-tissue injuries the Cats and Cameron himself appear confident he will be out there against the Magpies.
“It’s going really well,” he told K rock. “I ran really well yesterday (Monday).”
“A lot of people don’t really understand but you get moving pretty quickly, three days post a hamstring you’re jogging if it’s feeling OK.
“I was lucky enough to pull up really well from it and I’m fully clear at the moment.
“There’s no pain or anything so feeling really good.”
Meanwhile coach Chris Scott told Sportsday last week: “He is going to play in the first final … that’s the confidence from our medical staff.”
Ruckman Rhys Stanley (groin) should also be available while defender Jake Kolodjashnij entered the concussion protocols during the win over the Eagles. He should be available if he progresses through them on time.
Sam Menegola, managed for the final-round win, will be given “every opportunity” to play Saturday week while Mitch Duncan (hip) is not certain to be fully fit.
COLLINGWOOD is hopeful Taylor Adams will return to a midfield that was monstered in the contested ball by Carlton in the thrilling Round 23 win.
Adams is no certainty to recover from his adductor issue but was seen training hard in a one-on-one session on Monday and he is viewed as more likely to play than not.
Nathan Kreuger could play his first game since Round 6 following a long-term shoulder injury after getting through Sunday’s VFL elimination final loss to Carlton unscathed.
Kreuger had six disposals plus a goal playing primarily as a forward with Aiden Begg in the ruck. Picking the former Cat to face his old side would be a gamble however he showed promise with four goals in two and a quarter games earlier this season.
Finlay Macrae pushed hard to hold his spot with 28 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances against the VFL Blues, a week after playing in the comeback win at AFL level.
Macrae’s Round 23 appearance was his only full game for the season.
Josh Carmichael (25 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances) also impressed.
Brody Mihocek missed part of the win over the Blues with a head knock but has been cleared of delayed concussion.
FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
First Elimination Final, Saturday September 3, 8:10pm AEST at Optus Stadium
Nat Fyfe had his second worst game for the Dockers as he made his return from a hamstring injury against GWS in Round 23.
The two-time Brownlow Medallist was held to just nine disposals – his worst output without injury since his second AFL game.
The Dockers opted against putting Fyfe into the WAFL this past weekend while the AFL squad enjoys the pre-finals bye.
Fremantle head of football operations Robert Murphy said he was confident Fyfe didn’t need the extra match minutes.
“Nat has had a really solid month of training, he’s got a game in,” Murphy told SEN.
“It’s different to his other injuries where he has had a really solid block (of training). He’ll get a big hit-out today and tomorrow, so that should have him primed.
“He didn’t have a huge game in terms of stats last week, but just to my eye, it was one of those almost games and he looked to be moving freely and he was flying for the footy. It looked like it wasn’t too far away at all for the superstar.”
Fyfe has endured a tough 2022 campaign after complications with his off-season shoulder surgery led to infection. He also suffered an early injury before a serious back complaint saw him miss the first 12 rounds.
But Murphy said players like Fyfe couldn’t be counted out.
“That adage of don’t underestimate a champion, this next phase of Nat’s career being a bit of an exploration of what’s possible and clearly he’ll spend more time forward,” he said.
“How would you feel lining up with your magnet under Fyfe in a big final at Optus Stadium?
“You’d be a little nervous wouldn’t you. Such a physically dominant player and while he’s been there before and he’s experienced, he’s as driven as an athlete as I’ve ever come across in my time in footy.”
Dockers CEO Simon Garlick said it was also good news for Griffin Logue and Rory Lobb on the injury front.
“Griff was very close in Canberra against the Giants and Lobby wasn’t quite there,” he said on SEN.
“As long as there’s nothing untoward from here to there, both will be a lock for the final.”
Garlick said forward Matt Taberner was also pushing to return in the do-or-die final against the Western Bulldogs.
“I think there’s a real opportunity for him to press his case too.”
Taberner hasn’t played since suffering a calf injury in the Round 21 win over the Dogs in Melbourne.
WESTERN BULLDOGS captain Marcus Bontempelli says the adductor injury that hampered him in recent weeks “wasn’t as bad” as made out and he’ll be at close to full capacity for next week’s elimination final against Fremantle.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has been laying a case for Bontempelli being not at his all-conquering best in recent weeks, declaring his captain has been troubled by “a niggle or two”.
The coach and his star player met with medical boss Chris Bell earlier this month to plot a course towards September that included Bontempelli playing the last two rounds of the home-and-away season.
The pre-finals bye, which has been maligned by fans, has also worked in Bontempelli’s favour, giving him the chance to take a break from training to ensure he’ll be primed for next weekend’s clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium as the Bulldogs again look to pull off a miracle run from outside the top four.
“It wasn’t as bad as what was put out … it was more of an overload result from a corkie the previous week,” Bontempelli said on Friday.
“He (Beveridge) was correct in the fact that we had a bit of a sit down and a chat about it.
“I know where my body’s at, so it was a good discussion around it, but I’m feeling pretty good and I’m definitely over the adductor stuff now, which is good.
“I’ve found, like every year, you’re dealing with different things and probably everyone is across the league at this point.
“The pre-finals bye does present that opportunity to freshen your mind and your body up and get set to go for another finals series.”
The Bulldogs made the grand final last season after finishing fifth, and famously won the 2016 premiership after finishing seventh – an indication they can overcome the disadvantage of every final being an elimination game.
But while Bontempelli will play against Fremantle, teammate Jason Johannisen faces a race against time to be passed fit having missed the last three rounds of the home-and-away season with an ankle issue.
Outside of Johannisen, however, the Bulldogs are close to full strength for their finals campaign.
“He’s tracking well and I think he has one or two speed-based parameters to tick off, but the good thing is we’ve got the time for that,” Bontempelli said of Johannisen.
“I think he’ll definitely be in the window to hopefully play.
“He’s an experienced player, so it just adds that layer of maturity and he’s a pretty dynamic player.”
