AFL Team Whispers: All the latest selection news and updates ahead of Round 11, 2023

Geelong has lost another star midfielder due to injury. But whether it regains its skipper remains unclear.

Plus a host of players could make their debuts this weekend.

Get all the latest Round 11 selection news and updates in AFL Team Whispers!

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CARLTON will consider re-calling ruck Tom De Koning, as well as unleashing another debutant for Friday night’s clash against the Swans.

De Koning returned from concussion via the VFL on the weekend and impressed, tallying 24 disposals, 10 clearances, nine inside 50s, eight marks and 34 hit-outs.

The ruck wasn’t the only AFL-listed Blue to have a busy day against Williamstown, with Paddy Dow (41 disposals, 11 clearances), Lachie Fogarty (29 disposals, 7 clearances), Lachie Plowman (23 disposals), Brodie Kemp (23) and Zac Fisher (19) all finding plenty of the ball.

The other option would be 2022 draftee Jaxon Binns, who’s averaged 26.9 disposals and 7.6 marks from his eight VFL games so far this season.

George Hewett would be a strong chance to come into the 22 after he started as the sub against Collingwood.

Ollie Hollands, who was replaced by Hewett, could be due for a rest after being subbed out in the past two games, while Matt Cottrell could also be vulnerable.

SYDNEY will be hoping veteran Tom Hickey (concussion) will be OK to return to face Carlton after fellow ruck Peter Ladhams suffered a nasty ankle injury last week.

GEELONG could welcome back a prized recruit and two premiership players for Saturday’s clash against the Giants but will be without a young gun midfielder after an injury blow.

But mystery remains on whether star skipper Patrick Dangerfield will be fit to return.

The Cats on Tuesday confirmed young gun midfielder Max Holmes had gone in for surgery to repair a meniscus tear – an injury he suffered during last weekend’s loss to Fremantle yet was able to play out the game.

Holmes is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks, with Cats football boss Simon Lloyd anticipating the 20-year-old not to feature until at least after the Round 13 bye.

It’s another blow to the Cats’ already-depleted midfielder brigade, with Dangerfield (hamstring) and All-Australian Cam Guthrie (toe) still sidelined.

While Guthrie is still several weeks away from returning, Dangerfield is pushing his case to be available after missing the past two matches with a hamstring issue. The Cats, clearly, won’t rush the veteran back if he’s not ready.

Lloyd said Dangerfield was one of four players expected to play footy either side of the bye.

“Jack Bowes, Pat Dangerfield and Mitch Duncan all have had minor soft tissue injuries and Shannon Neale has had a ankle injury as well, so those four players are increasing their running loads, they’re doing a lot more kicking and they’ve all got individual programs that they’re working through but they’re all very close,” he said.

In better news, premiership duo Gary Rohan and Sam De Koning, as well as recent recruit Ollie Henry, are good chances to play this week, according to Lloyd.

“Ollie Henry had the testicular rupture a couple of weeks ago, we had Sam De Koning with the facial fracture and Gary Rohan also with the minor hamstring,” he said.

“All three are in full training as we speak and they still have a number of things to tick off before they’re medically cleared, but they will be discussed for selection this week.”

The GIANTS will be forced to make at least three changes ahead of their clash with the Cats.

Star midfielder Josh Kelly will miss the next four weeks after suffering a calf injury in the narrow loss to the Saints.

The Giants will also be without key-position duo Harry Himmelberg and Nick Haynes, who entered concussion protocols on Sunday. They’ll work through the 12-day concussion protocols in a bid to be available for Round 12.

Harry Rowston is a chance to replace Kelly after two huge VFL games in the past fortnight, while the Giants could also hand a debut to academy graduate Josh Fahey, who had another big VFL game with 43 disposals, 14 marks and five inside 50s. It was his third half of 37-plus touches so far this VFL season. Callan Ward could also come into the 22.

Callum Brown would be a solid defensive option, while Wade Derksen would give them another avenue to goal.

WEST COAST is set to receive a much-needed personnel boost ahead of its clash with Essendon.

Premiership trio Elliot Yeo (groin), Shannon Hurn (groin) and Tom Barrass (illness) should all be available for selection, while midfielder Luke Edwards (illness) is set to be in the mix as well.

And second-round draftee Coby Burgiel could be in line for a debut after recovering from a hamstring strain.

However the Eagles will be sweating on the fitness of star forward Oscar Allen, who jarred his knee late in Sunday’s horror 116-point loss to Hawthorn then left the track early on Tuesday. The club said Allen would “have a light start to the week before pushing to take his place” later this week when he undergoes a fitness test.

Jamaine Jones (ankle) is set for a stint on the sidelines, but stand-in captain Liam Duggan has been given the all-clear despite leaving the field in the late stages of the Hawthorn clash.

ESSENDON should regain star midfielder Dylan Shiel (calf) after he was a late out against Richmond, while key defender Jayden Laverde (calf) could also return.

The Bombers could also change the ruck set-up after another quiet game from Andrew Phillips, who was subbed out against Richmond with just one disposal. Nick Bryan had his best VFL game for the season to date on the weekend, finishing with 25 disposals, 11 marks, eight clearances and 37 hit-outs.

NARRM (MELBOURNE) will need to find a replacement for Clayton Oliver and Lachie Hunter for Saturday’s clash against Fremantle.

Oliver has a hamstring injury, while winger Hunter failed to have his one-match ban overturned at the AFL tribunal.

It’s not like the Dees are bereft of options at VFL level, though. James Jordon (27 disposals, 8 clearances for Casey), who was the sub against Port Adelaide, would be a strong chance for inclusion, while James Harmes (21), Adam Tomlinson (24), Bailey Laurie (2.0, 23) and Daniel Turner (22) all pushed their case in the VFL win over North Melbourne.

The other option coach Simon Goodwin flagged was handing a debut to father-son recruit Taj Woewodin — the son of Brownlow Medallist Shane Woewodin — after a consistent VFL campaign for Casey so far this season. Woewodin kicked 1.1 from 22 disposals and four clearances on the weekend.

WALYALUP (FREMANTLE) superstar Nat Fyfe is expected to play a full game against Melbourne on Saturday.

Fyfe has played three games since returning from a foot issue but started as the sub twice then was subbed out in the third quarter last weekend against Geelong.

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said there’d be no minutes limit on Fyfe this week.

“We’re still not sure what role we give him and how long he plays but he’ll be unrestricted,” Longmuir told 7 News Perth.

“He pulled up well so he’ll have a full week on the track and we’ll weigh up what his role looks like this week.”

BRISBANE’S hopes of extending its winning run on Sunday against the Crows in Adelaide have taken a blow, with in-form defender Jack Payne ruled out.

Payne suffered delayed concussion in the aftermath of Brisbane’s 43-point weekend victory over the Gold Coast Suns.

The key defender’s absence could lead to an AFL re-call for Darcy Gardiner, who has made his comeback from shoulder, foot and adductor issues through the club’s VFL team.

The Lions should regain veteran Daniel Rich, who’s missed the past three games with a calf injury. He could be a straight swap for fellow rebounding defender Keidean Coleman, who faces a fitness test after picking up a glute issue against the Lions.

ADELAIDE is expected to be boosted by the return of experienced defender Tom Doedee for its clash with Brisbane.

Doedee suffered a concussion in the Crows’ Round 9 win over St Kilda, meaning he didn’t play against the Bulldogs.

But Crows high performance boss Darren Burgess said Doedee, as well as Kieran Strachan, would “tick off the final stage of their concussion (protocol) at training this week and we expect them to be available this weekend”.

Doedee is set to replace fellow defender Mitch Hinge, who was subbed out of the Crows’ loss to the Bulldogs in the first quarter after entering concussion protocols.

Veteran key forward Taylor Walker should also return after being managed against the Bulldogs. Walker could be joined in the side by fellow key forward Riley Thilthorpe, who’s been cleared of a knee issue.

The WESTERN BULLDOGS will have to find a replacement for Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen, who’ll miss at least two months after scans revealed a high-grade hamstring strain.

Johannisen, who’s returned to his rebounding best this season after being moved back to defence, was subbed off midway through the third quarter of Saturday’s win over Adelaide in Ballarat after feeling at his hamstring

The scans showed “extensive damage” requiring a lengthy stint on the sidelines, according to Bulldogs’ head of sports medicine Chris Bell.

“Being an overstretching injury whilst at speed, our clinical suspicions of a high-grade injury were confirmed with the MRI that showed extensive damage,” Bell said.

“JJ is the ultimate professional and will get to work with our rehab team to get back playing this home-and-away season, but we anticipate that he will miss 8-10 games.”

Other than Johannisen, the Bulldogs emerged from the clash in Ballarat without any other serious injury concerns after captain Marcus Bontempelli was cleared of an ankle injury.

If Adam Treloar isn’t ready to return from a hamstring issue, the Dogs could go tall in defence and re-call Alex Keath, or opt for Laitham Vandermeer, Luke Cleary or Mitch Hannan.

GOLD COAST will have to find a replacement for Sean Lemmens (hamstring) to face the Western Bulldogs, with veteran Lachie Weller the obvious choice — should he be fit to return from a knee issue — alongside Ben Long.

NORTH MELBOURNE should be boosted by the return of exciting forward Cam Zurhaar for Sunday’s sold-out clash against Collingwood.

Zurhaar was absent from his side’s narrow loss to Sydney last weekend after he underwent a small surgical procedure on his cheekbone.

But the Roos are confident Zurhaar will be cleared to return ahead of Sunday’s match.

North could also bring Aidan Corr straight back into the line-up after serving a one-game suspension, while Ben Cunnington could earn a reprieve after a strong response to his demotion to the VFL with one goal from 32 disposals and a whopping 17 clearances.

Veteran midfielder Liam Shiels, though, will be unavailable due to a delayed concussion.

Rookie draftee Blake Drury (hip), recruit Darcy Tucker (hamstring) and Flynn Perez (concussion) all need to get through training this week in order to be available for selection.

“Darcy made great progress in his strength and speed metrics last week but just fell short of being cleared,” North head of performance Kevin White said.

“He will need to tick off speed and acceleration testing on-field Thursday and train fully with no (hamstring) awareness to be able to put his hand up for selection.”

COLLINGWOOD isn’t expected to make too many changes after its ninth win last weekend, with Jack Ginnivan a chance to come into the starting 22.

YARTAPUULTI (PORT ADELAIDE) will be without skipper Tom Jonas for the match against Richmond.

Jonas accepted a one-week ban for his dangerous tackle on Melbourne’s Tom McDonald.

Tom Clurey could come in for Jonas, or the Power could send Ryan Burton back to defence. But a Burton move could depend on whether Todd Marshall (concussion) and/or Charlie Dixon (quad) are deemed fit to play.

RICHMOND interim coach Andrew McQualter could be without star defender Nick Vlastuin for his first game in charge against Port Adelaide.

The Tigers said Vlastuin would face a fitness test later this week after receiving a heavy knock to his leg against Essendon.

Vlastuin will need to get through training this week in order to be available for selection.

If not fit, Vlastuin could be replaced by Tylar Young.

HAWTHORN is hopeful ruck Ned Reeves will still be available to face St Kilda this week, despite being subbed out of his side’s big win over West Coast.

Reeves was forced from the field in the third quarter of the clash in Launceston due to an ankle injury.

Hawks high performance boss Peter Burge said Reeves had recovered and was “looking good at this stage for the weekend”.

“The great news is that he has pulled up really well and he was running today in straight lines with his runners and we anticipate he is going to resume training with the main group on Thursday,” Burge said.

Harry Morrison is expected to be available after he was managed last week.

ST KILDA should welcome back Tim Membrey for its clash against the Hawks.

Membrey, who missed the win over the Giants due to concussion, is likely to replace young gun Mitch Owens, who suffered his own nasty head knock against the Giants.

Jack Bytel (36 disposals, 10 clearances), Marcus Windhager (25 disposals) and Jack Billings (24) all pushed their respective cases in Sandringham’s VFL loss to the Giants.