In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Essendon captain Dyson Heppell has signed a contract extension.
- Geelong are confident they have options to replace Max Holmes if the wingman fails to prove his fitness for the grand final.
Check back throughout the day for updates.
Cats confident on replacements if Holmes not available
Peter Ryan
Geelong are working through several ideas of who might replace emerging wingman Max Holmes if he fails to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday’s grand final against Sydney.
The 20-year-old will be given every chance to prove his fitness after being subbed out of the preliminary final with what was initially considered a hamstring strain but may have been neuron pain.
Max Holmes remains optimistic he will play as the Cats lay back up plans Credit:Getty
He ran laps and did some running under the eye of fitness staff on Monday. The Cats described his scan results as “encouraging” and sources said no tear was detected.
However, preliminary final emergencies Sam Menegola and Brandan Parfitt and medical-sub Mark O’Connor are all considered possibilities to replace Holmes if he is declared unavailable.
Parfitt played 16 games this season but has not played in the finals while Menegola, who can play as a wingman, is fresh having played seven of the final nine games of the season before being left out of finals. O’Connor is the more versatile of the trio, able to defend or lock down opponents in the midfield.
Assistant coach Shaun Grigg, who has played a significant role in reshaping the Cats’ midfield this season, said the coaches were going through many “what if” scenarios ahead of the clash.
“We have got a number of players that we would be happy to come in and play, we have got some really good players who have unfortunately missed out on finals,” Grigg said.
“As coaches we will plan [for] plan A, plan B and plan C as you would expect we would, but at the moment it is just too early to tell.”
Grigg said Holmes was optimistic he would be available and would train again on Wednesday, however the decision would be in the hands of the medical staff rather than the coaches.
“It’s day by day at the moment. Max is optimistic, but we just don’t know yet. [There is] more training tomorrow so we will give him a chance to prove himself,” Grigg said.
“He will be in the hands of our medical team and fitness staff. We have trusted those guys all year.”
Heppell re-signs with Bombers
Essendon captain Dyson Heppell has re-signed “for at least one more year” despite interest from Gold Coast.
List manager Adrian Dodoro said Heppell was an “instrumental figure” at Essendon.
“It is universally known how selfless and caring Dyson as a person is, and he has always done what he thinks is best for the team.
“Dyson’s recommitment to the club shows just how driven he is to take this club forward in 2023, and he remains incredibly important to our football program, both on and off the field.”
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