In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Carlton and North Melbourne are headed to the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night to challenge bump bans for ex-Dockers Blake Acres and Griffin Logue, respectively.
- Richmond expect Dustin Martin and Jacob Hopper to return against the Western Bulldogs this weekend ahead of a pivotal three-game test.
Blues, Kangaroos head to tribunal
Marc McGowan
Carlton and North Melbourne are headed to the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night to challenge bump bans for ex-Dockers Blake Acres and Griffin Logue, respectively.
Match review officer Michael Christian on Sunday night offered both players a one-match ban on rough conduct charges, assessing each case as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
Martin, Hopper in line to return to face Bulldogs
Jon Pierik
Richmond expects prime movers Dustin Martin and Jacob Hopper to return against the Western Bulldogs this weekend ahead of a pivotal three-game test for the club that believes it is in premiership contention.
The pair missed Friday night’s 14-point loss to Collingwood. Their drive and creativity were missed, as the Tigers managed only seven goals on a sodden night.
Tigers chief advisor Neil Balme said on Monday that Martin, who was subbed out of the round two clash against Adelaide, and Hopper were in line for a recall.
Dustin Martin was subbed off against Adelaide because of injury, but the Tigers expect him back for Saturday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs.Credit:Jason South
“We are pretty confident that they will both be right. My gut feel was if it was grand final day last weekend, we probably would have played them both, but because it’s such a long season, and you don’t want to run the risk of losing them for a month, that’s probably what we were thinking more than anything else,” he said.
“But the doctors’ are pretty confident they will both get up for this week.”
Martin’s injury status had been shrouded in some secrecy, but Balme said it was largely hamstring soreness.
“He has got a bit of hammy soreness, and is generally sore as well. So, it was given him a break, give him a week off. He hasn’t got a hamstring strain, just a bit sore,” Balme said.
Martin, 31, was sidelined for seven weeks last season with a hamstring injury, and the Tigers don’t want a repeat of this for the 2017 Brownlow medallist.
Hopper, the former Giant who had made a strong start against Carlton and Adelaide, had a knee issue.
“He had had another knee issue previously. We were just a bit conservative about it, making sure we don’t push him over the edge. He is feeling pretty good as well, so it would be a surprise if they are both not right,” Balme said.
Martin and Hopper worked in the gym on Monday. While they are confident of a return, the hard-running Jayden Short (calf) is likely to miss another week.
“We are hopeful, but we are not as certain of him as the other two. We haven’t given up on it, but probably not [selection recall] would be my gut feel,” Balme said.
Liam Baker was the stand-out Tiger on Friday with 32 disposals and 449 metres gained, but AFL great Matthew Lloyd questioned the fitness of Maurice Rioli junior after his goalless, eight-disposal effort. The Tigers will also need more from key pillars Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt against the Bulldogs and the following fortnight against fellow premiership favourites Sydney (Adelaide Oval) and Melbourne at the MCG.
Lynch had only a goal and seven touches against the Magpies, while Riewoldt had two goals from his six touches and one mark. Riewoldt, in what shapes as his final season, has five goals in three games, and his form may be debated at match committee.
“We didn’t play very well at all, and we still only got beaten by 14 points. We are still confident that if we get it right, we will be pretty strong,” Balme said.
The Bulldogs are coming off a breakthrough win over the Brisbane Lions, strengthened by a defence which was more individually accountable than it had been. The Tigers have won four of their past five against the Bulldogs.
