Defender Graham Johncock will miss after accepting a one-match ban for engaging in rough conduct. Skipper Simon Goodwin is a chance to return from an achilles injury, but Andrew McLeod will miss at least another week with an ongoing knee complaint. NAB Rising Star nominee Phil Davis was unlucky to be left out of the side last week, while Chris Schmidt, Jack Gunston and rookie Matthew Wright are among the other players pushing for a call up.
BRISBANE LIONS
Michael Voss is unlikely to swing the axe too drastically although he will hope to welcome back a couple of key members to his line-up. Defender Ash McGrath has served a one-game suspension and will come in, while champion midfielder Simon Black may also return. He has missed a fortnight with an ankle injury. Tom Collier, Justin Sherman and Cheynee Stiller are others likely to be pushing for a recall.
CARLTON
Defender Dennis Armfield was cleared of any structural damage but must be in some danger of missing after getting pole-axed by Ashton Hams. Brett Ratten will probably take another look at the Robbie Warnock-Shaun Hampson combination this week, but Sam Jacobs pushed his case for a quick recall with a good game for the Bullants. Mitch Robinson and Steven Browne were also named in the Bullants' best.
COLLINGWOOD
It’s hard to find places in the Collingwood team, but regulars Heath Shaw and Travis Cloke look certain to come back into the side this week. The Pies meet Carlton, with Cloke (suspension) available while Shaw (back) should be fit. Paul Medhurst impressed at VFL level but will need to force another in-form player out of Mick Malthouse’s team, which booted 19 goals last week. Josh Fraser, Brad Dick and Shane O’Bree are the others leading the charge for a recall.
ESSENDON
Essendon will lose Jason Winderlich with the midfielder to undergo surgery on his broken hand this week. The Bombers hope he’ll miss just one week, but in the meantime, they’ve got Nathan Lovett-Murray and Jake Melksham as available replacements after their strong performances in Bendigo’s win over Werribee. Angus Monfries suffered a cut knee in the Bombers’ win over North Melbourne but is expected to be fine to face St Kilda on Friday night.
FREMANTLE
David Mundy (illness), Kepler Bradley (knee) and Chris Tarrant (heel) are all expected to return for Sunday’s western derby, while Des Headland (knee) should resume in the WAFL. Paul Hasleby’s selection is no certainty after he was rushed into the side late last week to replace Mundy. Fremantle could also call on WAFL performers Clayton Hinkley (25 possessions), Byron Schammer (19), Michael Walters (28 and two goals) or Ryan Murphy (five goals).
GEELONG
Mark Thompson has flagged the possibility of resting players in the lead-up to the finals. Key forward Tom Hawkins and goal-sneak Shannon Byrnes are almost certain to be included for Saturday night's clash with the Swans at ANZ Stadium, while Simon Hogan might also win a recall. After being dropped last week, Hogan collected an impressive 50 disposals (33 kicks, 17 handballs, 14 clearances) in the Cats' VFL side, which beat Coburg.
HAWTHORN
Campbell Brown comes out after accepting a two-week sanction for striking St Kilda’s Nick Dal Santo. Shane Savage ripped it up for Box Hill and might get a look in, but Rick Ladson might edge him out. Carl Peterson missed with wisdom teeth issues and should also be in line for a return. Ruckman Simon Taylor will probably need one more week at VFL level, while Travis Tuck, Garry Moss and Jarryd Morton were all named in Box Hill's best.
MELBOURNE
Luke Tapscott turned a few heads in Casey’s game against Collingwood. Tapscott is fast improving and could score a senior game before the year is out. Brad Miller kicked four for the Scorpions and James McDonald had his first hit-out since injuring his hamstring two months ago. He could come straight back into the team, as could Jack Trengove who has missed the past two games with a hip injury.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Doubt hovers over Daniel Wells, Nathan Grima and Daniel Pratt, though they have a full week to recover from the muscle strains that forced their late withdrawal on the weekend. North’s medical staff is keeping a keen eye on the progress of Scott McMahon (knee) and Lindsay Thomas (knee). Brayden Norris could become the club’s fourth debutant in as many weeks, while rookie Alan Obst’s prospects of adding to his five AFL games improve with every VFL performance.
PORT ADELAIDE
Tom Logan could miss a week, after sustaining another concussion in the win over Adelaide, while veteran Chad Cornes could miss the rest of the season with a finger injury. Nathan Krakouer continued his comeback from a groin complaint in the SANFL reserves on Saturday and is likely to spend another week there, while Jason Davenport, Scott Harding and Jay Nash could also struggle to break back into a winning side this week.
RICHMOND
There were no apparent injuries out of the huge loss to Collingwood, and no outstanding performances at Coburg, so this week should mainly see the return of injured or suspended players. Daniel Jackson will no doubt be desperate to make amends for another suspension, this one costing him three weeks on the sidelines, while Will Thursfield, Kelvin Moore and Matt White are all good chances to return from injury.
ST KILDA
Raphael Clarke must be close to senior selection after missing a big chunk of time with a hamstring injury. Tom Lynch and Adam Pattison were once again in the best for VFL side Sandringham, while Rhys Stanley kicked two goals. Robert Eddy continued to push his case while Jarryn Geary could also be a chance to return for St Kilda.
SYDNEY SWANS
Gary Rohan appears an ideal inclusion to add pace against Geelong after the Swans' 73-point loss to Melbourne, while Trent Dennis-Lane is also a chance after being an emergency in round 17. Daniel Bradshaw (hamstring) was targeting a return against the Cats but he could be another week away. Craig Bird (foot) will be monitored and first-year defender Sam Reid could also be considered. The Swans reserves had a bye at the weekend.
WEST COAST
With Adam Selwood (AC joint) and Ashton Hams (suspension) unavailable, West Coast will look to the WAFL for replacements this week. Premiership defender Brett Jones was a standout for Claremont, while Tom Swift (24 possessions), Pat McGinnity (25) and Tim Houlihan, who has strung six impressive WAFL games together, are options. Rookie Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls is a chance after a six-goal, 23-possession performance for East Perth, but will need to be elevated to the senior list.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
With Callan Ward (hip flexor soreness) likely to miss Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne, it looks like there’ll be at least one change. Andrejs Everitt, Dylan Addison and Will Minson are available while Rodney Eade is keen to debut Liam Jones at some stage and Brennan Stack is nearing his return from a hamstring. Mitch Hahn will play in the VFL this week after missing the last three, also with a hamstring.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
