THE BYE has come at the perfect time for the finals participants, with a number of players to be given the chance to prove their fitness over the next fortnight.
GWS midfielder Lachie Whitfield was assessed at the interchange area for a rib injury he suffered against North Melbourne on Saturday night, but the 22-year-old played through pain.
Giants coach Leon Cameron said his men were feeling the effects of a long season and would need the full two weeks to recover before their qualifying final against cross-town rivals the Sydney Swans.
Although each of the eight finals teams will freshen up physically and mentally, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs could benefit the most from the week off.
Kangaroos forward Jarrad Waite, whose lingering hip issue has limited him to just two games since round 13, has shown improvement at training and remains on track to line up in the elimination final against Adelaide.
"We certainly think he's progressing well enough to be a really good chance to play in two weeks," North coach Brad Scott said after the loss to GWS.
Experienced backman Scott Thompson (adductor) is also expected to be available for selection against the Crows.
Defender Sam Wright (ankle) and tagger Ben Jacobs (foot) returned via the VFL a fortnight ago, but have been rested in the past two competitive hit-outs.
Scott said the pair would perform "some hard training based on how they pull up session to session".
The Kangaroos have a fresh injury concern, however, after defender Jamie Macmillan received a knee to his left hip from Giant Toby Greene in a marking contest in the first quarter.
Macmillan was assessed in the rooms and watched the rest of the match from the interchange bench.
Scott allayed fears of a serious injury to Macmillan, saying the club opted to take a "no-risk approach".
For the Bulldogs, midfield duo Tom Liberatore (ankle) and Jackson Macrae (hamstring), who sustained their respective injuries against Geelong in round 19, will be monitored closely.
Stand-in skipper Easton Wood (ankle) is also a chance to feature in September after being cleared of bone damage from a marking contest against Essendon in round 22.
Geelong pair Lachie Henderson (knee) and Scott Selwood (hamstring tightness) will welcome the week off to prepare for the Cats' finals assault.
The Cats' opponents Hawthorn should also welcome back a key player with Ben Stratton (pectoral) on track to return after missing the past three matches.
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In other injury concerns in round 23:
- Cat Jake Kolodjashnij received a knock to his calf against Melbourne and sat out the final quarter. Geelong coach Chris Scott said Kolodjashnij was rested as a precaution.
- Eagle Scott Lycett received a knock to his left knee in the early stages of the match against Adelaide. The big man limped off the ground and emerged from the rooms with his left knee strapped. Eagles coach Adam Simpson said Lycett's "PCL is a bit sore; it has been since the (mid-season) bye so we're trying to manage him as best we can". Simpson added Lycett would be "100 per cent" with the week off ahead of the Eagles' elimination final against the Western Bulldogs.
- Hawk Ben McEvoy was a late withdrawal against Collingwood due to back soreness. The Hawks expect the 27-year-old to be fully fit for their qualifying final against Geelong in a fortnight.
- Power Logan Austin injured his right ankle after colliding into Sun Tom Lynch in a marking contest in the third quarter. The Port defender received treatment on the bench and could barely put any weight on his leg as he limped into the rooms at three-quarter time. Austin sat out the rest of the game wearing a moon boot.
- Magpie James Aish took no part in the second half against Hawthorn after experiencing left hamstring tightness in the second quarter.
- Saint Shane Savage received a knee to his left hip from Brisbane Lion Daniel Merrett in a marking contest in the third quarter. Savage returned to the field, only to see his afternoon end prematurely after copping an elbow to the face from Merrett in the final minutes of the match.
- Saint Jarryn Geary came from the ground early in the last quarter against the Lions after suffering a knock to his ribs.
- Sun Ryan Davis strained his right hamstring in the second quarter against Port Adelaide and sat out the second half with ice strapped around his injured leg.
