SYDNEY Swans ruckman Kurt Tippett remains a chance to play again this season with news that he won't need surgery on his fractured jaw.
Tippett was injured in Saturday's qualifying final loss to Greater Western Sydney, but after seeing a specialist on Monday, the Swans were relieved to find out that the hairline fracture can be left to heal naturally.
Should the Swans beat the Crows in Saturday night's cut-throat semi final, he would be a chance to play in the preliminary final.
Swans general manager of football Tom Harley was naturally delighted by the news.
"He won't play this week and we'll assess what his return-to-play timeline is after that, but some positive news there for sure," Harley said.
NAB Rising Star winner Callum Mills was also injured against the Giants when he strained his right hamstring in the second quarter, but the 19-year-old also remains a chance to play again in 2016
"It's a grade-one strain, which is the lowest strain you can have in a hamstring, so he's a one-to-two week (injury)," Harley said.
The news wasn't as positive for defender Zak Jones, who was heavily concussed in Sunday's NEAFL Grand Final loss to the Giants.
Jones would have been a big chance to replace Mills in the senior side after returning from an ankle injury in the past fortnight, but he was stretchered off in the final term after an accidental clash with GWS forward Sam Reid.
Jeremy Laidler is now the front-runner to come in for his first senior game since round 15, after he was pulled out of the reserves' decider to potentially prepare for the Crows clash.
Big man Toby Nankervis was also left out of the NEAFL Grand Final, and is certain to replace Tippett in the ruck to work in tandem with fellow youngster Sam Naismith.