FREMANTLE
The Dockers' X-factor Hayden Ballantyne broke his jaw for the second time this year, against the Sydney Swans last Saturday. He had surgery and it's not a given that he'll be able to play against Port Adelaide on Saturday. Ballantyne played the week after his first bout of surgery in May, which is quite unusual, playing with a plate in his jaw and performing well. However, to break his jaw twice in a season and play again the same week would be doubly unusual. Given he managed to do it last time, he might be able to convince Ross Lyon and Freo's medical team that he's right to play. He definitely will be swollen inside the mouth and may require a special mouthguard to play. I think Ballantyne is only a 50-50 proposition, but provided Freo can beat Port, he should definitely be available for the preliminary final.
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Luke McPharlin remains a challenge. He hasn't played since round 20 when he had to be subbed out with yet another left calf problem. He has lost some valuable match conditioning since then and I'd be really surprised if the Dockers risked him against Port, because if he breaks down they could be disadvantaged by having to use their sub early.
There were some reports that Michael Barlow was protecting a sore foot at the end of the game in Sydney last Saturday, but I think it was just precautionary that Freo had him in a moonboot post-match. Unless he is absent from training late in the week, I'd expect him to play.
GEELONG
The Cats had a few sore boys at the end of last Friday night's game against Hawthorn. Steve Johnson got through the game, but he's carrying stress in his right foot and Geelong knows that he could crack the bone at any time. There were reports that his foot pulled up worse after the Hawks game, but he actually recovered quite well. He's still got the stress injury and ideally he'd have more time off, but I think Geelong will play him on Friday night, knowing that if the bone fully breaks it's campaign over for Stevie. The chances of him breaking the foot are minor, but they are real. I suspect Geelong will modify his training this week so he doesn't risk putting too much load through his foot and I think he's practically 100 per cent sure to play against North Melbourne.
Steven Motlop will get some treatment on the shin soreness he suffered after copping a knock from Matt Spangher early in the game against Hawthorn – that will just be a matter of maintenance and physiotherapy. Similarly, James Kelly will require some care and massage for a calf injury that he suffered against the Hawks. Jordan Murdoch was under treatment for some left hamstring tightness, so he will be very carefully watched this week. Even though he completed last Friday night's game, the Cats will be looking to extend Murdoch at training later in the week to make sure he hasn't got a minor hamstring injury. If he completes training, he should be available for selection.
Allen Christensen has developed some back soreness in the area where he had surgery earlier this season. It isn't a major concern, but he has not played since round 22. The Cats are expecting to rest him again this weekend in the hope that they make the preliminary final against the Sydney Swans next week. If the Cats can beat North, Christensen should be available to take on the Swans.
The Cats have already ruled out ruckman Hamish McIntosh from Friday night's game with recurring knee soreness in the hope he will be fit to take on the Swans should they make it that far.
HAWTHORN
Josh Gibson was the only concern to come out of last weekend for the Hawks. He was a little tight in the adductor region late in the second quarter and spent a lot of time getting treatment at half-time. He was a bit sore after the game, but with the Hawks having the advantage of this week off I'm expecting Gibson will be available to play in next week's preliminary final.
Matt Suckling is an interesting one because in round 22 he injured his left knee when he collided with teammate Jordan Lewis. He's had problems with the knee before but after sitting out last Friday night's qualifying final and having this weekend off Suckling will train pretty normally next week and should be available to play in the prelim.
By the time Hawthorn lines up in its preliminary final, Cyril Rioli won't have played for 12 weeks. Everyone knows he gives the Hawks X-factor, but it will be very much a match committee decision whether he plays in the prelim. Medically, he'll probably be right to go, so it will come down to whether he is fit enough to play and whether the Hawks are prepared to risk him breaking down. There's no way of predicting whether his hamstring will survive the intensity of a final.
NORTH MELBOURNE
The Roos are travelling pretty well on the injury front. Leigh Adams didn't come up to play last week after being concussed in round 23 against Melbourne, but he should be available for Friday night's clash against Geelong.
Luke McPharlin remains a challenge. He hasn't played since round 20 when he had to be subbed out with yet another left calf problem. He has lost some valuable match conditioning since then and I'd be really surprised if the Dockers risked him against Port, because if he breaks down they could be disadvantaged by having to use their sub early.
There were some reports that Michael Barlow was protecting a sore foot at the end of the game in Sydney last Saturday, but I think it was just precautionary that Freo had him in a moonboot post-match. Unless he is absent from training late in the week, I'd expect him to play.
GEELONG
The Cats had a few sore boys at the end of last Friday night's game against Hawthorn. Steve Johnson got through the game, but he's carrying stress in his right foot and Geelong knows that he could crack the bone at any time. There were reports that his foot pulled up worse after the Hawks game, but he actually recovered quite well. He's still got the stress injury and ideally he'd have more time off, but I think Geelong will play him on Friday night, knowing that if the bone fully breaks it's campaign over for Stevie. The chances of him breaking the foot are minor, but they are real. I suspect Geelong will modify his training this week so he doesn't risk putting too much load through his foot and I think he's practically 100 per cent sure to play against North Melbourne.
Steven Motlop will get some treatment on the shin soreness he suffered after copping a knock from Matt Spangher early in the game against Hawthorn – that will just be a matter of maintenance and physiotherapy. Similarly, James Kelly will require some care and massage for a calf injury that he suffered against the Hawks. Jordan Murdoch was under treatment for some left hamstring tightness, so he will be very carefully watched this week. Even though he completed last Friday night's game, the Cats will be looking to extend Murdoch at training later in the week to make sure he hasn't got a minor hamstring injury. If he completes training, he should be available for selection.
Allen Christensen has developed some back soreness in the area where he had surgery earlier this season. It isn't a major concern, but he has not played since round 22. The Cats are expecting to rest him again this weekend in the hope that they make the preliminary final against the Sydney Swans next week. If the Cats can beat North, Christensen should be available to take on the Swans.
The Cats have already ruled out ruckman Hamish McIntosh from Friday night's game with recurring knee soreness in the hope he will be fit to take on the Swans should they make it that far.
HAWTHORN
Josh Gibson was the only concern to come out of last weekend for the Hawks. He was a little tight in the adductor region late in the second quarter and spent a lot of time getting treatment at half-time. He was a bit sore after the game, but with the Hawks having the advantage of this week off I'm expecting Gibson will be available to play in next week's preliminary final.
Matt Suckling is an interesting one because in round 22 he injured his left knee when he collided with teammate Jordan Lewis. He's had problems with the knee before but after sitting out last Friday night's qualifying final and having this weekend off Suckling will train pretty normally next week and should be available to play in the prelim.
By the time Hawthorn lines up in its preliminary final, Cyril Rioli won't have played for 12 weeks. Everyone knows he gives the Hawks X-factor, but it will be very much a match committee decision whether he plays in the prelim. Medically, he'll probably be right to go, so it will come down to whether he is fit enough to play and whether the Hawks are prepared to risk him breaking down. There's no way of predicting whether his hamstring will survive the intensity of a final.
NORTH MELBOURNE
The Roos are travelling pretty well on the injury front. Leigh Adams didn't come up to play last week after being concussed in round 23 against Melbourne, but he should be available for Friday night's clash against Geelong.
Lachy Hansen is unlikely to play this week. He couldn't get through the game when he returned in round 23 against the Demons and he's had chronic hip and groin problems, so his match conditioning has now probably slipped too much for North to risk playing him.
Lindsay Thomas continues to struggle with left knee soreness. He's playing with his knee heavily strapped and when he lands awkwardly during a game he seems to be sore for a minute or two. But that's something he seems to be dealing with OK. Similarly, Jack Ziebell has been having some lateral ligament issues in his right knee since round 15. He seems to be playing pretty well with the strapping on, so I don't expect North will have any concerns over him.
PORT ADELAIDE
Matt White was subbed out of the game yet again last Sunday against Richmond. He's been managing a chronic groin condition since round 16, but on this occasion he had a collision with Dylan Grimes and got hit in the jaw (mandible) and Port confirmed he has a small fracture there. It doesn't require surgery, so he's more likely than Ballantyne to be able to train fully this week and will probably play on the weekend against Freo.
SYDNEY SWANS
The Swans medical team will keep a close eye on Nick Malceski as they look ahead to next week's preliminary finals. He has a low-grade left hamstring injury but I expect him to do very little this week to avoid aggravating it and not push until tested later next week. It was good news that Josh Kennedy got through last week's qualifying final against Freo without any further hamstring problems. Kurt Tippett's knee soreness and Buddy Franklin's soreness are just management issues and with the Swans having this week off they should both be flying next weekend.
There were reports that Nick Smith might have had some hamstring concerns after the Freo game, but that was just cramp late in the match so he'll be right to go for the prelim.
