ESSENDON
The big discussion point was going to be whether Jake Carlisle would get through training with his hamstring but he won't play on Saturday night. His MRI scan on Monday showed the swelling and fluid around the minor strain hadn't resolved so he's at high risk of breaking down in the game and at training. If they win, he'll only be an outside chance to play the following week.
David Myers had an upper respiratory infection and was unable to play against Carlton but will be available for selection this week.
Dyson Heppell played with padding and a glove on his broken left hand after his surgery from the week before. He got through the game and played well so there shouldn't be any concern over him.
Mark Baguley was heavily concussed in the last 10 seconds of the game. He'll undergo concussion assessments throughout the week but I suspect he'll be available.
Dustin Fletcher is unlikely to be in contention if the Bombers win. He's had the pin taken out of his finger joint – he had a reconstruction of the dislocated joint and repair of the tendon – but is still unlikely to play next week if Essendon beats North Melbourne.
FREMANTLE
Michael Johnson clearly played with discomfort last week from a chronic disc problem in his back and will have decompression surgery for the disc and nerve pain. He won't play again this year.
Michael Barlow made a good comeback from his broken thumb and got through, while the concern over Matthew Pavlich was put aside when he played well despite having a sore quad the week before.
Luke McPharlin is a liability with his chronic calf concerns and I don't believe he'll be in serious contention this week, although Freo clearly are depleted in defence with Johnson also unavailable now.
GEELONG
Steve Johnson is in week three of his foot stress problem and I'm sure the Cats would like more time, but it's such an important game, I think he'll play. He'll probably be sore and the bone stress isn't completely gone, so if Geelong has to play for three consecutive weeks it could be a real problem. He will need to modify the midweek load and I wouldn't expect him to train much. He's at risk of getting more pain, but I think they'll go with him this week.
James Kelly landed awkwardly on his left ankle in the third quarter against the Brisbane Lions and had it strapped. It's the medial side, which takes longer to settle, so he may have some on-going soreness this week, but I would expect him to play with physio treatment and strapping.
The Cats rested Steven Motlop, Hamish McIntosh and Allan Christensen as part of their 'management' program and all three will be ready for Friday night's qualifying final against Hawthorn.
HAWTHORN
Brian Lake was struck over the front of his hip on Friday night and had severe pain and appeared to lose power down the leg for a while, which was probably a combination of nerve pain, muscle inhibition and bruising on the bone. He won't do a lot of running early in the week but the signs were positive after the first 24 hours - he may still have bruising and soreness, but I'm confident he'll play.
The Hawks also managed players last week. Luke Hodge had some soreness in his knee from a knock a few weeks ago but he'll be right to return Friday.
Brad Hill, who had a cork in the quad and was given the Pies' game off because there would have been some concern about him aggravating it, will play.
Matt Suckling and Ben Stratton are the interesting ones. Stratton's had a corked calf and there's some risk it will become injured again while Suckling's been managing a sore left knee. Both will be tested this week but remain in some doubt to play. The Hawks will decide based on their training late in the week.
NORTH MELBOURNE
I'm not expecting Lachie Hansen to play. He has chronic groin and hip issues and was unable to get past the halfway mark of the game on the weekend. That showed the Kangaroos he's struggling and would be a liability to take into an intensive elimination final against Essendon.
Leigh Adams was concussed against Melbourne and also didn't finish the game. He will go through the normal concussion assessments, but at this stage is in some doubt because of the severity of the concussion.
Jack Ziebell continues to carry a right knee lateral ligament problem but is getting through the games with strapping and physiotherapy during the week. He's in no doubt for this week.
PORT ADELAIDE
Matt White has been a management issue with chronic groin problems for the last six weeks and has been playing less than normal game time to get through. He was subbed out again on the weekend and had the standard physio and icing program. I expect him to play, but he has to be managed in terms of how much running and speed work he does during the week.
RICHMOND
The Tigers didn't pick up any new problems on the weekend.
They haven't had any real forced changes recently, which is a reflection again of how their good run with injuries has contributed to their competitiveness in the past two months.
SYDNEY SWANS
Of the four key Swans who didn't play on the weekend Ben McGlynn is the least likely to face Fremantle because of his sore calf. He had a light week last week and will need to get through a vigorous fitness test to play.
We know Josh Kennedy has that left hamstring problem – a low-grade strain – and he's had time off since round 21. I think it's about right for him to come back from that – he's such an important player and it's tough to test a hamstring completely at training, but so far he's been doing everything required. If he gets through this week without a setback he should play.
Lance Franklin has a chronic right knee bursa/tendon problem and has had a week of resting it but he'll be 100 per cent right to go.
And, Mike Pyke was unwell last week and I predict he'll be available to play, which is a bonus for the Swans.