WHO IS a chance to play in round three?
In this week's In the Mix, brought to you by the Toyota WorkHorse Range, we find the players who are giving their selectors plenty of food for thought.
Who's going out, who's sore, who is under the pump? Our reporters attempt to pick all the round three ins. Check it out.
Expect a few changes for the Crows this week after their round two embarrassment at the hands of Port Adelaide. Jake Kelly has to pass a concussion test while a thigh injury could also rule out captain Rory Sloane. Among the other Crows who could be under selection heat include mature-age recruits Ben Crocker and Ben Keays, who were quiet last week. David Mackay, Bryce Gibbs and Ben Davis are among the possible inclusions for the Crows.
Verdict: Mackay could come in to add some experience if Sloane is ruled out. Davis will be considered to replace Kelly. - Cal Twomey
Debutant Tom Berry and leader Ryan Lester did little to disappoint last week after they were added to the Lions side, while Callum Ah Chee and Grant Birchall look settled in defence. It would likely see those who missed in Alex Witherden, Noah Answerth, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Sam Skinner and Deven Robertson sit out again. Skipper Dayne Zorko (Achilles soreness) is the only concern on fitness.
Verdict: Unchanged, unless Zorko doesn't prove his fitness. Should that be the case, flip a coin on Ellis-Yolmen or Robertson. - Mitch Cleary
Could there be a debut this weekend? Carlton is rapt with the development of first-round draft pick Sam Philp, who could come in to contention after another promising display in Saturday morning's scratch match. Jack Silvagni will return from a bout of gastro and will likely replace last week's late inclusion Darcy Lang, who had just four disposals on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Tom Williamson is the obvious candidate to replace Nic Newman, who ruptured his patella against Melbourne and will miss the rest of the season. Zac Fisher and Paddy Dow are still at least another week away.
Verdict: Silvagni and Williamson in for Lang and Newman, with Philp an outside chance. - Riley Beveridge
Nathan Buckley will be debating whether Mason Cox is an automatic inclusion following his knee injury, given the promising display by club debutant Darcy Cameron last Thursday night. Jaidyn Stephenson could return, having bided his time on the fringes of the best team during the first two rounds, while Adam Treloar is an outside chance to be available after battling a calf injury. Josh Thomas might be a little nervous, having won only five disposals in another quiet performance in the draw against Richmond.
Verdict: Cameron to keep his place, with Stephenson to press for a return ahead of Thomas. - Riley Beveridge
The Bombers are hopeful Orazio Fantasia will be available for this weekend's clash with Melbourne after his minor quad strain. David Zaharakis could be in some danger of losing his spot if Fantasia gets through training. Patrick Ambrose was an emergency last week and will be considered, as might Brandon Zerk-Thatcher who is now available after his COVID-19 breach saw him suspended last week.
Verdict: If Fantasia is fit, Zaharakis' spot could be in jeopardy. - Cal Twomey
The Dockers could be forced into a reshuffle after losing No.1 ruckman Sean Darcy to a knee injury against the Lions. Rory Lobb is likely to assume the lead role against the Power with help from Matt Taberner, opening the door for key forward Jesse Hogan to finally return. Hogan impressed in last weekend's reserves scratch match along with the injury-prone Stephen Hill. A debut for ruck Lloyd Meek is another option for coach Justin Longmuir. Expect a conservative approach with Hill and Cam McCarthy, who was last week diagnosed with epilepsy after his training collapse.
Verdict: Hogan in for Darcy, Sam Sturt in for Brandon Matera and Nathan Wilson to return in place of an unlucky Hayden Young, who didn't do much wrong in his debut. - Chris Correia
Jake Kolodjashnij might well be given an extra week given the success of the backline against Hawthorn. Jed Bews appears closest to the edge in defence, but it'd be hard to see him being dropped before renewing acquaintances with Eddie Betts. The Cats are making Jordan Clark earn his spot, while Chris Scott admitted last week Jack Steven was no guarantee to face the Blues despite being available. Gary Rohan is the only watch after twisting his knee.
Verdict: Unchanged off the eight-day break. - Mitch Cleary
It's a strong position for the Suns who find themselves with a selection squeeze after their round. Co-captain David Swallow will be an automatic inclusion after serving his one-week suspension, while Brandon Ellis will also train in the hope of proving his fitness after his calf strain. Sam Flanders is also pushing for an AFL debut while forwards Peter Wright and Josh Corbett performed well in the scratch match with the Eagles last week.
Verdict: Nick Holman could be under some pressure with Swallow to return after gathering six disposals in the Suns' strong performance last week. - Cal Twomey
It will be interesting to see what Leon Cameron does this week after his near full-strength side was outplayed by the Roos in round two. It's most likely that he backs in most of the line-up, although Tom Green and Zac Langdon will be a chance to return after being dropped last week. Jackson Hately and Bobby Hill are others who pressed their case in the Giants' second-tier hitout against the Swans.
Verdict: Expect the Giants to keep the faith, as they should. Daniel Lloyd, who managed only five disposals last week, could be under some heat. - Cal Twomey
Jaeger O'Meara (facial fracture) completed contact training on Tuesday and is set to provide the Hawks' midfield with a boost. Harry Morrison and Paul Puopolo seem most in danger, given Ollie Hanrahan has comfortably outperformed the latter offensively. Whether they are willing to lose Puopolo's defensive prowess is the dilemma. Jack Scrimshaw is possibly relying on Ben McEvoy switching into the ruck at Jon Ceglar's expense, while Mitch Lewis likely needs to usurp Jon Patton or Tim O'Brien.
Verdict: Clarko backs his troops in. O'Meara in; Puopolo out. - Marc McGowan
Kozzy Pickett will return from suspension, most likely for Alex Neal-Bullen or Jayden Hunt. Luke Jackson moved well on debut but pulled in just one mark, so will be under pressure to keep his spot, with Sam Weideman and Mitch Brown each kicking five goals in the practice game against Carlton. Defenders Jay Lockhart, Michael Hibberd and Oscar McDonald are also waiting in the wings. It might be a week or so early for Aaron vandenBerg.
Verdict: Pickett and Weideman replace Neal-Bullen and Jackson. - Marc McGowan
Mason Wood has an opportunity to cement his spot up forward, with Nick Larkey (foot) to miss at least another three weeks. Marley Williams is free to play after serving his two-week suspension and will be eyeing Jamie Macmillan's spot, or possibly that of Kyron Hayden and Bailey Scott. There is a conga line of Kangaroos waiting for a chance, including Paul Ahern, Will Walker, Tom Murphy, Aiden Bonar and even Jack Mahony.
Verdict: Williams in for Scott. - Marc McGowan
Things are looking good for Port Adelaide, who won't make too many alterations after big wins against Gold Coast and Adelaide to start the year. So, how does Ollie Wines reclaim his place in the side? Whispers circulated that Wines wasn't in the Power's best 22 last week prior to his suspension. Therefore, there's a chance he could be made to bide his time again. There are concerns around Ryan Burton, who is battling a knee problem after the Showdown and will undergo a fitness test later this week. Jarrod Lienert will be on standby as his potential replacement, having impressed in a scratch match on Saturday. Mitch Georgiades could also be available following a calf problem - but finding someone to drop will be difficult, though.
Verdict: Lienert for Burton as the only enforced change, with Wines made to wait another week. - Riley Beveridge
Josh Caddy will look to prove his fitness after missing last week's draw with a minor calf complaint. The two-time premiership star trained on Tuesday and looks set to get the all-clear to face the Hawks. Sydney Stack is under the most pressure to keep his spot after having just four disposals against the Pies. Versatile tall Noah Balta was the standout in the scratch match and could come into calculations to provide a chop out in the ruck, although Ivan Soldo held his own against premier big man Brodie Grundy last week. Jack Ross will be very close, while Thomson Dow and Kamdyn McIntosh are next in the pecking order.
Verdict: Caddy in for Stack, with Ross desperately unlucky. - Ben Sutton
Jarryn Geary (hamstring) will miss but the rest of the side that beat the Dogs performed. Inclusions Nick Coffield and Nick Hind were solid, while there's no reason to change the ruck duo provided Paddy Ryder recovers well for the six-day break. Given Geary played forward against the Dogs and the back seven look settled, Dylan Roberton and Jimmy Webster may need to wait. It could leave the change down to Dean Kent, Jack Sinclair, Luke Dunstan or Josh Battle.
Verdict: Kent for Geary on balance. - Mitch Cleary
Ben Ronke (knee) snuck in about 80 minutes' game time in a scratch match against the Giants' reserves at the weekend and is pushing to return. Sam Gray and Justin McInerney could be among the vulnerable Swans. Besides Ronke, No.4 draft pick Dylan Stephens, ex-Roo Ryan Clarke and contested beast Chad Warner are contenders. Recruit Kaiden Brand appears to be keeping Lewis Melican out of the side, while the experienced Robbie Fox and draftee Will Gould are other options.
Verdict: Ronke for McInerney. - Marc McGowan
With Jeremy McGovern (suspended) to miss, premiership key defender Will Schofield looks the most likely replacement. Brendon Ah Chee (three disposals) was quiet, while Jackson Nelson's spot is under threat with Tom Cole fully fit. Wingman Jarrod Brander (12 disposals) was also shown up against the Suns. Luke Shuey looked sore at training early this week but is expected to be OK. Jake Waterman and Brayden Ainsworth look like they'll be next in line.
Verdict: Schofield, Cole and Waterman in for McGovern, Nelson and Ah Chee. Extra height in attack to stretch the Lions' undersized defence. - Mitch Cleary
After getting smashed by the Saints, the Dogs must find a proper stop-gap on the wing and get their key pillars sorted. With Easton Wood (quad) and Lachie Hunter (suspension) unavailable for the next few weeks, help will have to come from those on the outer. Coach Luke Beveridge has been careful to temper expectations on Tom Liberatore, while Toby McLean is down the pecking order in Beveridge's eyes.
Verdict: Zaine Cordy and Will Hayes replace Ryan Gardner and Billy Gowers. - Jourdan Canil
