In the mix, R22: Who's pushing for selection, who's under the pump?

WHO IS a chance to play in round 22?

In this week's In the Mix 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 R22 ins and outs. Check it out.

The Crows could opt to keep changes to a minimum after back-to-back wins, but they will need to replace Will Hamill after the defender suffered another concussion against West Coast on Sunday. With midfielders pushing up from the SANFL, their best option might be to swing Chayce Jones back to create room to expose an in-form youngster like Zac Taylor, who had 24 disposals, seven clearances, five inside 50s and 1.2 in the SANFL. Riley Thilthorpe was also strong as a second ruckman in his return from a rolled ankle and will be considered. Forward Josh Rachele has pulled up sore again, however, after recovering from a hip injury and won't be available. Others impressing in the SANFL are Lachlan Sholl (35 disposals and six inside 50s) and Matt Crouch (42 and eight clearances), with forwards Lachlan Gollant and Fischer McAsey kicking three goals each. Billy Frampton and Jackson Hately were emergencies against the Eagles.

R21 medical substitute: Ben Davis (replaced Will Hamill)

Verdict: Taylor and Thilthorpe for Hamill and Himmelberg. – Nathan Schmook

00:55

There'll be at least two changes for the Lions team to face St Kilda on Friday night with Cal Ah Chee and Marcus Adams to miss through concussion. Mitch Robinson, who came on as the medi-sub against the Blues, looks the likely replacement for Ah Chee, although Jaxon Prior and Harry Sharp play the same wing role and have been going well in the VFL. Adams copped a big hit to the ribs against the Blues and suffered delayed concussion symptoms, with either Jack Payne or Ryan Lester his likely replacement.

R21 medical substitute: Mitch Robinson (replaced Cal Ah Chee)

Verdict: Robinson into the 22 for Ah Chee. Payne for Adams. – Michael Whiting

The Blues will have to find a replacement for superstar captain Patrick Cripps, who will miss the rest of the home and away season through suspension. With both Matthew Kennedy (jaw) and George Hewett (back) still sidelined, expect youngsters Lachie Fogarty and Jack Carroll to come into the frame. But coach Michael Voss could also turn to Liam Stocker, who has returned from the AFL's concussion protocols and is available. That would enable Jack Newnes to play on a wing and would hand more midfield time to Will Setterfield. Elsewhere, Corey Durdin should return and could replace a hobbled Jack Martin after he hurt his calf last weekend. Marc Pittonet will also be considered, either for Tom De Koning or Jack Silvagni. The VFL side had the bye last weekend, so there is no form to pick from ahead of Saturday night's clash with the Demons.

R21 medical substitute: Corey Durdin (replaced Jack Martin)

Verdict: Stocker, Pittonet and Durdin to replace Cripps, De Koning and Martin. – Riley Beveridge

Ollie Henry continues to pile the pressure on from below, adding three more goals on Saturday to make it 10 from three games since he was dropped from Craig McRae's side. Jack Madgen had a massive day against Williamstown, kicking five goals from 25 disposals and 12 marks. Callum Brown collected 26 touches and laid nine tackles at the AIA Centre, after being named in the 26-man squad against Melbourne, along with Will Kelly. Finlay Macrae also pressed his case for another senior opportunity after finishing with 23 disposals against the Seagulls.

R21 medical substitute: Trent Bianco (replaced Will Hoskin-Elliott)

Verdict: Hard to make a change to a side that has won 11 on the trot. Hoskin-Elliott is expected to be fit for the trip to Sydney. – Josh Gabelich

02:17

The Bombers were no match for the Giants in a poor performance in round 21. There were sub-par displays across the board, with Essendon laying just one tackle inside 50 to Greater Western Sydney's 16. Harrison Jones (five disposals) struggled again and has just 13 goals in 10 games this year, while Will Snelling (three kicks, 10 handballs) was below his best and is goalless in eight games in 2022. Alec Waterman kicked four goals in the VFL, while Andrew Phillips (18 disposals, one goal and 44 hitouts) dominated. Michael Hurley (10 touches, six marks and a goal) got another game under his belt and Jye Menzie booted one major from his 13 disposals. Kaine Baldwin managed another two goals in the VFL to take his tally to 24 in 10 appearances at the level this year. With Dylan Shiel (hamstring) and Jye Caldwell (calf) unlikely to be risked, the Bombers' options are somewhat limited for Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide.

R21 medical substitute: Massimo D'Ambrosio (unused)

Verdict: With Jones out of form, the time seems right – Hurley in for his first AFL game since round 18, 2020. Otherwise, it may be Baldwin. Menzie in for Snelling as the other change. – Dejan Kalinic

The Dockers need to find a replacement for injured key forward Matt Taberner, with Josh Treacy the best like-for-like option. Regular medical substitute Bailey Banfield could also come in as a versatile forward who can play taller than his 190cm, while Sam Sturt kicked four goals in his most recent WAFL appearance, before Peel Thunder's bye on the weekend. Small forward Sam Switkowski is ready to return from a back injury and should be an automatic inclusion if fit. The Dockers have been reluctant to play Lloyd Meek as a second ruckman rotating forward, but he remains an option to support Sean Darcy. Banfield for Taberner is the most likely option, with an unlucky omission looming if Switkowski bypasses a week in the WAFL.

R21 medical substitute: Liam Henry (replaced Matt Taberner)

Verdict: Banfield and Switkowski for Taberner and Tucker, who moves to medical substitute. – Nathan Schmook

00:56

Joel Selwood and Mark Blicavs are set to return to Chris Scott’s side for the trip to the Gold Coast. Gary Rohan and Patrick Dangerfield will need to prove their fitness after missing the win over St Kilda on Saturday night. Quinton Narkle found plenty of the ball against Sandringham on Sunday, finishing with 29 touches and a goal at GMHBA Stadium. Shaun Higgins is also mounting a case for a late-season recall, after gathering 23 disposals and seven clearances. Mitch Knevitt and Francis Evans were also busy in the reserves.

R21 medical substitute: Jonathon Ceglar (unused)

Verdict: Expect the Cats to make up to four changes. Selwood and Blicavs will return, while Dangerfield and Rohan are also expected to be available. Luke Dahlhaus was a late inclusion and could make way, and Gryan Miers and Mark O'Connor could also be squeezed out. – Josh Gabelich

Coming off a loss against Hawthorn, things get even more difficult for the Suns when they host Geelong at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Brayden Fiorini has been bashing the door down in the VFL, while Sam Flanders also played well at the lower level before last weekend's bye. If Stuart Dew wants to add some spark to his decimated backline, Oleg Markov could be recalled as could Rory Atkins, while Rory Thompson would also be an option to face the Jeremy Cameron-Tom Hawkins combination.

R21 medical substitute: Rory Atkins (unused)

Verdict: Unchanged. – Michael Whiting

After their stirring win against Essendon, the Giants will be forced to make at least two changes to face the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, with co-captain Toby Greene (thumb surgery) ruled out for the season and young forward James Peatling (concussion) also unavailable. Tanner Bruhn did well after he came on to replace Peatling at the weekend, while Xavier O'Halloran handled his demotion to the VFL well. Callum Brown could be another option to return to the forward line.

R21 medical substitute: Tanner Bruhn (replaced James Peatling)

Verdict: Bruhn into the 22 for Peatling. Brown for Greene. – Michael Whiting

00:39

Hawthorn is hoping Mitch Lewis will be available after the key forward missed the win over Gold Coast in Launceston due to a jarred knee. The Hawks will also regain Changkuoth Jiath after he served a one-game suspension. Liam Shiels was enormous in the VFL, accumulating 31 disposals, 11 tackles and 11 clearances against Frankston. Tom Phillips and Daniel Howe also made an impact. Jackson Callow kicked three goals from 19 disposals and eight marks. Mid-season recruit Max Ramsden also produced his best peformance yet at VFL level.

R21 medical substitute: James Blanck (unused)

Verdict: If Lewis gets up, he obviously comes in, as does Changkuoth Jiath. – Josh Gabelich

00:56

The Demons will have to consider the midfield grunt of James Harmes, after he was an unused substitute for last week's bitterly disappointing defeat to the Pies. But, with Angus Brayshaw performing strongly in a new midfield role, finding an omission is difficult. Jayden Hunt was the man who had initially replaced Harmes, enabling Brayshaw to spend more time onball, and could be an option to go out of the starting 22 for Saturday night's clash against the Blues. The undefeated Casey Demons had the VFL bye over the weekend, meaning there is no exposed form to pick from in reserve.

R21 medical substitute: James Harmes (unused)

Verdict: Harmes to replace Hunt. – Riley Beveridge

00:39

The Kangaroos will consider Ben Cunnington, though the much-loved veteran pulled up sore after making his return from a number of health battles through the VFL last weekend. Expect another week at reserves level, before making his fairytale AFL comeback at home in round 23. Ben McKay should be fit following a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined last week, with Josh Walker a chance to make way. Tarryn Thomas is another who could return after winning 20 touches and kicking a goal in the VFL last Sunday, while key forward Charlie Comben is a chance to earn his first AFL start of the season after kicking 3.4 from eight marks in the reserves. It would require a rejig of the team's attack, with Charlie Lazzaro and Tom Powell likely to be among those who could make way.

R21 medical substitute: Flynn Perez (unused)

Verdict: Thomas, Comben and McKay to replace Lazzaro, Powell and Walker, with Cunnington given another week at reserves level to build his loads. – Riley Beveridge

01:18

Leading goalkicker Todd Marshall will emerge from health and safety protocols and be available against Essendon on Sunday, with athletic forward Mitch Georgiades also an option and he was omitted last week and kicked 2.2 in the SANFL. With their finals chance shot, the Power could look to expose players like Ollie Lord, who is playing in defence in the SANFL, and midfielder Jackson Mead (27 disposals and 11 tackles in the SANFL). Ruckman Sam Hayes was offered a two-match ban in the SANFL and can't be considered, while small forward Orazio Fantasia is not moving at a level where he can return just yet. The Power didn't play defender Riley Bonner after he returned from health and safety protocols as the medical substitute, making him an option this week.

R21 medical substitute: Riley Bonner (unused)

Verdict: Marshall and Georgiades for Teakle and McEntee. – Nathan Schmook

Without an obvious replacement for Nick Vlastuin (ribs), the Tigers may have to shuffle the magnets somewhat. Ben Miller has been a floating tall for the past few weeks across all three lines, but may be needed for a permanent defensive role, opening the door for the recall of Ivan Soldo. Kamdyn McIntosh was thrown into defence after Vlastuin's injury, with medi-sub Jason Castagna moving into a wing role, which is another option. Riley Collier-Dawkins (30 disposals, 12 clearances) was outstanding in the VFL, while Hugo Ralphsmith (21 and a goal) could fill the wing role if required and Shane Edwards (general soreness) should be available for selection.

Rd 21 medical substitute: Jason Castagna (replaced Nick Vlastuin)

Verdict: Soldo for Vlastuin, with Miller pushed to defence. Edwards to replace Castagna as sub. – Sarah Black