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Two of the biggest stars in the game, Jeremy Cameron and Dustin Martin, could make huge week one finals comebacks.
Plus Fremantle’s forward line woes continue ahead of their return to September.
Catch up on the latest line-up and injury news ahead of week one of the AFL finals in Team Whispers!
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BRISBANE LIONS v RICHMOND
Second Elimination Final, Thursday September 1, 7:20pm AEST at the Gabba
RICHMOND star Tom Lynch has been given the all-clear for Thursday week’s elimination final against Brisbane at the Gabba.
Lynch was subbed out of Saturday night’s 66-point win over Essendon with groin soreness, kicking five goals to that point amid a purple patch of form.
“His scans were good,” Richmond fitness boss Peter Burge told the club.
“He will be available to play in our first final with the extra week‘s break.”
Dustin Martin remains less certain as he continues his rehabilitation amid a troublesome hamstring injury, but he has stepped up training having not played since Round 16.
Burge conceded the club would have said Martin was “almost definitely” going to play if their final was on the Saturday, but the two fewer days give them pause.
“Dusty is going quite well, he is firming (to play),” he said.
“He has had two pretty good sessions. On Saturday he did about 12ks at 80 per cent speed and today he did about 10kms at around 80 per cent speed again, but he did a lot more footy stuff today (Monday), change of direction, that sort of stuff. His agility today was a lot more aggressive and more intense than he has been able to give us.
“It’s really been a confidence thing with him as well. He hasn’t dealt with this sort of thing previously. He has been very apprehensive to push too quickly, given we had a little incident about five weeks back, but I feel like we are making progress.”
Defender Dylan Grimes won’t be available for the first final – he’d need the Tigers to make the prelims, at least – while Jack Graham (toe) is in doubt for week one.
BRISBANE could have a fully fit list to choose from in their first elimination final appearance under Chris Fagan.
Three players – Marcus Adams, Callum Ah Chee and Blake Coleman – are all listed as a week away with concussion but with the pre-finals bye, should have time to recover to face Richmond on Thursday week.
Jarrod Berry was subbed out of last Friday’s loss to Melbourne with an ankle injury but is not listed.
The Lions’ only unavailabilities may be forced by suspension with Cam Rayner challenging his dangerous tackle ban on Tuesday night, but Noah Answerth already accepting his striking suspension.
MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS
Second Qualifying Final, Friday September 2, 7:50pm AEST at the MCG
Premiers MELBOURNE are hopeful but not certain young star Luke Jackson will be ready to take his place for Friday week’s qualifying final.
The ruck-forward was subbed out of the thumping win over Brisbane with a corked calf, which was getting tighter throughout the match.
The huge win allowed the Demons to be conservative with the premiership player, with Demons GM of football Alan Richardson conceding on SEN on the weekend: “Given its two weeks (until the game) we’re really comfortable he’ll be right.
“We know what the (sub) rule is there for, this was one where there was a chance he could do a pretty significant injury and then he does miss a potential final, so we didn’t want that to happen.”
Likewise Christian Salem, who suffered a groin strain last week and was a late withdrawal from the Lions clash, is rehabbing.
“He is recovering well and had done some rehab training this week and will look to fully train next week to hopefully play,” club doctor Laura Lallenec said.
Tom McDonald could also be available to bolster the Demons’ forward line but his return via the VFL will be critical.
“As we sit here now (on Saturday), based on the way he is tracking, he’ll play next week (in the VFL),” Richardson said.
“We’re hopeful given the training he’s been doing, we’d be looking at him playing significant minutes next week.”
But Richardson could not confirm McDonald would return to the AFL side if he gets through the VFL final unscathed.
SYDNEY had a major win when their qualifying final was scheduled for Friday night rather than the Thursday.
It allows Tom Papley to play if he successfully passes through the concussion protocols in the minimum 12 days, which is expected given coach John Longmire said he was “fine” post-match.
The only other player really in best 22 contention on the sidelines is retiring veteran Josh Kennedy (hamstring) but he is a “long shot” to feature in the finals series.
GEELONG CATS v COLLINGWOOD
First Qualifying Final, Saturday September 3, 4:35pm AEST at the MCG
GEELONG midfielder Cam Guthrie is expected to be fit for next Saturday’s qualifying final against Collingwood.
Guthrie was ruled out during last week’s win over West Coast following a bruising collision with teammate Patrick Dangerfield in the second quarter.
While coming from the field and not taking any further part in the match, the diagnosis has been positive for the 30-year-old.
“Cameron got a knock on his shoulder joint in a collision incident during the game against the Eagles,” fitness boss Harry Taylor.
“He was taken off the field as a precautionary measure and we expect him to be available for selection for the first final.”
The biggest question mark is over superstar Jeremy Cameron, who sent a scare through the hearts of all Cats fans when his right hamstring injury was revealed following Round 22.
Despite his history of soft-tissue injuries the Cats and Cameron himself appear confident he will be out there against the Magpies.
“It’s going really well,” he told K rock. “I ran really well yesterday (Monday).”
“A lot of people don’t really understand but you get moving pretty quickly, three days post a hamstring you’re jogging if it’s feeling OK.
“I was lucky enough to pull up really well from it and I’m fully clear at the moment.
“There’s no pain or anything so feeling really good.”
Meanwhile coach Chris Scott told Sportsday last week: “He is going to play in the first final … that’s the confidence from our medical staff.”
Ruckman Rhys Stanley (groin) should also be available while defender Jake Kolodjashnij entered the concussion protocols during the win over the Eagles. He should be available if he progresses through them on time.
Sam Menegola, managed for the final-round win, will be given “every opportunity” to play Saturday week while Mitch Duncan (hip) is not certain to be fully fit.
COLLINGWOOD is hopeful Taylor Adams will return to a midfield that was monstered in the contested ball by Carlton in the thrilling Round 23 win.
Adams is no certainty to recover from his adductor issue but was seen training hard in a one-on-one session on Monday and he is viewed as more likely to play than not.
Nathan Kreuger could play his first game since Round 6 following a long-term shoulder injury though the Magpies are keen to expose him to some competitive play first.
That could mean he plays in Sunday’s VFL elimination final against Carlton.
Brody Mihocek missed part of the win over the Blues with a head knock but has been cleared of delayed concussion.
FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
First Elimination Final, Saturday September 3, 8:10pm AEST at Optus Stadium
FREMANTLE likely won’t have a full forward line contingent to choose from with Matt Taberner “touch and go” to face the Western Bulldogs on Saturday week.
Taberner, swingman Griffin Logue and forward Rory Lobb haven’t played together since Round 20 and almost certainly won’t in the elimination final either.
Nat Fyfe’s return gives the Dockers another big body to choose from up forward while Lobb (shoulder) and Logue (groin), the latter a late out from the win over GWS last week, are tipped to be healthy.
“We are pretty confident Lobb and Logue will get up, Tabs will be touch and go, we probably can’t play all three in the forward-line having missed a bit of footy and with injury concerns,” Dockers coach Justin Longmuir told 6PR.
“That is going to be a tough call to make if they all do get up.
“There are a few decisions to make, it has been a bit of a rotating door down forward, we haven’t had the continuity we have had in other lines, which has probably contributed to our scoring woes at times. We have got a bit of work to do.”
Taberner injured his calf the last time the Dockers faced the Bulldogs, back in Round 20.
The WESTERN BULLDOGS have limited injury issues heading into yet another elimination final with Jason Johannisen (ankle) and Hayden Crozier (ankle) among those hoping to be healthy.
Johannisen, the 2016 Norm Smith medallist, is on the mend from an injury suffered at training three weeks ago.
The status of Laitham Vandermeer (knee) is also unclear after he was subbed out of Sunday’s win over Hawthorn.
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