https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/af...h/news-story/5688b3ca22c7f6d34dc496016c53367f
Several young guns, including two top-10 picks, could make their AFL debut this round.
Plus St Kilda’s prized recruit headlines a long list of returning stars.
Get the latest Round 3 selection news and updates in
AFL Team Whispers!
NORTH MELBOURNE will ponder unleashing top draftee
Will Phillips for its Good Friday clash against the Western Bulldogs.
Phillips, who was taken with Pick 3 in last year’s draft, completed his first full game of football in 18 months last week, impressing through the midfield in a VFL practice match.
Speaking to the club’s website post-game, Phillips said he’d love to play at AFL level “as soon as possible” and felt confident he could “hit the ground running once I get in the side”. He also said he was “happy to be patient” as he continues to build up match fitness.
But Kangaroos coach David Noble on Wednesday told reporters Phillips was “in the mix” to make his AFL debut.
Noble also confirmed star midfielder
Ben Cunnington would play after he missed the first two rounds due to concussion. It’ll be his first AFL game since Round 5, 2020.
Jack Mahony and
Jack Ziebell will undergo fitness tests after their respective ankle injuries against the Suns, but Noble said he expected both players, as well as
Kyron Hayden (hamstring), to be available to face the Bulldogs.
However Noble indicated the club would continue to take a cautious approach with
Luke McDonald (quad) and
Trent Dumont (calf)
The
WESTERN BULLDOGS will consider recalling premiership skipper
Easton Wood after he got through a second practice match.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said Wood was a likely inclusion.
“His name’s definitely on the table and it’s more than likely it will probably go on the board as well,” he said.
“We wanted Easton to play another VFL game last week – with 30-minute quarters and the 75 interchange these days, if players are coming off soft tissue and there’s a little bit of doubt, we’ll make sure we’re really confident with them going in.
“That might mean spending another game at state league level, which Easton went and did and he played really well.”
Jason Johannisen (medical sub),
Rhylee West or
Ben Cavarra – the latter kicked four goals in a VFL practice match – would also be in the mix.
Beveridge said the Bulldogs would avoid using the same player in medical sub role in consecutive weeks, but added it was a good guide as to which players are on the cusp of selection.
“He (Johannsien) will definitely play a full game, at AFL level or VFL level – he won’t be the sub again,” Beveridge said.
“If you’re the 23rd man – there’s probably a particular type that suits, and it suits the team from a versatility point of view.
“But it’s also probably a pecking order and a selection order as well. Last week because we didn’t make any changes, Westy was the sub and played state league (the following week).
“This week if we make changes, JJ’s a chance to come in.”
Kangaroo Phillips mightn’t be the only top-10 pick from the 2020 draft to make his debut in Round 3, with Pick 9
Archie Perkins a strong chance to feature for
ESSENDON against St Kilda
Perkins, a tall inside midfielder the Bombers have been searching for but has spent time training as a forward this off-season, has impressed at VFL level in recent weeks, including against Footscray last Saturday.
“It was another strong game from Archie,” Bombers VFL coach Leigh Tudor told the club’s website. “He was really strong in the contest again, tackled well, ran hard, won his clearances as a midfielder and set us up when he was forward.”
With midfielders
Dylan Shiel and
Jye Caldwell facing lengthy stints on the sidelines, the Bombers are strongly considering unleashing Perkins at AFL level for Saturday’s game.
The Bombers could also hand a long-awaited AFL debut to pre-season supplemental selection period recruit
Alec Waterman — almost six-and-a-half years after he was initially drafted by the West Coast Eagles — while raw 203cm ruckman
Nick Bryan could be called upon to help support Peter Wright in the absence of No. 1 big man
Sam Draper.
Matt Guelfi is almost certain to return — Tudor said Guelfi looked “strong and fit” and “played an AFL-style game in the VFL” — as is
Jake Stringer, who moved well in his second VFL game back from injury.
David Zaharakis is also in the mix after an awesome outing against Footscray.
But whether skipper
Dyson Heppell faces the Saints after being a late withdrawal last week due to a back spasm remains unclear.
“We’ll look to get him going (but) he is still sort of touch and go for this week, and we’ll work our way through that process,” Bombers high performance manager Sean Murphy told the club’s website.
ST KILDA fans are set to get their first look at prized recruit
Brad Crouch, who’ll be available for selection after serving a suspension.
Crouch has completed his two-match ban, which he received last year while he was still on Adelaide’s list after police found him in possession of an illicit substance.
The ball magnet is set to replace
Jimmy Webster, who suffered a knock to the head during his side’s loss to Melbourne.
Crouch headlines a long list big-name players set to return to the field in Round 3.
FREMANTLE will lose superstar skipper
Nat Fyfe due to concussion, but the club is confident it’ll regain All-Australian
Michael Walters to face Carlton.
“Sonny had a full match sim on the weekend,” Dockers general manager of football performance Joe Brierty said in the club’s weekly injury report. “He needs to get through main training this week but we are excited that he should be available for selection
The Dockers will also ponder handing Josh Treacy an AFL debut after serving his WAFL-imposed ban, but coach Justin Longmuir said so last week’s win over the Giants gave his side a chance to “keep a settled side together”.
“We will weigh up all of our options and he (Treacy) will come into the mix,” Longmuir said.
CARLTON should regain fan favourite
Eddie Betts, as well as fellow forward
Jack Silvagni, for the clash against the Dockers. But they’ll be without key players
Jack Martin and
Zac Fisher, who both fave six weeks out due to their respective knee and ankle injuries.
WEST COAST captain
Luke Shuey is firming to return for Saturday night’s blockbuster clash against Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium.
A final call on Shuey, who missed Rounds 1 and 2 due to a hamstring injury, will be made on Wednesday after the group’s main training session.
“Luke had a terrific load session last Saturday,” West Coast football manager Craig Vozzo said.
“He ticked off everything we need from a preparation perspective, be it speed, distance, et cetera and he pulled up really well.
“He just needs to get through the training week and he’ll be available to play against Port on the weekend.”
PORT ADELAIDE is also set to regain young gun forward
Connor Rozee, who’s recovered from pre-season foot surgery, for the match against West Coast.
Rozee is likely to be joined in the team by fellow forward
Todd Marshall, who was a late withdrawal from the weekend’s game against Essendon with back soreness. But after Charlie Dixon, Peter Ladhams and Mitch Georgiades combined for 10 goals, Port must make a call on whether it can play all four talls in the same line-up.
HAWTHORN is optimistic
Chad Wingard will be fit to face Geelong on Easter Monday.
Wingard has been sidelined with a calf injury, but club physical performance manager Luke Boyd said the gun goalkicker will have an opportunity to prove his fitness this week
“The plan is that he’s got to get through training this week and tick a few boxes before he’s available to play,” Boyd told the club’s website.
“We’re hoping it’ll be this week, but at this stage he’s a test to play.”
Should Wingard be fit to play, he’d replace emerging star
Will Day, who’s set to miss “a chunk of football”, according to Boyd, after suffering an ankle injury in the Hawks’ loss to Richmond.
