North Melbourne: Tristan Xerri
“He just had an awareness from stretching out of a ruck contest, he came to get assessed but the docs assessed him and he ended up playing the rest of the game, so he should be OK.”
Alastair Clarkson
As he walked in, I said you’re playing like Peter Matera. He stood out in his 3rd game. He was having a night. Really encouraging for Sam and us. We’ve found a player there.”
“He’s really positive today. We asked him to work on some things in the last 2-3 weeks in and around his game. He’s gone away and done that. He’s come in today and I thought he was probably our best midfielder.”
“I’m told we should be really confident that he’ll be right next week.”
“We always take as long as possible to make a good decision… It’s not ideal putting a guy on the plane and then having him not play. But it is an indication of how close we thought he was. He did a little bit today but just didn’t feel quite right.”
Will Ashcroft: “I thought that was Will’s best game he’s ever played. I thought he was outstanding tonight. Tough, strong in the clinches, used the ball well. He’s been a bit worried about his form, he’s been putting along by his standards.” Chris Fagan
Oscar McInerney was a late out with gastro.
Kai Lohmann subbed out with an ankle concern. Chris Fagan said he wasn’t sure if he’d be available next week.
“I thought last week he was solid as well. It might not have been on the stat sheet but we highlighted a lot of dan’s stuff last week.
“He’s playing a couple of roles at the moment for us. He’s spending a bit of time down there (forward line)… we’ll keep trialling him in different spots depending on what the team needs. Is he pinch-hitting on the wing for us occasionally? We’ll keep trialing.”
Justin Longmuir was optimistic about Sean Darcy and Hayden Young being available to play next week, albeit maybe not AFL. He said: “Sean and Youngy should be next week at some level. We’ll work that out during the week.”
Longmuir said he was “hopeful” on Nat Fyfe returning while he explained the late outs for Jaeger O’Meara – due to illness – and Corey Wagner – tight calf.
Was thinking of trading Flynn out of the flex, bringing Maric in his place, wonder if any West Coast fans have any advice re McGovern being out for an extended period, if it helps or hinders Maric’s role?
Thanks guys.
Interesting situations with West Coast now that McGovern will be missing for awhile.
Oscar Allen could swing back as he did late against Fremantle.
Harley Reid was shifted late to half back last week. “and the last 20 minutes of the game, I think we did see something that we liked,” Andrew McQualter said.
“I think if we can add another string to his bow, he can become a pretty dangerous player down there as well.
Jobe Shanahan, Sandy Brock and Bo Allan could be called up to play.
Bo Allan was the prefered player pre – season before becoming ill and Maric stepped up.
I would await upon team selection but I cannot see Maric becoming a lock down player. This is after all his first year in defense. Looks great with his kick ins.
Thanks CT, that’s a fantastic rundown, covers everything and more, really appreciate it, and like you suggest, I’ll see what the team lists throw up. Without doubt, this is the no.1 site for all things SC!
Rhyan Mansell’s appeal has failed. He will miss the next three matches.
Reasons:
We do not accept Mansell’s evidence that he did not see that two players were running in to attempt to mark the ball. Vision is not consistent with this evidence.
If, as Mansell said, he did not know that other players were running forward to contest the mark, it’s highly unlikely that he would have pushed O’Connell away from himself and into the path of what would be on his evidence an uncontested mark.
Mansell’s movements are only consistent with him knowing or assuming that other players were running in to contest the mark.
Even if Mansell did not see or see sufficiently clearly that other players were running to contest the mark, he would, or should have, assumed that the ball hung in the air for long enough for the reasonable player to expect that players who had set up at about the 30 meter mark would run in and try to contest the ball.
Mansell said that the team instruction was that the tall forwards would remain deep, but we do not understand this to mean if there is a high ball that they could reach, they would not try to mark it.
If Mansell did not know what was coming, it was careless of him to forcefully push a player with the path of the ball when he does not know, but should reasonably expect there would likely be players running in the opposite direction attempting to mark.
We also reject the submission that O’Connell was going to attempt to mark the ball in any event, and that the push did not cause or contribute to the impact.
It is clear that the push is forceful and affecting the speed at which and the angle at which O’Connell suffered impact.
The force of the push is a significant factor here. It went well beyond what a reasonable player would consider prudent in the circumstances, particularly the circumstances that the push was in the direction of the path of the ball.
Mansell breached his duty of care by pushing O’Connell with such force, with the path of the ball directly in the direction of oncoming players.
Mansell’s eyes were not on the ball. He was not attempting to mark the ball, and he did not push O’Connell to immediately gather the ball.
His evidence that he hoped O’Connell might drop the mark is not a satisfactory explanation or justification for his conduct.
We do not find that the Ginbey example is sufficiently comparable to change our view that this incident constituted rough conduct.
Lalor was not running with the flight of the ball, and Ginbey had not turned away from the flight of the ball.
We need not express an opinion as to whether Ginbey’s conduct also amounted to rough conduct. It is sufficient in the present circumstances to say Mansell’s conduct did.
It is worth noting that Mansell acknowledged that he was aware of the contents of a memo from the AFL in which it was stated that pushing an opponent in a mark in a marking contest may result in rough conduct.
As noted, Mansell gave evidence that he hoped O’Connell would drop the mark – that is, he pushed him in a marking contest.
Issues of impact and contact are not in dispute, and we find this was rough conduct, careless, high contact and severe impact.
North Melbourne: Tristan Xerri
“He just had an awareness from stretching out of a ruck contest, he came to get assessed but the docs assessed him and he ended up playing the rest of the game, so he should be OK.”
Alastair Clarkson
Essendon is challenging Ben Hobbs’ staging fine from the MRO.
Adelaide: Josh Rachele will miss the next 4-6 weeks after further scans today confirmed he has suffered 3 broken ribs.
He’s been cleared of any other internal injuries.
Port Adelaide: Christian Moraes
“Christian Moraes last week came on as a sub and played a really solid game. It looked like he grew again tonight, I thought, the way he performed.”
Ken Hinkley
Western Bulldogs: Sam Davidson
As he walked in, I said you’re playing like Peter Matera. He stood out in his 3rd game. He was having a night. Really encouraging for Sam and us. We’ve found a player there.”
Luke Beveridge
Melbourne: Harvey Langford
“He’s really positive today. We asked him to work on some things in the last 2-3 weeks in and around his game. He’s gone away and done that. He’s come in today and I thought he was probably our best midfielder.”
Simon Goodwin
Melbourne: Christian Petracca – Why he started forward?
“We wanted to have another goal kicking option for us. By the second half he was playing predominantly more midfield time.
Simon Goodwin
Goodwin said it’s likely they’ll get back Kozzy Pickett, Steven May and Charlie Spargo next week.
St Kilda: Jack Steele
“He was just had a little tweak at training. We thought he’d be up, he just felt it in the warm-up… we’re pretty confident he’ll be fine.”
Ross Lyon
Geelong: Tom Stewart
“I’m told we should be really confident that he’ll be right next week.”
“We always take as long as possible to make a good decision… It’s not ideal putting a guy on the plane and then having him not play. But it is an indication of how close we thought he was. He did a little bit today but just didn’t feel quite right.”
Chris Scott
Brisbane:
Will Ashcroft: “I thought that was Will’s best game he’s ever played. I thought he was outstanding tonight. Tough, strong in the clinches, used the ball well. He’s been a bit worried about his form, he’s been putting along by his standards.” Chris Fagan
Oscar McInerney was a late out with gastro.
Kai Lohmann subbed out with an ankle concern. Chris Fagan said he wasn’t sure if he’d be available next week.
Adelaide: Dan Curtin
“I thought last week he was solid as well. It might not have been on the stat sheet but we highlighted a lot of dan’s stuff last week.
“He’s playing a couple of roles at the moment for us. He’s spending a bit of time down there (forward line)… we’ll keep trialling him in different spots depending on what the team needs. Is he pinch-hitting on the wing for us occasionally? We’ll keep trialing.”
Matthew Nicks
Fremantle:
Justin Longmuir was optimistic about Sean Darcy and Hayden Young being available to play next week, albeit maybe not AFL. He said: “Sean and Youngy should be next week at some level. We’ll work that out during the week.”
Longmuir said he was “hopeful” on Nat Fyfe returning while he explained the late outs for Jaeger O’Meara – due to illness – and Corey Wagner – tight calf.
Richmond:
Hugo Ralphsmith, Sam Banks and Josh Smillie all tests for this week.
Liam Fawcett broke his nose and was concussed in the VFL, 1-2wks.
Judson Clarke has a timeline for the first time since rupturing his ACL in April, 3-6wks.
DPP update
Touk Miller 25% FWD
Christian Petracca 37% FWD
Sam Docherty 61% FWD
Chad Warner 40% FWD
Zach Merrett 31% FWD
Essendon: Tom Edwards suffered a suspected ACL at training today.
He’ll get scans but there is little doubt on the initial diagnosis.
Adelaide: Zak Butters got through all of the club’s main session today, including match sim. Big tick in his bid to make an early return on Sunday.
WCE: Some concern Jeremy McGovern’s groin injury is a serious one. Possibly tendon related and could miss several games
Was thinking of trading Flynn out of the flex, bringing Maric in his place, wonder if any West Coast fans have any advice re McGovern being out for an extended period, if it helps or hinders Maric’s role?
Thanks guys.
Interesting situations with West Coast now that McGovern will be missing for awhile.
Oscar Allen could swing back as he did late against Fremantle.
Harley Reid was shifted late to half back last week. “and the last 20 minutes of the game, I think we did see something that we liked,” Andrew McQualter said.
“I think if we can add another string to his bow, he can become a pretty dangerous player down there as well.
Jobe Shanahan, Sandy Brock and Bo Allan could be called up to play.
Bo Allan was the prefered player pre – season before becoming ill and Maric stepped up.
I would await upon team selection but I cannot see Maric becoming a lock down player. This is after all his first year in defense. Looks great with his kick ins.
GD will give his thoughts to aid your selection.
All the best, Benchwarmers
Thanks CT, that’s a fantastic rundown, covers everything and more, really appreciate it, and like you suggest, I’ll see what the team lists throw up. Without doubt, this is the no.1 site for all things SC!
Essendon – Jye Caldwell has been assessed for a hamstring concern.
To be updated when results are known.
Rhyan Mansell’s appeal has failed. He will miss the next three matches.
Reasons:
We do not accept Mansell’s evidence that he did not see that two players were running in to attempt to mark the ball. Vision is not consistent with this evidence.
If, as Mansell said, he did not know that other players were running forward to contest the mark, it’s highly unlikely that he would have pushed O’Connell away from himself and into the path of what would be on his evidence an uncontested mark.
Mansell’s movements are only consistent with him knowing or assuming that other players were running in to contest the mark.
Even if Mansell did not see or see sufficiently clearly that other players were running to contest the mark, he would, or should have, assumed that the ball hung in the air for long enough for the reasonable player to expect that players who had set up at about the 30 meter mark would run in and try to contest the ball.
Mansell said that the team instruction was that the tall forwards would remain deep, but we do not understand this to mean if there is a high ball that they could reach, they would not try to mark it.
If Mansell did not know what was coming, it was careless of him to forcefully push a player with the path of the ball when he does not know, but should reasonably expect there would likely be players running in the opposite direction attempting to mark.
We also reject the submission that O’Connell was going to attempt to mark the ball in any event, and that the push did not cause or contribute to the impact.
It is clear that the push is forceful and affecting the speed at which and the angle at which O’Connell suffered impact.
The force of the push is a significant factor here. It went well beyond what a reasonable player would consider prudent in the circumstances, particularly the circumstances that the push was in the direction of the path of the ball.
Mansell breached his duty of care by pushing O’Connell with such force, with the path of the ball directly in the direction of oncoming players.
Mansell’s eyes were not on the ball. He was not attempting to mark the ball, and he did not push O’Connell to immediately gather the ball.
His evidence that he hoped O’Connell might drop the mark is not a satisfactory explanation or justification for his conduct.
We do not find that the Ginbey example is sufficiently comparable to change our view that this incident constituted rough conduct.
Lalor was not running with the flight of the ball, and Ginbey had not turned away from the flight of the ball.
We need not express an opinion as to whether Ginbey’s conduct also amounted to rough conduct. It is sufficient in the present circumstances to say Mansell’s conduct did.
It is worth noting that Mansell acknowledged that he was aware of the contents of a memo from the AFL in which it was stated that pushing an opponent in a mark in a marking contest may result in rough conduct.
As noted, Mansell gave evidence that he hoped O’Connell would drop the mark – that is, he pushed him in a marking contest.
Issues of impact and contact are not in dispute, and we find this was rough conduct, careless, high contact and severe impact.