There remains a watch on Blues star Charlie Curnow amid several looming changes to Michael Voss’ side for Saturday’s elimination final against Brisbane.
Curnow is in doubt due to an ankle injury he re-injured last month ahead of a crucial training session on Thursday.
“Charlie Curnow is the big watch, there is still so much doubt around him, He still hasn’t trained fully since re-injuring that ankle almost four weeks ago, “ Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary reported on Wednesday night.
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“He was in the rehab group on Monday and still yet to hit top speed. If he’s to be any chance, he’ll need to train fully tomorrow and there is still doubt around that.”
Mitch McGovern (hamstring) was also in the rehab group on Monday, while there’s still decisions to come on Zac Williams, Jack Martin and Adam Cerra (all hamstrings).
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Harry McKay is expected to return from a quad issue, while Tom De Koning (foot) has made a late push.
“De Koning was seen as unlikely a few weeks ago but has made a late bid to play and was part of training in match simulation on Monday, so he is still a very good chance,” Cleary added.
As for the Lions, Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark revealed Darragh Joyce is expected the “unlucky” omission for the returning Jack Payne, also suggesting Brandon Starcevich would come in for Noah Answerth.
In other selection news, AFL Media reports the Dogs are set to pull a selection surprise and name James Harmes for the Dogs’ elimination final clash with Hawthorn, for the midfielder’s first game since Round 12.
Adam Treloar (calf) is expected to face Hawthorn, while Bailey Smith returned to training from his ACL injury on Wednesday but won’t play.
“Adam Treloar will play, we know he’s that sort of player that will get himself up. He desperately is chasing that flag that was cruelly denied of him in 2018,” Herald Sun reporter Glenn Mcfarlane said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“The intrigue for me though is what Luke Beveridge is doing to do with the team. Laitham Vandermeer, is he going to play? He’s probably the one with a bit more uncertainty.
“Do they bring back Rhylee West for Arthur Jones?”
Hawks youngster Cam McKenzie has already been ruled out of Friday night’s elimination final after tweaking his hamstring late in Wednesday’s training session.
Hinkley open to Rozee position shift | 02:04
“He was shattered, clearly … but the injury is only a low grade, so it’s on the very minor scale,” Mcfarlane added.
“I’m tell he’ll be a test next week.”
As for Thursday’s qualifying final between Geelong and Port Adelaide, Herald Sun journalist Scott Gullan thinks Mitch Duncan could start as the sub given the 294-game Cats veteran has been below his best in recent weeks.
And with the likes of Gary Rohan and Sam De Koning named emergencies, Gullan is expecting Geelong to pull a late change,
“Mitch Duncan is someone a lot of people are watching down there … his last three weeks he’s been off,” Gullan said on Midweek Tackle.
“They need him firing, the worry is what does Chris Scott do? Does he start him as sub again in the final? I reckon he might have to do that.
“He’s got Hawkins and Guthre playing VFL and Zach Tuohy already retiring.
“He needs a confidence booster, it has to happen tomorrow night. If it doesn’t watch this space … he’s not going to get to 300 games this year, does he get another year of a contract?”
Giants tagger Toby Beford (calf) remains in doubt for the club’s qualifying final against the Swans, while GWS coach Adam Kinglsey said Finn Callaghan will play despite managing a knock this week.
Treloar to return, star Dog still out | 02:18
Earlier ….
Geelong is surprisingly without young gun Sam De Koning while Port Adelaide swings two changes for the finals-opening clash at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.
The Cats have named an unchanged side meaning De Koning, who successfully moved from key defence into the ruck this season, has only made the squad as an emergency despite being passed fit from a knee injury.
Veteran stars Tom Hawkins and Cam Guthrie will audition for the 2022 premiers’ second final in the VFL, while Gary Rohan and Oisin Mullin have been named as emergencies. The latter pair and De Koning have all travelled to Adelaide.
The Power have as expected brought back Charlie Dixon, with young tall Dante Vistenini losing his spot, while Quinton Narkle returns to the side in place of the injured Kane Farrell.
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Dixon has been managed throughout the season before playing the last six games of the year, kicking 10 goals over that period.
With first-choice halfback pair Farrell (hamstring) and Dan Houston (suspension) unavailable, Ken Hinkley has moved Ryan Burton into the starting side from the bench.
Zak Butters was named despite some slight concerns after he missed a scheduled Monday media appearance with an eye infection.
This is the third time in five years Port Adelaide has hosted Geelong in a qualifying final, the Power winning by 16 points in 2020, and 43 points in 2021.
The Cats are the only team the Power have beaten in a final since 2014.
The teams for the three remaining finals will be confirmed on Thursday evening.
AFL WEEK 1 FINALS TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)
PORT ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Second Qualifying Final
Thursday September 5, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval
POWER
B: La.Jones, B.Zerk-Thatcher, M.Bergman
HB: R.Burton, A.Aliir, L.Evans
C: J.Burgoyne, O.Wines, W.Drew
HF: D.Byrne-Jones, E.Ratugolea, W.Rioli
F: M.Georgiades, C.Dixon, C.Rozee – C
FOLL: J.Sweet, J.Horne-Francis, Z.Butters
I/C: T.Boak, Q.Narkle, J.Mead, F.Evans, J.McEntee
EMG: J.Sinn, D.Visentini, T.Marshall
IN: C.Dixon, Q.Narkle
OUT: K.Farrell (Injured), D.Visentini (Omitted)
CATS
B: L.Humphries, J.Henry, J.Kolodjashnij
HB: M.Duncan, M.Blicavs, Z.Guthrie
C: M.Holmes, T.Atkins, O.Dempsey
HF: T.Stengle, S.Neale, S.Mannagh
F: B.Close, J.Cameron, O.Henry
FOLL: R.Stanley, P.Dangerfield – C, T.Stewart
I/C: Z.Tuohy, J.Bowes, G.Miers, T.Bruhn, J.Bews
EMG: G.Rohan, O.Mullin, S.De Koning
No changes
WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN
Second Elimination Final
Friday September 6, 7:40pm at the MCG
BULLDOGS
Teams TBA Thursday evening
HAWKS
Teams TBA Thursday evening
SYDNEY SWANS v GWS GIANTS
First Qualifying Final
Saturday September 7, 3:20pm at the SCG
SWANS
Teams TBA Thursday evening
GIANTS
Teams TBA Thursday evening
BRISBANE LIONS v CARLTON
First Elimination Final
Saturday September 7, 7:30pm at the Gabba
LIONS
Teams TBA Thursday evening
BLUES
Teams TBA Thursday evening
Source Agencies
