Kangaroos regain Wells

Updated September 06, 2012 21:21:09

Daniel Wells has been named to return from a calf complaint to the North Melbourne midfield for Sunday's elimination final against West Coast.

And key defender Nathan Grima has also returned in time to help combat the Eagles' giant attack at Subiaco Oval.

Wells, who has missed the Kangaroos' past three matches with a calf strain, says he had been close to returning against Greater Western Sydney last round.

He was named in the centre on Thursday night, after saying earlier in the day if there were any lingering doubts over his fitness he would not put the team at risk by playing.

"Of course you're always desperate to play in a final, but at the same time you have to have the courage to decide if you're ready to go or not," Wells said.

"I've played in games where you're off a bit and there's the possibility you can really become a liability to your team.

"But you play all year to play finals."

Wells' return will be particularly welcomed, given the Eagles' boast one of the competition's deepest midfields.

The two-pronged ruck division of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui were both named in the 40-man All Australian squad this week, having provided armchair service all year to the likes of Daniel Kerr, Scott Selwood, Matt Priddis and Luke Shuey.

Selwood is likely to again get the tagging role on Wells in Sunday's match.

"It's hard to get a kick on Selwood and he's had a great season," said Wells, who tied with skipper Andrew Swallow for last year's club best-and-fairest award.

"You've got to watch him as much as he watches you because he's so damaging with the ball.

"We think we can match it with them but the intensity has to stay really high for the whole game."

Meanwhile, Kangaroos coach Brad Scott has been handed a suspended sanction of $5,000 following comments he made to the Giants' James McDonald at quarter-time during last Saturday's match at Sydney's Olympic Park.

The AFL has determined a two-year suspended sanction will apply.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, north-melbourne-3051

First posted September 06, 2012 21:15:55

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Suns regain Ablett, Rischitelli

Updated May 10, 2012 21:40:37

Gold Coast prime movers Gary Ablett and Michael Rischitelli are back to help their side chase a breakthrough win over an injury-hit Greater Western Sydney.

The Suns also produced a feelgood story in the return of Michael Coad, a 28-year-old defender coming off two injury-ravaged years, who has been elevated from the rookie list to replace the injured Nathan Bock.

It was mixed news for the Giants for Saturday's clash of the winless expansion clubs in Canberra.

Adding to the loss of veterans Dean Brogan and Setanta O'hAilpin with long-term injuries, another experienced player James McDonald will rest.

But GWS was able to add some size and strength with the return of Israel Folau and Chad Cornes, while also regaining the club's top goal-kicker Jeremy Cameron.

Hawthorn lost captain Luke Hodge for Friday night's MCG encounter with Melbourne, after a knock to the back last round, and remain without key defender Josh Gibson (ankle).

But fellow tall backman Stephen Gilham will play his first AFL game since a serious knee injury almost a year ago.

The winless Demons dropped Lynden Dunn and Luke Tapscott and lost James Sellar (calf).

Collingwood forward Alan Didak will play his first match of the season against Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night, having worked his way back from a preseason adductor injury.

The Lions regained Andrew Raines and Josh Drummond, but lost Jed Adcock (groin) and Ben Hudson (soreness) among five changes.

Top-placed West Coast remains without injured ruckman Nic Naitanui for Saturday night's big Docklands clash with unchanged Essendon and has also lost Adam Selwood (hand) and Ashton Hams (suspension).

Adelaide, with Shaun McKernan suspended, will hand former Essendon rookie-listed ruckman Josh Jenkins an AFL debut against Geelong at Football Park on Saturday.

The Cats regained captain Joel Selwood and key backman Tom Lonergan, while midfielder Jimmy Bartel kept his spot despite an ankle concern.

Having been hit hard by the loss of star Adam Goodes (quad), Sydney suffered a further blow when utility Lewis Roberts-Thomson (heel) was ruled out for Saturday's MCG meeting with Richmond.

The Tigers chose not to replace forward-ruckman Ty Vickery (calf) with another big man, their only addition being the return of Daniel Jackson from suspension, although Angus Graham is an emergency.

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein was recalled to support Hamish McIntosh against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

Bulldogs defender Easton Wood (hamstring) joined fellow backman Lukas Markovic, Tom Williams and Dale Morris on the sidelines.

Their attack also took a double blow, with Liam Jones (back) and Nathan Djerrkura (hip) forced out.

Fremantle welcomed back ruck giant Aaron Sandilands for Sunday's Perth clash with struggling Port Adelaide, which remains without key forward Jay Schulz (eye).

Carlton regained captain Chris Judd and star forward Jarrad Waite for Monday night's clash with St Kilda, after both were rested last round.

Like the Blues, the Saints were yet to make any omissions, naming key defender Sam Fisher despite a hamstring injury.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, carrara-4211, qld, australia

First posted May 10, 2012 19:53:50

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Pies hope to regain star trio

Updated May 01, 2012 19:23:46

Collingwood's bid to climb back into the AFL's top eight took a sizeable step forward on Tuesday with premiership stars Ben Reid, Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw pushing for senior recalls.

Reid is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a quadricep complaint while Thomas and Shaw (hamstring injuries) are also on track to play in Friday's round-six clash with the Western Bulldogs at Docklands.

"Those three in particular would all have fairly strong claims - we're hopeful," Collingwood football director Geoff Walsh told reporters.

"Ben has come up really well, quite a deal quicker than we thought originally, so that's good."

But Walsh said full-back Chris Tarrant, who suffered a calf injury in round two, was unlikely to play AFL in the next couple of weeks.

"With a bit of luck ... we think Chris will be able to play in our VFL team next week," he said.

Small forward and two-time All-Australian Alan Didak, whose preseason was interrupted by a groin injury, is also making solid progress.

"He's had a couple of (VFL) games under his belt and performed OK, got a fair bit of the footy," Walsh said.

Collingwood's Brownlow Medal favourite Scott Pendlebury says the 10th-placed Magpies feel they are starting to regain the form that saw them finish runners-up in 2011.

"From Port Adelaide (in round four), it started again. We got back to that real pressure and tackle pressure that we're sort of known for," he said.

"That Port Adelaide game was a really big game for us and then to back up straight away against Essendon and get another result was really pleasing.

"We've got a little bit of momentum now and we want to keep that going Friday."

Pendlebury said Collingwood coaching strategist Rodney Eade, the former Bulldogs coach, would play a key role this week.

"It's going to be quite significant for us, more finding out about individual match-ups and going to 'Rocket' and getting his insight into players," Pendlebury said.

Pendlebury said the defensive issues that plagued the Magpies in losing two of their first three games this season had been overcome.

"We've always had confidence in our defence. We've been a bit leaky at times," he said.

"It was things that we knew were in our control to fix up. It was more up to us to make amends for that and we've done that in the last two weeks."

Meanwhile, Walsh tried to play down the controversy over last year's Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse mentoring Melbourne player Aaron Davey this season.

"I don't think there's any issues with that," Walsh said.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, collingwood-3066, vic, australia

First posted May 01, 2012 19:23:46

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Cats regain two, but rest Mackie

Updated July 8, 2011 06:56:00

Top-of-the-ladder Geelong's revolving selection door continues to spin, with defender Andrew Mackie the latest to be given recuperation time ahead of an AFL finals campaign.

The Cats have recalled Joel Corey and Travis Varcoe for the clash with West Coast on Friday night in Perth.

Corey and Varcoe, who both had niggling soreness, missed last weekend's defeat by Essendon.

They were sent to Perth early for an extended preparation for this week's match at Subiaco Oval.

Mackie, who is also listed with soreness, is among those making way - the latest in a long line of Cats given what the club hope is a well-timed rest.

Others returning to action from injury include Gold Coast star Michael Rischitelli and gun Swans midfielder Kieren Jack for the Suns' home clash with Sydney on Saturday.

Sydney also regains number one ruckman Shane Mumford from suspension with Mark Seaby making way as one of five players axed after the disappointing last-round loss to Adelaide.

Swan Nick Malceski is back from a groin problem and utility Nick Smith also returns along with ex-West Coast player Matt Spangher, who could well be sent forward for Sydney with Mumford earmarked for a heavy load in the ruck.

"Those players are obviously quality senior players back in the team and we know they'll be better the longer they play - particularly Jack and Mumford," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

"We want to give Mummy (Mumford) the best possible chance of getting back into touch and that is to play him as much on ball as we can, rather than playing him forward."

Highly-rated Collingwood defender Lachlan Keeffe is a chance for his AFL debut, added to the Magpies' extended bench for Sunday's match against North Melbourne at the MCG.

Essendon recalled pacy Ricky Dyson to replace injured veteran Andrew Welsh for Saturday night's match against Richmond.

The Tigers axed Mitch Farmer and lost ruckman Andrew Browne (hip) from the side thrashed the previous week by Carlton.

Young midfielder Reece Conca and defender Luke McGuane replace them.

Hawthorn has named star forward Lance Franklin for the match against Brisbane in Launceston on Saturday despite some media speculation he has an ankle problem.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, geelong-3220

First posted July 7, 2011 17:52:00

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Roos set to regain Bastinac

Updated May 25, 2011 19:06:00

Young star Ryan Bastinac is the latest North Melbourne player to return to action as the AFL club's horror injury run eases.

Coach Brad Scott said Bastinac will resume in the VFL on the weekend, having not played a game this season because of a knee injury.

The midfielder played every game last year in his debut season.

The Kangaroos have had shocking luck with injuries this year, particularly through the preseason.

"He's mature beyond his years - it's not often you say that a 19-year-old is a vital part of your midfield mix, we're looking forward to getting him back," Scott said of Bastinac.

"We've been - touch wood - really fortunate that we haven't sustained any in-game injuries for a while.

"The players back from the preseason, who have been injured, are starting to filter back.

"We expect that over the next month to six weeks, we'll be close to ... full availability."

Levi Greenwood is also now available for senior selection while Cam Pederson, Ben McKinley and Cameron Richardson are pushing for recalls after strong VFL form.

The Kangaroos only have two wins from eight games and face another big challenge on Saturday when they host Sydney at Docklands.

Hawthorn thumped the Swans last Sunday, but Scott said they remained formidable opposition.

North have lost their last four games against Sydney, including twice last year.

"We always know what we're going to get from the Swans, I was up at the SCG ... it's probably one of the best nine-goal defeats I've seen in a long time," Scott said.

"They're an extremely competitive side, the Swans, they tackle exceptionally well, they compete very well, they're one of the most disciplined sides in the competition."

Brisbane had its first win of the season last Saturday night at North's expense, but Scott said his side would bounce back.

"It's never a problem for this group, effort has never been anything I've ever questioned," he said.

"Execution is something we really have to work on, but I will never question their effort or endeavour - I haven't had to, to this point.

"Getting up after the trip hasn't been a problem at all, they're really looking forward to atoning for what was a pretty disappointing second half."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, melbourne-3000, north-melbourne-3051

First posted May 25, 2011 18:34:00

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