Crows set to swing selection axe

Updated September 13, 2012 14:20:37

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson is set to make "two or three changes" for Friday night's semi-final against Fremantle at Football Park.

Sanderson has refused to name the omitted players before the release of teams later on Thursday.

But he says there will be more changes than just replacing young defender Daniel Talia, who broke his right arm during the Crows' qualifying loss to Sydney last weekend.

"We'll probably make two or three changes," Sanderson said.

"We look at what works well against Fremantle but also too what works well for us.

"It's more so getting the structure right for us, we're pretty confident the 22 that we have picked this week just looks really good.

"It's a cut-throat final, the loser goes home, so it's really important we put a 22 out there that we think are going to compete and win us the match."

Sanderson says key forward Kurt Tippett, who had a poor match against the Swans, will definitely play against a Fremantle side buoyed by their elimination final win against Geelong last weekend.

Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich starred with six goals against the Cats and Sanderson says more than one Crow will be given the task of minding the potential game-breaker.

"We'll look at not just one player playing on Pav, there will be different players playing on Pavlich at different times," Sanderson said.

"They have got some weapons up there offensively so if we put all our attention into Pavlich those other guys will hurt us."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000

First posted September 13, 2012 13:53:07

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Demons Davey, Sylvia hit by selection axe

Updated May 24, 2012 21:34:02

Melbourne dropped Aaron Davey again and Colin Sylvia also paid for his poor form as the Demons reacted to the new low in their disastrous season.

Cale Morton was the third omission, following last Saturday night's 101-point thrashing against Sydney.

That left the Demons languishing at the bottom of the ladder with no wins and no feasible prospects of an immediate recovery.

Liam Jurrah's ankle fracture meant Melbourne will make at least four changes for the Sunday clash against Carlton at the MCG.

Davey, also axed in round two, and Sylvia are two of the experienced Melbourne players who have come under increasing scrutiny for their mediocre form.

Sylvia also was caught on camera sharing a laugh with Sydney's Josh Kennedy last Saturday night after the final siren.

While the Blues are unbackable favourites, they have also made four changes after their shocker against Adelaide.

Apart from Marc Murphy (shoulder) and Nick Duigan (calf), they reacted to two-straight losses by dropping Jordan Russell and Bret Thornton.

Geelong defender Josh Hunt retained his senior berth for Friday night's big match against the Western Bulldogs, despite several moments in the loss to Collingwood he would rather forget.

The Cats regained key defender Matthew Scarlett and promoted utility Jonathan Simpkin for his AFL debut, but lost top midfielder James Kelly with a calf injury and dropped Billie Smedts.

Daniel Pearce will also play his first senior game as the Bulldogs regained Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney.

The Dogs have reorganised their attack, dropping key forwards Liam Jones and Jarrad Grant.

Clay Smith was also left out, while Dylan Addison is suspended.

Jordan Roughead and Patrick Veszpremi will return to the side.

Collingwood promoted Marley Williams and Jamie Elliott for their first games in the Saturday night clash against Adelaide.

They replace big names Dane Swan (hamstring) and Ben Reid (quad) as the Crows recalled Richard Douglas for Tom Lynch.

St Kilda regained James Gwilt from his extended absence after a knee reconstruction and also recalled Aaryn Siposs for Saturday night's clash against Sydney.

Rhys Stanley's hamstring injury adds to their lack of ruck options, but the Swans did not recall Shane Mumford and are unchanged.

St Kilda also left out Beau Wilkes.

Richmond regained Tyrone Vickery from a calf injury for the Saturday clash against Hawthorn, while gambling on Ben Griffiths as a key
defender following Dylan Grimes' hamstring injury.

The Tigers also dropped Brad Miller while the Hawks are unchanged.

Greater Western Sydney made six changes for Saturday night's match against Essendon, with Toby Greene's suspension the only forced change.

Rhys Palmer was among the axings as the Giants regained James McDonald and young stars Tomas Bugg, Curtly Hampton, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith and Adam Kennedy.

Essendon utility Dyson Heppell (knee) will miss his first game since he debuted last year, while Dustin Fletcher (leg) and Leroy Jetta (suspension) are also out of the side.

The Bombers regained Mark McVeigh, Tayte Pears and Travis Colyer.

Gold Coast and Port Adelaide made one change apiece for their Saturday match.

The Suns rested Luke Russell for Luke Magin and the Power brought in Daniel Stewart for John Butcher (hip).

North Melbourne and Brisbane both named extended squads with Aaron Edwards and Sam Wright the big inclusions for the Roos and Aaron Cornelius for the Lions.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, carlton-3053

First posted May 24, 2012 19:36:51

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No selection pickle for Demons' Evans

Posted May 20, 2011 20:11:00

Melbourne rookie Michael Evans will make his AFL debut this Saturday at Docklands, replacing injured ruckman Jake Spencer.

The 18-year-old will be among five inclusions for the game against St Kilda.

The Demons recruited him from WA side Claremont through this year's rookie draft.

He was elevated to the senior list in place of Spencer, who will miss the rest of the season.

"Being a rookie, there's obviously a bit of uncertainty in your future," Evans said.

"It's an awkward position to be put in, where you're only getting a game if someone is getting injured, I suppose.

"I went up for Jake Spencer, who was once a rookie - that made it a bit easier."

Evans knows far more about injuries than he would like.

Two years ago, he broke his leg badly in the last few minutes of a junior-grade grand final in Perth, which his team lost by a point.

"It was a dark day, that's for sure," he said.

Last year he also battled with a hip injury.

"Certainly my under-age footy was hampered, but since I've been here, the physios and medical staff have been pretty good to me," Evans added.

Evans has shown strong form in the VFL as a clearance midfielder, but thought team-mate Jordie McKenzie would earn a promotion before him.

As it happened, the duo have come into the senior side at the same time.

"Jordie played a really good game last week and I was probably surprised we both squeezed into the side," he said.

"But I'm certainly going to grab it with both hands.

"It's something you've been working towards your entire life, so to finally get the opportunity, I can't wait."

When Evans came across from Perth, he was hoping to leave behind the nickname his mother first gave him.

But fellow Demon Cale Morton went to the same school as Evans.

So coach Dean Bailey introduced Evans to the media on Friday as "Pickles".

"Coming over here, I thought I'd lose it," Evans said with a grin.

"I don't mind it, I'm happy to go with it."

- AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, vic, melbourne-3000

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