Around The Grounds

• Star Fremantle $361k forward Matt Pavlich could make an early return from a calf injury. It is believed the Docker is recovering well from the minor calf strain which he strained against Collingwood in Round 13 and he may be a chance to face Adelaide this weekend.

• Essendon's $378k midfielder Jobe Watson may not be ready to make an early return from an ankle injury this Saturday against Sydney. Bombers coach Matthew Knights said, "Jobe isn't guaranteed for this week. He would have to train on Friday as we haven't got a session on Thursday." Knights did indicate Mark McVeigh, and possibly Michael Hurley, would probably come in.
  

• Carlton coach Brett Ratten says star midfield duo Heath Scotland ($339k) and Nick Stevens ($332k) are no guarantees for an AFL recall this week after good games in the VFL. Ratten said, "They are in the mix. They’re quality players but we just went with a different team structure [last week]. We’ll have to see how we go at the selection table.” Ratten also revealed Paul Bower was close to an early return after a knee injury.
  

• North Melbourne's luckless $309k midfielder Daniel Wells continues to have a bad run with injuries after cutting himself in training. Wells sustained a five-centimetre wound to his leg in gym training and the problem will set back his progress a couple more weeks.
  

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DreamTeam Update: Tribunal

Just two cases for the tribunal to look through this with, and both were unsuccessful.

Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin copped two weeks from the tribunal for his hit on Brisbane's Daniel Rich. Chaplin will miss Port's matches against Melbourne and West Coast.

North Melbourne defender Daniel Pratt received a week's suspension for striking Sydney's Nick Malceski and will miss the Kangas' next match against Hawthorn.

There were a number of other charges, but early pleas were taken including Colin Sylvia (3 weeks), Jared Brennan (1 week) and Mark Austin (1 week).

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Stevie Johnson Still A Doubt

Geelong's popular $405k forward Stevie Johnson remains in doubt for the Cats' upcoming Round 15 clash with Brisbane at the GABBA.

Johnson, who is owned by almost 74,000 DT coaches, was a late withdrawal for Geelong's last match against St Kilda with a hip problem.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson said, "Stevie (Johnson) he’s a chance to play but we’re not guaranteed he’ll play.”

Thompson admitted there were also doubts on $264k defender Harry Taylor (concussion) and $290k defender Darren Milburn (ankle) along with Cameron Ling (knee) and David Wojcinski (calf).

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Cox & Kerr Doubtful

West Coast's popular $436k ruckman Dean Cox is in doubt again for the Eagles upcoming match with St Kilda due to a lingering groin problem.

Cox is one of DreamTeam's most popular players, owned by just over 98,000 DT coaches, but he's been frustrating them having missed the last 2 weeks.

The big ruckman did have a virus over the weekend but was back training lightly on Tuesday.

Nevertheless he is still doubtful to be fit for the Saints game at Subiaco on Sunday afternoon.

Fellow Eagle Daniel Kerr ($240k midfielder) is also doubtful as he battles general soreness.

West Coast coach John Worsfold said about Kerr on Tuesday, "He won't do a lot today, and we'll see how he is on Thursday."

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Around The Grounds

• Brisbane's popular $327k defender Josh Drummond has been listed by the club as doubtful for the Lions' Round 15 clash with Geelong. Drummond has been frustrating DT coaches for weeks with a lingering calf problem. Almost 27,000 DT coaches still own Drummond and they'll have a tough decision to make if he isn't picked this week.
  

• Geelong's $329k ruckman Brad Ottens has had another setback in his recovery from a long-term knee injury. Cats coach Mark Thompson said, “He’s hit a bit of a wall and he can’t improve. He’s still two or three weeks away.”

• Fremantle have confirmed defender Michael Johnson will miss a further 4-6 weeks with an ankle injury. Dockers footy manager Chris Bond said, “Michael had surgery on the cartilage in his right ankle and as a result will not be available for the next four to six weeks.”

• Impressive young Bulldogs $184k midfielder Sam Reid is in doubt for his side's clash with Collingwood next weekend. Reid has a sore adductor and hasn't trained since Saturday's win over Hawthorn.

• Sydney veteran forward Barry Hall has retired today, effective immediately. So if you still own $266k Hall, trade him.
  

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888 Australia

Gday folks, just a brief shoutout on this Tuesday morning to the kind people at 888 Australia, which is one of the best places around for online footy betting, poker and games.

Alot of us DT coaches fancy our AFL knowledge and 888 caters for that with their footy betting and there's also alot more fun to be had, so check out their site on http://au.888.com and see what they offer.

There are many hot bonuses and attractive deals on offer. Plus there's also an extensive sport section packed with a lot of fresh sport content maintained weekly, so there's a big cheers to them.

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News From The Reserves

- Starting in the VFL, Sandringham lost to Port Melbourne by 49 points, with St Kilda's Sean Dempster continuing his push for an AFL recall with a super performance.

Others to impress for Sandy were Saints youngsters Alistair Smith and Nick Heyne although they're both unlikely to break into the undefeated AFL side just yet.

Coburg beat the Northern Bullants by 36 points with the Richmond brigade impressive, with Jordan McMahon collecting 34 disposals off half-back, while Graham Polak did well too with 16 touches and 7 marks.

Mark Coughlan got 20 disposals, Alex Rance collected 19 touches, Andrew Raines had 15 while Cleve Hughes booted 2 goals.

For the Bullants, axed Carlton pair Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland were good, with Stevens collecting 23 touches and Scotland 35.

Williamstown beat Werribee by 59 points, with Bulldogs bigman Wayde Skipper the best afield, while Dylan Addison continues to push for an AFL recall with a solid game.

For Werribee, Leigh Adams was good again (25 disposals, 1 goal) and the Kangas must be thinking about a call-up for him, while Levi Greenwood was also impressive collecting 26 touches.

Casey Scorpions thumped Bendigo Bombers by 111 points, with the Melbourne lads doing well. Defender Daniel Bell must be close to an AFL recall with a BOG performance claiming 32 possessions. Lynden Dunn was good with 3 goals, Kyle Cheney was solid with 20 possessions and 6 marks, Matthew Newton kicked 4 goals and Paul Johnson was good too.

For Bendigo, Essendon's Mark McVeigh was a late withdrawal with soreness. Meanwhile, Bachar Houli (26 disposals), Michael Hurley (21) and David Myers (22) all were quite good. David Zaharakis was okay too.

Collingwood inflicted a reality-check on Frankston with a 66 point win. Chris Dawes and Chris Bryan were good for the Pies with 3 goals each, while Danny Stanley was the star although he did get reported. Jaxson Barham was also in the best.

Geelong returned to the winners' list with a 53 point triumph over the Box Hill Hawks. Nathan Djerrkura was fine, Kane Tenace was good with 26 touches and 2 goals, while Taylor Hunt was solid with 30 disposals and a goal.

- In the SANFL, Central beat Norwood by 17 points as dropped Adelaide forward Taylor Walker booted 6 goals for the Redlegs. Walker had the 6 snags before half-time and presses his case for an AFL recall.

Port's Matthew Westhoff was good up forward for Central, while another Power lad Nick Lower was Norwood's best and Crow Will Young wasn't bad either.

Woodville-West Torrens knocked off Port Magpies by 18 points with Adelaide's long-term injury victim Brett Burton excellent on his SANFL return with 18 touches and 4 goals.

Also for the Eagles, Port Power's Nick Salter was good with 3 goals continuing his good form, Jared Petrenko had a good game and young Port Adelaide-listed Matt Broadbent was decent again.

Sturt thumped West Adelaide by 96 points with Adelaide midfielder Brent Reilly returning to form in style with 46 possessions for the Double Blues. Brodie Martin was also good with 17 kicks and 5 handballs.

Glenelg got the cookies over the Panthers with a 26-point-win. For the Panthers, Myke Cook was good again with 13 kicks, 6 handballs and 2 goals.

- In the WAFL, South Fremantle beat Claremont by 78 points with young Eagle Callum Wilson good booting 6 goals for the Bulldogs. Eagles rookie Tom Swift was one of Claremont's better players.

Swan Districts beat East Fremantle by 113 points with West Coast's Ash Hansen kicking 5 goals. Young Eagle Tim Houlihan was East Freo's best despite hamstring tightness towards the end.

Perth stunned West Perth by 6 goals, with another Eagle, ruckman Mark Seaby one of the best for the Falcons with 28 hitouts and 25 disposals.

- In the QAFL, Brissy's reserves were beaten by NT Thunder by 53 points. Lion Bradd Dalziell was the best for the losers with over 30 touches. Aaron Cornelius, James Hawksley and Tom Rockliff (2 goals) were all named in the best, while young ruckman Joel Tippett was good too.

- In the Canberra AFL, Sydney's reserves returned to winning form with a 55 point victory over Ainslie. For the Swans, Jesse White booted 8 goals to press his case for an AFL game with Barry Hall suspended. Tim Schmidt was good in midfield while bigman Mike Pyke was good again.

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Monfries Out For Two

Essendon's cut-price $305k forward Angus Monfries will miss at least two games of footy due to a hamstring strain.

Monfries, owned by over 8,000 DT coaches, underwent MRI scans after tweaking the injury in Friday's loss to Collingwood.

The Bombers are relieved the injury is only minor but his absence is still a blow.

Essendon footy operations manager Paul Hamilton said, “We are disappointed because Gus has been in good form and has been providing a bit of inspiration to his team-mates in terms of workrate.

“He has been fairly durable over his career in regards to injuries but it is only a very minor strain and we will hopefully see him back out there soon.”

In better news for the Bombers, gun $378k midfielder Jobe Watson should pass a fitness test later in the week to be available for the Round 15 game against Sydney after an ankle injury.

Also $318k midfielder Mark McVeigh should return to the line-up after an internal suspension despite missing Bendigo's VFL match on the weekend due to general soreness.

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