Fraser Out For 2-3

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has confirmed $341k ruckman Josh Fraser needs knee surgery and will miss at least a fortnight of AFL footy.

Fraser, who is owned by almost 30,000 DT coaches, is the latest ruckman to go down causing DTers plenty of trouble.

It's also a problem for the Magpies who face fellow top 8 teams Carlton, Brisbane and Adelaide in the next 3 weeks.

Malthouse said on Thursday, “Josh will go in and have a little op, probably today.

“It will probably see him miss two or three weeks, hopefully only two.

“We don’t expect it to be major. It’s the remnants, if you like, of an injury that took place two years ago.”

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Ablett In Doubt For Hawks Game

Jay Clark from the Herald Sun reports today Geelong's gun $478k midfielder Gary Ablett could miss this weekend's clash with Hawthorn due to a calf problem.

Ablett, who is owned by almost 129,000 DT coaches, went down injured at Cats' training on Wednesday.

It was reported the DT star sought medical attention and missed some of the session before returning although he did seem hampered and actually had a long discussion with club officials after training.

Ablett did miss Geelong's Round 15 clash with Brisbane with a calf concern.

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Cox Still 'A Couple Of Weeks' Away

West Coast coach John Worsfold has hinted popular $418k DT ruckman Dean Cox is still at least 'a couple of weeks' away from pushing for a return to AFL footy.

Cox, who is owned by over 81,000 DT coaches, has been struggling with a groin problem recently and looks likely to be out for sometime still, leaving DTers with a dilemma.

Speaking about Cox and injured midfielder Daniel Kerr's recovery program, Worsfold dropped a big hint the ruckman will be missing for sometime yet.

"It's all going to depend on how they respond to the program they're now starting. The idea is that they get a couple of weeks of work with this program and then we start to build up their running and see how they adapt to that.

"If they get through we'll keep building them up and getting them ready to play.

"If they get sore we’ll back them off and give them extra time. That's the process."

With DT finals just 2 weeks away, it could be time for DT coaches who still own Cox to trade him in.

In other news from West Coast, $231k midfielder Tyson Stenglein is available for selection this week having been a late withdrawal against Port Adelaide, while $190k defender Brett Jones misses again after sustaining a quad injury at training on Tuesday.

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Hasleby & Tarrant Struggling

Fremantle's $356k midfielder Paul Hasleby and $199k forward Chris Tarrant are both in doubt for the weekend's Western derby.

Hasleby has been struggling since the weekend's loss to Brisbane whilst Tarrant sustained a knee injury during that match.

The pair are expected to face fitness tests later in the week.

Coach Mark Harvey said, "We'd like to think [Tarrant] would get up, but it's an interesting injury – I haven't come across it too many times before – so we'll test him on Friday.

"He's 60-40. But that's there to be shot down because you don't really know until the next 48 hours.

"There's nothing structurally too much wrong, but sometimes it can just drag on."

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Grimes In Doubt

Melbourne's popular $347 defender Jack Grimes is rated a 50/50 chance to play this weekend due to a back injury which has been troubling him.

Grimes, owned by almost 60,000 DT coaches, has been in scintillating form recently.

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said on Wednesday, "He's had back issues earlier in the year and on the weekend he got a couple of knocks on the back and he's certainly pulled up pretty stiff.

“We'll see how he trains in our main session, but I'd say he'd probably be 50/50."

Many DT coaches also might be hoping young $75k ruckman Jake Spencer would get a run with regular bigman Mark Jamar out with a quad injury.

But Bailey poured cold water on the idea, saying, "Young [Jake] Spencer hasn't really played enough games for Casey."

Bailey also revealed $407k defender Paul Wheatley would miss another two weeks with a quad injury.

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Tribunal Update: Dawson Cops 2

St Kilda have paid for the price for challenging the Zac Dawson's rough conduct charge with the $220k defender suspended for two weeks at the tribunal tonight.

The Saints defender, who is owned by almost 35,000 DT coaches, would have missed just the one match with an early plea but instead will now miss the upcoming games against the Western Bulldogs and Sydney.

The other charge this week was for another Sainter, $271k forward/ruck Justin Koschitzke but he accepted a one-week ban for striking Adelaide's Richie Douglas.

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Johnson Doubtful Again, Bartel Back

Geelong coach Mark Thompson has admitted popular $405k forward Stevie Johnson could miss another match whilst acknowledging Jimmy Bartel should return this week.

Johnson has missed the last couple of weeks with a hip complaint and could be unavailable again for the Grand Final re-match with Hawthorn this weekend.

The Geelong coach also elaborated on injuries to $198k defender Tom Harley and $364k midfielder James Kelly along with Bartel.

Thompson said, “(Jimmy) Bartel is a good chance to come back, (James) Kelly is a really good chance to come back and Stevie Johnson’s got to tick a few boxes and Tom Harley the same.

“Johnson’s about 70-30, maybe 80-20. Harley’s a touch behind Steve but I think he’s pretty keen to play.

“The two most likely are Bartel and Kelly.”

$217k def David Johnson has also been listed as facing a test after a calf injury, while $109k midfielder Nathan Djerrkura will definitely miss another week with a corked thigh.

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Around The Grounds

• Essendon's $305k forward Angus Monfries is in line for a return from injury this weekend. Bombers coach Matty Knights said, "Angus at this stage would seem right to go. All the medical information coming through is that he'll be fine. I think our medical staff are very diligent, so if they're saying to me pretty early in the week they consider him a very strong chance I would have thought he's nearly over the line.

• A worry for almost 60,000 DT coaches who own Melbourne's $347k defender Jack Grimes after the young back was listed as facing a test this week by the Dees. Grimes has a back complaint and may not be fit to face Sydney this weekend.

• Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade acknowledged today that popular $377k forward Daniel Giansiracusa is on track to return to AFL footy in Round 21. Giansiracusa is currently out with cartilage damage in his knee.
  

• Adelaide's $202k midfielder Patrick Dangerfield has declared himself a certain starter for this weekend's Showdown with Port Adelaide. Dangerfield was concussed against St Kilda on Sunday but has recovered well.
  

• Amidst all the ruck carnage at the moment, some good news for DT coaches is popular Melbourne $75k ruck Jake Spencer is officially off the club's injury list and available for selection.

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