Around The Grounds

• Gun St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt has been cleared to play this weekend after scans revealed no damage to his knee. The scan revealed mild jarring of the knee which is likely to be fine for the Saints clash with Melbourne on Sunday.

• Essendon pair Patty Ryder (knee) and Matty Lloyd (heel) are both a chance to play this weekend against the Hawks, but they're facing a race against time. Bombers coach Matty Knights said, "Both are progressing well but on Thursday and Friday they're going to have to push and put the foot to the floor with their intensity on the training track."

• Brisbane key forward Daniel Bradshaw will miss the DT GF after straining a quad muscle. Lions teammate Luke Power said, "He's pulled up a bit tight and sore and we just needed to give him a week off and get him cherry ripe for next week." Also Daniel Merrett will miss this week with a hamstring.

• Adelaide defender Nathan Bock will miss this weekend's match with his nagging heel problem. Crows assistant coach Ben Hart said, "Nathan did a little bit of training this morning, but there’s still a bit of soreness hanging around. His heel is not good enough to train tomorrow, so we’ll give him probably until Monday and re-assess then."

Read more »

Buddy Doubt After MRP Verdict

Superstar and popular DT forward Lance Franklin could miss Round 22 after being handed a one-week suspension by the match review panel.

Franklin was charged with engaging in rough conduct after a hit on Richmond's Ben Cousins and the Hawk can accept a one-match ban.

It'll be a huge blow for plenty of DreamTeam coaches heading into the Grand Final, with forwards options depleted after injuries to Steve Johnson, Paul Chapman, Mitch Brown and maybe even Nick Riewoldt.

The Hawks look likely to challenge the decision leaving the door open for a late reprieve.

Also, Hawthorn have updated the status of Jaryd Roughead on their injury list to TBC, suggesting he could be a chance to play in this weekend's do-or-die match with the Bombers.

Read more »

Riewoldt To Miss DT GF?

St Kilda's gun forward Nick Riewoldt could be unavailable for the DreamTeam Grand Final due to a knee problem.

Riewoldt, a hugely popular DT player, had scans on his knee on Monday after hurting it in Sunday's loss to St Kilda.

The Saints star said, "It's pulled up a little sore this morning, so at this stage of the year they wanted to be really diligent.

"My knee feels really good and I obviously don't know the result of the scan yet, but I'd be very, very surprised if it was anything at all. I'm walking fine, so I just wanted to put that [speculation about my knee] to bed."

Read more »

Around The Grounds

• Adelaide pair Nathan Bock (heel) and Brett Burton (corked glute) could return for the Crows this week and, of course, the DT Grand Final. Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia said today, "It’d be great to have 'Bocky' and 'Bird' [Burton] back, if not this week, for the first final." Rob Shirley though, has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

• Essendon livewire forward Alwyn Davey will miss the DT GF with a shoulder injury. Essendon footy manager Paul Hamilton said, "The results confirmed that Alwyn has a grade three injury to his shoulder which is fairly severe." The injury is a 2-4 week injury.

• Sydney forward Jarred Moore will also be unavailable for the DT GF after puncturing a lung and breaking 2 ribs. Fellow Swan Ryan O'Keefe said, "It’s a bit unlucky for Jarred. He would have loved to play in the game on Saturday night."

Read more »

Hayes Ready To Return

Popular Saints DT midfielder Lenny Hayes is likely to return just in time for the fantasy Grand Final.

Hayes missed the weekend's loss to North Melbourne as a late withdrawal.

The Saints midfielder said, "I’ll be right next weekend. I had a little bit of illness later in the week so I was probably a little bit touch and go up until the start of the game."

Luke Ball also might be a chance of a recall after good VFL form.

Hayes added, "He showed some good form for Sandy so I would like to see him back in the team but that’s not my decision. We’ll wait and see what happens at selection."

Read more »

DT Round 21 Injury & Suspension News

Fremantle v Essendon: Bomber Sam Lonergan was a late withdrawal. Jarrod Atkinson injured his calf in Q4, while Alwyn Davey looked to have sustained a nasty shoulder injury late on too.

Collingwood v Sydney: It seems like Jarred Moore badly hurt his ribs in Q2.

St Kilda v North Melbourne: Saints midfielder Lenny Hayes is the worry as he was a late change.

Richmond v Hawthorn: no changes but Tigers defender Will Thursfield seemed to dislocate his shoulder early on. Ben Cousins got cleaned up late and missed Q4, while Chris Newman's knee restricted his output.

Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide: Port's Robbie Gray was a late withdrawal. Cheynee Stiller got knocked out and was gone, while Daniel Merrett limped around for awhile with an ankle complaint.

Adelaide v West Coast: Crows onballer Rob Shirley did his hammy in Q3 and finished up for the game.

Carlton v Melbourne: Carlton's Dennis Armfield (ankle) was a late change. Ricky Petterd was mothballed early with a groin complaint. Also Carlton's Richard Hadley suffered an arm injury and was taken to hospital. Reportedly x-rays have confirmed it is a broken ulna which will require immobilisation suggesting his season is year.

Western Bulldogs v Geelong: Worryingly for DT coaches Paul Chapman missed pretty much half the game with hamstring tightness and it's not clear if he'll play in Round 22.

Read more »

Chapman Will Play Next Week: Thompson

Geelong coach Mark Thompson is optimistic gun forward Paul Chapman will get over an injury scare from Friday's loss to the Bulldogs and play in Round 22.

Chapman is a popular DT player who many coaches own and his availability for Round 22, Grand Final week in the world of DreamTeam, is crucial.

Thompson said, “I think Paul Chapman will play next week and I think James Kelly will play next week and Brad Ottens will play in the VFL tomorrow night and hopefully he has a great game and gets through and we put him in the team."

The Geelong boss also spoke about another popular Cats forward, "Then Steve Johnson plays and we are up and about."

Read more »

Adcock Back For Round 22?

DreamTeam coaches who hung onto Brisbane's Jed Adcock might be in for some luck with the defender a chance to play in Round 22.

Adcock will play in the AFLQ this weekend after suffering a seemingly season-ending knee injury six weeks ago. And if Adcock gets through that match, Brisbane may give him a run in Round 22.

Lions coach Michael Voss said, "We toyed with playing him back in seniors but we think realistically to give him the best chance to come back is probably better through reserves.

"You should see Jed. He's going to rip a few people's heads off at the moment."

Read more »