DANGEROUS Western Bulldogs forward Daniel Giansiracusa had an arthroscope on his knee on Monday and will miss the next six weeks of football.
Giansiracusa injured his knee against North Melbourne on Sunday, being helped from the ground 11 minutes into the first quarter, but he was able to return to kick two crucial goals in the final quarter.
But it could open the door for 18-year-old Shaun McKernan to make his debut against Richmond on Saturday night at Gold Coast Stadium.
Moran ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament after landing awkwardly in a contest on Saturday, ruining a promising day that netted him 18 touches and 14 hit-outs.
He kicked three goals in the 16.11 (107) to 13.9 (87) victory, but it was his blistering pace and uncanny defensive qualities that had the football world agog.
The Swan Districts product had just eight disposals, but six were contested and he also made three tackles. West Coast’s All-Australian ruckman Dean Cox has redefined the way big men play after averaging 22 possessions a game in the last two seasons because of his mobility.
Key position players Mitch Brown and Eric Mackenzie and ruckman-forward Nic Naitanui, have all been re-signed by the club. That news follows the recent announcement that emerging midfielder Brad Ebert had also re-committed to the club.
Brown and Mackenzie have each missed just one game this season while Naitanui, the No.2 selection from the 2008 ballot, has played the last two matches and has slotted nicely into senior football, and has extended his contract with the club after less than a season.
Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle) calf
Calf tear will keep the Dockers’ skipper out for 2-3 weeks.
POSSIBLE RETURNS THIS WEEK
Brett Burton (Adelaide) knee
Simon Goodwin (Adelaide) knee
Travis Johnstone (Bris Lions) back
Josh Drummond (Bris Lions) calf
Leon Davis (Collingwood) illness
Mark McVeigh (Essendon) suspension
Michael Johnson (Fremantle) ankle
Stephen Gilham (Hawthorn) illness
Stuart Dew (Hawthorn) thigh
Daniel Wells (North Melbourne) groin
Hamish Hartlett (Pt Adelaide) hamstring
Nathan Brown (Richmond) groin
Andrew Raines (Richmond) knee
Craig Bolton (Sydney) knee
Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney) shoulder
Tom Williams (Western Bulldogs) foot
Dean Cox (West Coast) groin
The mobile big man, a veteran of 179 games, has succumbed to a groin injury and was ruled out this afternoon, leaving teen sensation Nic Naitanui to carry the bulk of the ruck duties in just his second AFL outing.
Andrew Embley and Ben McKinley earned recalls to the West Coast line up after proving their fitness during the week, as did Sam Butler, who has impressed in the WAFL with Perth.
A 5th round pick in the 2009 AFL Rookie Draft, van Berlo has played 28 senior games in two seasons with the Falcons and won the club’s best and fairest award as they marched all the way to the preliminary final last year.
The reserves fixture starts at 11.45am and could feature another Fremantle rookie, athletic forward Casey Sibosado, who plays for Claremont.
PORT Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin has re-signed with the Power for three years, extending his contract out to the end of 2012.
“With him and Carlile both signed up, we’ve got two key defenders to build our backline around long term.
KADE Simpson has experienced more downs than ups over his AFL journey so far, but the wiry midfielder had plenty of reasons to smile this week after signing a contract extension that will keep him at Carlton until the end of 2011.
"It's good now that we're starting to win a few games. It's been a lot more enjoyable than it has been over the last few years."
Midfielder Nathan van Berlo said the returns of Graham Johncock and Richard Douglas from illness would help cover Goodwin’s absence.
Burton, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Collingwood in round 15 last year, has been cleared to make a comeback via the SANFL.
The Cats last week dropped 2007 premiership players Mathew Stokes and David Wojcinski, an act Thompson said should serve as a "subtle" warning to the rest of the team about the importance of remaining in top form.
"They weren't doing a lot wrong. They both played well (in the VFL), and Tommy Lonergan played well too it's a good problem to have."
The rise of Rich has been in stark contrast to the lanky kid who he may oppose at the Gabba on Saturday night when the last-placed Demons come to town.
Melbourne schoolboy Jack Watts, the number one draft pick, has been picked apart by pundits, including former Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews, after two underwhelming efforts for the Demons over the past fortnight.
Both Des Headland and Hayden Ballantyne are available for selection this week after overcoming injury concerns and Brett Peake will be considered after being dropped to the WAFL for disciplinary reasons last week.
Chris Mayne should return to action via league or reserves football in the WAFL after a long injury lay off.
Wrist and back injuries have delayed Ballantyne's introduction to the AFL, but Harvey declared the small forward fully fit ahead of round 13 and said his selection hinged on Wednesday night's closed training session.
With Fremantle facing a six-day turnaround before it tackles Collingwood, Harvey said he would consider players from the WAFL, with Daniel Gilmore at the head of that queue.
Ladson and fellow knee victim Stephen Gilham, who has managed only one game this season, joined the Hawks' solid two-hour workout at Waverley Park yesterday.
The club is adopting a cautious approach to Clinton Young's rehabilitation from a chronic groin ailment. "We'll give him another build-up and see where he's at in two to three weeks," Evans said.
Fevola has kicked 39 goals in his past seven outings against Essendon, with the most recent result coming in round three this year where inaccuracy saw him slot 4.7.
Knights said he would refrain from rushing last year's overall No.5 draft pick Hurley back into the side, with the youngster to play for Bendigo after overcoming a scaphoid injury.
Although North Adelaide lost to Central District, Crows teenagers Tony Armstrong, Phil Davis and Rory Sloane all had their moments. Armstrong was good at half-back, earning 21 possessions and using the ball well, while Davis had 20 possessions across half-back and was composed under pressure.
Sloane’s work inside the packs was again the feature of his game and he had 12 possessions. Nick Gill injured an ankle early in the match and will be out for five to six weeks.
New Roos’ coach Darren Crocker today said only a training disaster would prevent Harvey, 31, from taking his place after two months out with a serious elbow injury.
Wells, hardened onballer Daniel Harris and forward Corey Jones all appeared to fall out-of-favour with Laidley at times but Crocker said all of his troops would be given a fresh start under his reign. "Perhaps what a previous coach may have thought of them, that's not there anymore," he said.
UPDATE 1:22pm: COLLINGWOOD has received better-than-expected news, with Scott Pendlebury potentially missing just one week.
“Pendlebury’s been in this morning. Our docs and physios have checked him over. He’s got a strained medial ligament. In a super-positive situation he could miss one week, but we think it’s more likely to be in the realms of 2-3 games,” football manager Geoff Walsh said.
Sydney's longest serving player, Michael O'Loughlin will announce his future footballing plans this afternoon, with the expectation he will retire at the end of the season.
BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss remains hopeful of regaining ruckman Matthew Leuenberger later this year after Jamie Charman was ruled out for the season.
Charman was due to undergo an ankle reconstruction on Monday after battling to overcome the injury he sustained against Collingwood in round four.
“(I’m) ahead of schedule … I don’t think he thought I’d play again this year, initially, but I think he’s very confident now.
“I should play a couple of games at the end of the year, definitely.”
Jamie Charman D Played unfit at the start of the year and then got injured. His return in the coming weeks will be a major boost.
Bradd Dalziell C Is an elite runner who has started to make his possessions more meaningful. Was missed during his injury layoff. If he can win more footy he will be a very good player.
Bolton wrenched a knee late in the round 11 loss to Hawthorn, but despite having last weekend off, could not overcome the problem and was ruled out of the game, which the Swans must win if they are to move back into eight.
Sydney is hopeful he will return to play Adelaide in round 13.
The indigenous forward from Yuendumu in Central Australia has booted 11 goals in the past three matches for the Scorpions to be right in the mix for Melbourne's first match in the second half of the season.
On the injury front, Bailey doesn't expect livewire forward Austin Wonaeamirri to play for at least another month and he would be surprised if defender Colin Garland, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since round two, reappeared in 2009.
The pair, who missed the Dockers’ last match against Port Adelaide, ran and kicked with freedom at training in positive signs that they are ready to return.
McPharlin hurt a hip while Grover suffered a calf muscle injury in the round-10 defeat to Richmond.
“They are all very key players for us, but it does provide a good opportunity for some young players to come in. I think (first-year player) Matthew Broadbent has been talked about for a fair while and he’s playing some good footy.
“Hopefully, Nathan Krakouer will get a recall too, so we’ve got plenty of players to call upon.”
Asked this morning if he had offered to step aside, Laidley told Herald Sun online: "What you're saying is correct. We've come to an agreement."
The Lions will welcome back Daniel Merrett (ankle), Joel Patfull (jaw) and Josh Drummond for the round 13 clash with bottom side Melbourne at the Gabba on June 27.
However, Troy Selwood faces about six weeks on the sidelines and possibly more if the results of scans this morning show he requires a shoulder reconstruction.
NORTH MELBOURNE is yet to confirm whether young gun Jack Ziebell has in fact broken the leg he injured during his side’s 44-point loss to Adelaide on Sunday.
Up to five players will be available to come back into the senior line-up. Bradd Dalziell played his first match in almost two months at the weekend, while defenders Josh Drummond (calf), Daniel Merrett (ankle) and Joel Patfull (jaw) should all be fit to tackle the Demons.
Sewell, who has established himself amongst the elite midfielders of the AFL, has committed himself for a further three years to the Club. Whilst Tasmanian-born Birchall, one of the best emerging running-half backs in the league, has also signed for a further three years.
Whitecross, who has played 10 games for the Hawks since debuting in Round 1, 2009, has committed himself for a further two years, which will see the former Zillmere player (QLD) continue his development with the Hawks which has seen him play an important defensive role for Alastair Clarkson’s side this season.
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