Good to go: Caddy to face Hawks after heart scare

Justin Chadwick |

Essendon’s Nate Caddy has been given the green light to play against Hawthorn.
Essendon’s Nate Caddy has been given the green light to play against Hawthorn.

Essendon interim coach Dean Solomon says there’s no risk in Nate Caddy playing against arch-rivals Hawthorn following a quick recovery from a heart scare.

Caddy was taken to hospital during last week’s three-point win over GWS due to an elevated heart rate.

The 21-year-old was released from hospital after being given the all clear and has received the green light from doctors and medical staff to face the Hawks on Saturday at the MCG.

Solomon
Essendon interim coach Dean Solomon received good news from the medical team about Nate Caddy. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

“They said there’s no risk with what happened and he’s fully good to go,” Solomon said.

“I trust our medical staff and Nate’s in a good headspace as well. 

“He spent a lot of time with the docs and medical staff, gone through it all and has a good understanding that there’s no risk at play here.”

Essendon have lost Xavier Duursma (hamstring) for the rest of the season, while Kyle Langford (suspension), Jye Caldwell (rested) and Nick Bryan will miss the Hawks game.

The Bombers named Ben McKay, Will Setterfield, Nik Cox and Lachlan Blakiston as replacements while the Hawks welcome back influential on-baller Will Day, with Will McCabe dropped.

Will Day
Star midfielder Will Day is back for the Hawks for their clash against Essendon. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Melbourne made five changes for their Friday night clash against Geelong at the MCG, with Harrison Petty, Tom McDonald, Lukas Cooke, Paddy Cross and Bailey Laurie returning.

The Dees lost Changkuoth Jiath, Caleb Windsor and Daniel Turner to injury and axed veteran Jake Melksham and Max Heath.

Geelong replaced Max Holmes (ankle) and Ollie Henry (rested) with Tanner Bruhn and Mark Blicavs.

Ladder-leaders Fremantle summoned Shai Bolton, Corey Wagner and Oscar McDonald for their Friday night fixture against West Coast.

Dockers midfielders Hayden Young (illness) and Jaeger O’Meara (ankle) were unavailable and Brennan Cox has been rested.

Young
Fremantle on-baller Hayden Young is out of the derby against West Coast due to illness. (James Worsfold/AAP PHOTOS)

The Eagles’ captain Liam Baker is suspended while Jack Graham (rested) and Jack Hutchinson (hamstring) are also out, with Ryan Maric, Harvey Johnston and Sandy Brock recalled.

Carlton selected ruckman Mark Pittonet and Lewis Young for their Saturday clash against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium, with Harry McKay sidelined by a knee injury and Liam Reidy dropped.

The Suns axed Oscar Adams in favour of fellow backman Charlie Ballard.

GWS replaced injured captain Toby Greene with Harvey Thomas for their Saturday grudge game against Sydney, who called on young pair Billy Cootee and Harry Kyle to replace Harry Cunningam (concussion) and Angus Sheldrick (dropped).

The Western Bulldogs picked Tom Liberatore to replace the axed Lachlan McNeil for their Saturday night game against Richmond.

And St Kilda have named Max King to face North Melbourne on Sunday – it will be his first game since June 2024 with the spearhead finally fit again after knee and soft-tissue injuries.

AAP