Lions ‘heartbeat’ back as Giants sweat on skipper
Shayne Hope and Joanna Guelas |
Brisbane Lions defender Brandon Starcevich returns after three months battling concussion issues, while GWS will give sore skipper Toby Greene every chance to prove his fitness for their AFL semi-final rematch.
Starcevich has been sidelined since round one, but will give the reigning premiers their pulse back in Saturday’s clash at the Gabba.
“It’s great to see him back around the boys and on the field – he’s definitely a heartbeat of the club,” Lions teammate Levi Ashcroft said of Starcevich.
“He brings a lot of physicality, a lot of team-first stuff we always talk about.
“Such a selfless footballer, great leader so it would definitely lift us if he’s to play.
“His body looks great, been doing so much behind the scenes with his cardio to get himself feeling right.”
Starcevich could line up on Giants captain Greene, who is nursing a corked left hip/glute after copping a knee from Port Adelaide’s Aliir Aliir last week.
The star forward tried to play on through obvious discomfort, but was ultimately substituted out.
The Giants will wait until game day to make a call on Greene, who is no stranger to playing through soreness.
“We’ll give him every chance, but he didn’t get through training, so we’ll just have to see how that goes,” GWS coach Adam Kingsley said on Thursday.
“I’ll speak to the physios and we’ll just see how close he actually is to coming up. He’s still got 48 hours.
“It’s just a knock. It was a good knee to his buttocks. It’s a deep cork. It’s just hindering his ability to run and move.”
The Giants will at least welcome back Finn Callaghan from a shoulder injury in a much-needed boost for their midfield group.
Starcevich’s return comes with West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern and Essendon’s Nik Cox both set to meet the AFL’s concussion panel in coming days as they seek clarity on their playing futures.
The Bombers will unveil mid-season draftees Archie May and Lachie Blakiston in their clash with Geelong at the MCG on Saturday.
The pair of talls will take Essendon’s list of debutants to 10 this year – their most in a single season since club legend Simon Madden was among 11 first-timers in 1974.
Sam Durham is out suspended for the Bombers, while Geelong welcome back Bailey Smith from one week on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
North Melbourne have recalled Kallan Dawson in place of Charlie Comben (shoulder) for their ‘home’ game at Optus Stadium on Saturday against Fremantle, who named an unchanged line-up.
Star midfielder Jason Horne-Francis is in Port Adelaide’s extended squad for their clash with Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, while Jeremy Finlayson has been dropped.
Jack Viney is back in the Demons’ squad after five weeks out because of concussion.
Mid-season draftee Tom McCarthy will debut for West Coast in their home game against Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
AAP
