A week of speculation about a shock AFL preliminary final recall for Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley has come to nothing.
He is nowhere on their team sheet as the Dockers made two changes for Friday night’s home clash with two-time defending premiers Hawthorn.
Crowley’s backdated 12-month suspension after he tested positive to methadone ended on Thursday, meaning inevitable talk that Fremantle might rush him back.
Coach Ross Lyon did not shut the door on the idea during the week.
But the Dockers recalled Jon Griffin and Mitch Taberner for Zac Clarke and Clancee Pearce, with Crowley not named among the three emergencies.
Crowley will not make an AFL comeback this season, with the Dockers surely not taking a risk on him if they make the grand final.
Veteran defender Luke McPharlin also remains out of the team as he recovers from a calf muscle injury.
McPharlin was among the large group of Dockers players rested for round 23 and then he suffered the injury ahead of the qualifying-final win over Sydney.
Clarke and Pearce were named emergencies alongside Alex Silvagni, who has served a four-game striking suspension.
Hawthorn are unchanged for the first time this season.
Will Langford, dropped for their qualifying-final loss to West Coast, Jonathon Ceglar and Angus Litherland are their emergencies.
Ceglar, a ruckman, flew to Perth a day early with five other teammates.
He has not played senior football since round 19.
If the Hawks win through to their fourth-straight grand final, one selection issue will be if forward Jack Gunston can recover in time from the ankle injury he suffered late in the qualifying final.
Brownlow Medallist Matt Priddis and fellow onballer Chris Masten are massive inclusions for West Coast ahead of Saturday’s home preliminary final against North Melbourne.
Priddis was a late withdrawal from the qualifying win against Hawthorn with a quad injury and Masten hurt his hamstring in round 23.
Scott Selwood and Patrick McGinnity will make way for the pair.
The Kangaroos made one change, recalling Robbie Tarrant for Luke McDonald.
Tarrant was a late withdrawal for last weekend’s semi-final win over Sydney with groin tightness and McDonald took his spot.
Coach Brad Scott said on Wednesday that Tarrant would undergo a fitness test before Saturday’s match.
North again decided against taking a big risk by naming Daniel Wells, who has not played at senior level since he was injured in round two.
DJW
Guest
Johnson in doubt
johno
Guest
Saving Crowley for West Coast obviously .....
Si Chewy
Guest
hahaha thats so true and Lyon baited them all week. I loved the hype around it
Don Freo
Guest
It was considered in the west in the same way recalling Colin Sylvia back from the mines was. Even when it became clear it was never on, it remains the them of an article. More and more proof that easterners have no idea who Freo's players are.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Crowley was never going to play. Desperation is a stinky cologne. Ross is too smart to go splashing that on.
Edgar Slosh
Roar Guru
Said it a week ago. All that oxygen for nothing. Although Rossy might pull a swifty, cop a fine and have Crowley line up late.