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Nick Daicos is off crutches and Collingwood say the young superstar’s recovery from a knee injury is ahead of schedule.
Brownlow Medal favourite until being injured, Daicos has missed the Magpies’ past two games and initially expected him to be sidelined until preliminary final weekend.
But Collingwood are optimistic the 20-year-old can play a role in their tilt at the premiership and will give an updated timeline on his return in “coming weeks”.
“Nick Daicos is off crutches ahead of schedule in his knee injury rehab,” Magpies high performance boss Jarrod Wade said. “The young midfielder has started bike, gym, and pool-based exercises and is expected to start running in the next fortnight.”
Nick Daicos. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
In further good news for the Pies, they are set to regain star midfielder Jordan De Goey (glute) and small forward Bobby Hill (hamstring) for Friday night’s clash with Essendon.
The pair, along with captain Darcy Moore and Daicos, sat out the 24-point defeat to the Brisbane Lions last Friday. Moore is making “strong progress” after hurting his hamstring in the round-22 win over Geelong.
“(Moore) is back to around 80-85 per cent running speed and could participate in match simulation in the bye week before finals,” Wade said. “Moore is on track to be available for selection for the first week of finals.”
Sydney have had defender Tom McCartin’s two-game rough conduct ban overturned, with the AFL tribunal ruling the collision that floored Shane McAdam was not a bump.
The Adelaide forward will need surgery after he suffered a depressed cheekbone fracture in the incident, which happened during the frenetic last quarter of Sydney’s controversial one-point win.
The Swans successfully argued the collision was an accident, caused by McCartin having to change direction as he was chasing the ball.
McCartin was facing suspension for Sydney’s home game on Sunday against Melbourne and then their elimination final, meaning the ban could have ended his season.
“Although when viewed from certain angles this action looks like a bump, we heard McCartin’s explanation and looked at the footage and the stills showing all angles, we are not satisfied it was a bump,” the tribunal said in its ruling.
“We find … that the way in which McCartin responded to a late and sharp change in direction of the ball was not unreasonable.
“There was little else he could reasonably do than himself change direction, decelerate and ride the inevitable impact, which he did.”
Also on Tuesday night, the Western Bulldogs unsuccessfully challenged defender Taylor Duryea’s one-game rough conduct ban for his bump on West Coast forward Jamie Cripps.
It means Duryea will miss the Bulldogs’ must-win game against Geelong on Saturday night at GMHBA Stadium.
They must also rely on Carlton beating GWS to make the finals.
The tribunal found Duryea bumped Cripps so he could gain possession and that the contact was forceful.
“Although Cripps was not injured, he suffered a forceful high blow and was knocked off his feet. The potential for a concussion or facial injury was not insignificant given that he was exposed and Duryea was coming at speed,” it added.
AFL legend Nathan Buckley is bemused Adelaide haven’t kicked up more of a stink over the Ben Keays goalpost fiasco which has cost them any chance of making the finals.
The Crows were denied a go-ahead goal against Sydney with 70 seconds remaining in their one-point loss which tipped them from the finals race on Saturday night.
A Ben Keays kick was ruled a behind when the goal umpire incorrectly deemed the ball had brushed the post, and the AFL has apologised to Adelaide for the error.
“Investigate it (legal action). Hold the AFL to account. That’s four points they’ve been robbed of,,” Buckley said Fox Footy. “Have they exhausted all options?
“I can’t believe Adelaide haven’t taken this further. They would be sitting in ninth, 44 points with a higher percentage than teams below them on the same points and they could leapfrog GWS or Sydney above them playing West Coast in the last round. I think their best footy can contend in finals.”
Adelaide were dudded at the end of a match again earlier in the season when skipper Jordan Dawson wasn’t awarded a free kick after the siren against Collingwood which the AFL also admitted was a wrong decision after the fact.
Dawson is appealing for Adelaide’s angry fans to forgive a goal umpire for this latest season-defining mistake.
“It’s a very crucial time of the year, and a game and a moment, for us,” Dawson said. “We want to show our disappointment.
“But we also don’t want that umpire to feel like he has cost us the year. Because we know there have been plenty of games where we probably should have won and have been in these positions that we have lost and cost ourselves through our own error.
“There’s nothing that can be done. I watched it a couple of times but there’s no point continually watching it and getting frustrated by it.”
The defeat ruined any chance of the Crows breaking a finals drought stretching back to 2018.
Former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell won’t be part of this year’s class of retirees, after agreeing to a one-year extension with the Bombers.
Having stood down as skipper ahead of this season following six years in charge, Heppell has missed just one match during the 2023 campaign.
The 31-year-old has played 233 games for Essendon since his debut in 2011.
“We’ve got an exciting crop of players coming through the club who have been fantastic this year,” Heppell said.
“Rolling into the club every day alongside them, all with the drive to develop and get better, is such a motivating factor in me going around again.
“I’ve loved my footy this year but especially enjoyed seeing my teammates grow and improve.
“I can’t wait to see the development continue throughout the group in 2024.”
Heppell will be determined to help the Bombers finish inside the top-eight again next year as Essendon attempt to break a finals win drought dating back to 2004.
The Bombers’ September aspirations ended in embarrassing fashion last Saturday, when they suffered a 126-point smashing at the hands of Greater Western Sydney.
Long-time Essendon list and recruiting boss Adrian Dodoro said Heppell’s leadership would be crucial to the club’s development.
“Although Dyson no longer holds an official leadership position within the team, the guidance and support he provides to his fellow teammates is extremely valuable to our young side,” Dodoro said.
“His passion and love for the Essendon football club is immense, and he has been an instrumental figure around the club for many years.
“We are thrilled to have Dyson remain at the club, not only for his contribution on the field but for his impact on the wider club.”
Carlton’s dream end to the AFL season keeps getting better, with key defender Mitch McGovern the latest to pledge his future to the club, re-signing for another two years.
Locked in to play finals for the first time in 10 years, the Blues have secured another important signature as they build towards trying to break their 28-year premiership drought.
As was the case with recently re-signed Carlton tall Tom De Koning, McGovern’s future at Ikon Park has been clouded for much of the year as rival clubs came calling.
But the 28-year-old will remain at Carlton until at least the end of 2025.
“He’s had a really solid year as part of our defence, his most consistent with the club so far,” Carlton’s head of list management Nick Austin said.
“Mitch has slotted seamlessly into the backline since making the move, his intercept marking and ball use have been terrific assets to the way we want to play.
“We can’t wait to see what the next two years hold for Mitch at the Blues as he continues to hone his defensive craft and take his game to another level.”
McGovern has played 58 games for Carlton, including 18 this season, after switching to the club from Adelaide at the end of 2018 on a bumper five-year contract.
Carlton, who are on a nine-game winning streak, can lock in a home elimination final by defeating Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has claimed Adam Simpson is about to be shown the door by West Coast, as early as this week.
Speaking on Nine’s Eddie and Jimmy podcast with Jimmy Bartel, he said the Eagles’ board meeting in Melbourne was to sort out the terms of Simpson’s severance deal.
Adam Simpson. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“My understanding of it was to just completely nut out the separation and the payments and everything. The club is very adamant that he does go unless there is a last-minute switch,” he said.
“Unless there is a last-minute change, everything is in order for it to be announced this week. He can finish with his three premiership players and do hopefully a lap, and do it the right way and let him go out in style.
“But my understanding is that they’ve worked out what their severance scenario will be.”
The Eagles released a statement to address the speculation but did not state the Simpson would remain as coach.
“The West Coast Eagles board met this morning for an informal discussion at the home of chairman Paul Fitzpatrick. The club remains firm on its position that no decisions have been made around the future of any staff members and that none of those key decisions will be made until after the season.
“Our club is focused on celebrating the careers of three champions – Shannon Hurn, Luke Shuey and Nic Naitanui – at our final match of the season against Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.”
with AAP
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