AFL News: Swans set to swoop on North star, Port captain makes call on playing future, several Cats to miss fight with Dogs

Sydney are cashed up and looking to make a splash with North Melbourne defender Ben McKay on their radar after West Coast’s Tom Barrass opted to remain at the Eagles.

McKay had been tipped to be heading to Essendon and several other clubs have expressed interest in the English-born 25-year-old but the Swans have emerged as the favourites for his signature, according to a report in The Age.

If he does head north, it could help North Melbourne get two picks in the draft due to the band-one compensation rules.

Port Adelaide are also in the hunt for McKay and are also eyeing off Essendon’s Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Cats defender Esava Ratugolea, who would both add plenty of height to their team.

The Swans had a win of a different kind at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night with defender Tom McCartin’s two-game rough conduct ban overturned, with the panel 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.

Ben McKay of the Kangaroos celebrates a goal. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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.”

Port captain to quit, unsure of finals swansong

Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas is quitting with no guarantee his AFL career will end with a finals swansong.

The 32-year-old will retire at season’s end with coach Ken Hinkley holding his selection fate.

“There’s a game late in September that we’ll probably hang around for, so that’s what it looks like for us,” Jonas told reporters on Tuesday.

“Where I sit in the scheme of things, I’m just going to continue to try play the best footy I can play for the group each week.

“What happens with selection is out of my control. But I have got full trust and confidence in Kenny making the right call for the club, as he has done for what 12 years now.

“We have been really transparent the whole way through with the conversations we had. There’s certainly never been anything that’s come out of the blue so we will wait and see where that sits.

“Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t putting my hand up not to play.”

The key defender concedes modern-game speed has overtaken him this season, adding 12 games to his tally of 215. Jonas has spent stints in the state league but was recently recalled to replace full-back Trent McKenzie, who is expected to overcome a knee injury in time for the finals.

“I was never blessed with foot speed so that has always been a little challenge,” the key backman said.

“The game is evolving and our team is evolving – you look at the expectations of high forwards now and that means the equivalent is there for the high backs.

“You look at how tall but also how fast full-forwards are, at 200 centimetres. I probably slowed down a little bit, that’s just the reality of the situation.”

Jonas, skipper since 2019, was lauded for his leadership by coach Hinkley.

“He embodies everything around Port Adelaide – fearless, tough, aggressive, no prisoners,” Hinkley said. “Tom has made absolutely the most with the talent that he was given.

“And he’s achieved ultimately more than anyone else I would have seen in my time in football, with the level of talent, just through desperation and honesty.

“He is the perfect person when it comes to giving your all.”

Jonas was the most prominent of four players to announce their retirements on Tuesday – all either rucks or key position personnel. Swingman Josh Bruce has ended his 163-game career with GWS, St Kilda and finally the Western Bulldogs.

Ruckman Jon Ceglar played 110 games for Hawthorn and Geelong, while journeyman Tom Hickey will reach 150 games in Sydney’s game against Melbourne.

The ruckman will retire at the end of the Swans’ season after previously playing for Gold Coast, St Kilda and West Coast.

Several Geelong stars to miss Dogs clash

Geelong will sit out a bevy of premiership stars, including Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron, for their final-round clash with the Western Bulldogs.

After being eliminated from the finals race with a defeat to St Kilda last Saturday night, the Cats are already eyeing 2024.

Flag-winning forward Hawkins, Cameron and Gary Rohan are dealing with various injuries and won’t be risked during Norm Smith medallist Isaac Smith’s retirement game.

Mark Blicavs and Cam Guthrie are already on the sidelines and will focus on getting themselves ready next year rather than rushing to get back.

Small forward Brad Close (ankle) and defender Esava Ratugolea (hamstring) were already ruled out by coach Chris Scott after pulling up sore against the Saints.

“We’ve needed to be proactive in regard to some of the decisions we’ve needed to make, and Mark Blicavs had surgery on his shoulder (on Monday),” Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said.

“Gary Rohan will have surgery on his ankle on Wednesday, and Jeremy Cameron will have surgery on his troublesome AC joint.

“It’s been incredible he’s (Cameron) been able to keep going and performing at a certain level, and it’s now time to be proactive with that surgery on his AC joint, which will be on Thursday.”

The Bulldogs will be able to bring back star midfielder Tom Liberatore after he missed the shock defeat to West Coast through concussion.

However, three-time All-Australian Jack Macrae will miss his first match in 119 outings after suffering delayed concussion symptoms following the game against the Eagles.

The prolific Macrae has been well down on form and was tactically subbed out in the final term against West Coast.

with AAP