The AFL has approved Carlton’s contentious decision to not test defender Jacob Weitering for concussion after a knock in the final quarter of the Blues’ semi final win over Melbourne.
Weitering appeared dazed after being caught by a stray elbow at the MCG, but the Blues have insisted contact was made to the star backman’s throat and not his head, thus ruling out the risk of concussion.
Weitering was able to play on and began the last minute transition that end with Blake Acres’ winning goal, but the lack of time off the ground quickly sparked debate, with former great Jordan Lewis saying he was ‘clearly shaky and wobbly’ and should have been removed from the field.
“I don’t accept that the doctors couldn’t get out there or they didn’t see it or whatever happened. He was clearly groggy,” Lewis said on Fox Footy after the Blues’ thrilling two-point win.
In a statement released to Channel 7, the AFL announced it has accepted the Blues’ version of events, and will not be penalising the club.
“The AFL is comfortable that, in circumstances where Weitering relevantly suffered an impact to his throat and neck, he was properly assessed and managed,” the statement reads.
Captain Patrick Cripps was also contentiously not tested for concussion after copping a high bump from Demon Kysaiah Pickett in the second quarter, for which the goalsneak received a one-match suspension.
The Blues should welcome back forward duo Harry McKay and Jack Martin for their preliminary final clash with Brisbane, while veteran Sam Docherty is expected to play despite dislocating his shoulder on Friday night.
Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos is a confirmed win for the Magpies’ preliminary final clash with GWS.
Daicos was one of the Brownlow Medal favourites until his chances took a hit with a fractured knee sustained in the Pies’ Round 21 loss to Hawthorn.
Having missed six weeks of action, the young gun will be back in the frame to take on the Giants, with club head of high perfomance Jarrod Wade confirming the good news on Sunday.
“Nick Daicos has been working away in rehab for the last five or six weeks and was able to complete some of the match simulation last Friday night,” Wade said to media.
“He got about 25 minutes done of full match simulation, so that’s contact, that’s everything and he wasn’t restricted all in that.
“He’ll complete a full session of training this week.
“We’re not expecting any hiccups with Nick and he’s been responding to each session better every time we’ve given him more load.”
Daicos has averaged 31.25 disposals and kicked 18 goals in a remarkable second season at the highest level, with his one poor performance a five-touch effort under a heavy tag from Hawk Finn Maginness in which his knee injury forced him to sit out the entire final quarter.
Nick Daicos. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The Pies are also confident midfielder Taylor Adams will be fit to play in the grand final should they qualify, having sustained a minor hamstring injury at training.
“Obviously these hamstrings get graded one, two and three and it’s even somewhere less than a one,” Wade said of Adams’ injury.
“He’s got some soreness over the weekend but that’s all settled and he’s actually been able to start running this week, which is really quickly post injury, which is a really good sign.”
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