Key forward Ash Johnson suffered a bad cork to his upper leg but while he writhed on the ground in pain and was helped from the ground by trainers,he was later able to resume playing. If there is no continued bleeding from the cork,and he recovers well,he is likely to play,the source said.
Collingwood will have high-leaping small forward Jamie Elliott available for the match after he missed the trip to Perth as he managed a shoulder complaint.
Will Hoskin-Elliott.Credit:Getty Images
While he would appear a probable inclusion in the high likelihood De Goey is suspended,the Magpies also have Pat Lipinski - who plays a half forward-midfield role - available.
It would be unusual for Lipinksi - who was injured in the pre-season and has yet to play a senior game this season - to come straight into the team having not played a VFL game,but he is highly rated by the Magpies’ match committee,who are eager to get him back and are open to the idea of bringing him straight into the senior team.
The Magpies also have Dan McStay clear to resume after he had recovered from the finger injury he suffered early in the Gather Round win over St Kilda. Given the form of Johnson and Mason Cox in the ruck and forward Brody Mihocek sitting seventh in the Coleman Medal race with 31 goals there is no obvious vacancy for McStay.
Finn Macrae has also been performing well in the VFL and is close to a senior recall.
Blakey re-signs with Swans for seven years
Peter Ryan
Nick Blakey will be contracted to Sydney until the end of 2031 after signing a seven-year contract extension.
Blakey will turn 31 when the deal reaches its conclusion,with the 23-year-old the only AFL player contracted until the end of 2031.
The running defender has played 89 matches elevating his performance in the past two seasons to become one of the game’s best young players. He has been outstanding in 2023 in a backline depleted by injury to key defenders Dane Rampe,Tom McCartin and Paddy McCartin.
Nick Blakey has signed a seven -year deal with the Swans,Credit:Getty Images
His teammates Isaac Heeney and Callum Mills are on six-year contracts,while Lance Franklin completed a nine-year deal at the end of 2022.
Blakey emerged via the Swans Academy and has followed in the footsteps of his father,John,who played 359 AFL games (135 with Fitzroy and 224 with North Melbourne).
“Our team is all so close. We’re really good mates,and we’re building something special,so hopefully this group sticks together,and we can do some exciting things in the future,” Blakey said.
Knee injury rules out Crows defender for season
Adelaide have been dealt a blow in their quest to make finals with key defender Tom Doedee out for the season after rupturing his ACL against the Gold Coast in Darwin.
Doedee is a free agent at the end of the season,but is yet to sign an extension having chosen to play more games this season before deciding his future.
Tom Doedee,right,tackles Toby Greene in round one.Credit:Getty Images
The respected defender is in the Crows’ leadership group and his intercept marking has been important in Adelaide’s impressive start to the season.
The Crows could look to former Magpie Mark Keane,who they signed in the pre-season supplemental selection period,or Luke Nankervis,who is being trialled in defence.