Melbourne and Richmond will square off at the MCG on Wednesday night for a significant Anzac Day Eve clash, with both teams having much on the line. The Demons (4-2, 118.5%) aim to bounce back after a home defeat to Brisbane before their bye, keen to stay within striking distance of the top four. Despite recently undergoing finger surgery, Clayton Oliver is set to play, while Kysaiah Pickett returns from suspension.
Meanwhile, the Tigers (1-5, 79.5%) have made significant changes following their loss to West Coast before their bye. Tyler Sonsie, Kane McAuliffe, and Jacob Koschitzke have all been dropped, alongside Jayden Short’s absence due to a calf injury. However, experienced players Dylan Grimes and Jacob Hopper make their return.”
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Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has acknowledged that the chances of spearhead Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returning to AFL action this week are slim.
Ugle-Hagan sat out his team’s round six triumph over St Kilda due to personal reasons, returning to his hometown in south-west Victoria to attend to a private family matter.
“We’ll ensure he’s doing alright; we’re handling a few things concerning him on a personal level and providing support,” Beveridge informed reporters on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old resumed training with the club yesterday, and Beveridge emphasized that the Bulldogs would continue to stand by him.
“When any player takes time away from the game, it’s hard to determine (if they’re okay)… I can’t give you a precise assessment of his condition.
“In the game and its pressures, every player at every club is constantly dealing with something, whether it’s external scrutiny or internal expectations, and ‘Marra is no exception.
“He’s experienced recent personal losses, so he’s coping with grief and mourning, which has added to his challenges.
“We’ll look out for him, and hopefully, he’ll return to playing footy soon, but that’s not the priority right now.”
Meanwhile, GWS will introduce AFL debutant Darcy Jones, a small forward, in their Anzac Day clash against Brisbane, replacing the suspended Toby Greene.
At Sydney, there’s uncertainty regarding the return of Luke Parker as he works on regaining fitness following a fractured arm.
“We haven’t decided if he’ll play this week or not,” coach John Longmire remarked.
“He needs to get through training and engage in some contested work. He did some last week, and he needs to step it up this week. If he gets clearance, the decision will be whether he plays in the VFL or AFL, considering he’s missed a significant amount of footy.”
In the Melbourne vs. Richmond blockbuster on Anzac Day Eve, superstar Clayton Oliver has been named to play despite undergoing finger surgery during the bye week. Richmond has made several changes in response to their loss to West Coast before their bye.
Tyler Sonsie, Kane McAuliffe, and Jacob Koschitzke have been dropped, while Jayden Short is sidelined with a calf injury.
However, Richmond welcomes back Dylan Grimes and Jacob Hopper, with Sam Naismith and Sam Banks also returning.”
