Jack Riewoldt to miss again

JACK Riewoldt has failed to get his sought-after “tickoff” from an eye specialist and will miss Sunday’s huge MCG clash with Hawthorn.

And the Western Bulldogs left out skipper Bob Murphy with the team listing “travelling emergency” as the reason.

The Bulldogs last night confirmed the veteran would travel to Brisbane as firstnamed emergency.

Tigers forward Riewoldt, 28, was sidelined for last week’s win over Gold Coast after a knock to his eye at training that caused a cut to his cornea and forced surgery.

But despite coach Damien Hardwick’s hopes early yesterday that the forward would be back to take on the Hawks, Riewoldt has been advised to rest for another week. Key midfielder Dion Prestia is in the Tigers’ 25-man squad for the game having missed last week due to a leg issue, as is Jack Graham who could be in line for his Richmond debut having “really excited” Hardwick.

Collingwood last night named its first unchanged team for the year for tomorrow night’s meeting with North Melbourne, while the Kangaroos have given a reprieve to ruck Todd Goldstein who returns after two weeks in the VFL. Essendon will rest James Kelly and Andrew McGrath against Carlton tomorrow.

GWS welcomes back ruck Shane Mumford and veteran forward Steve Johnson for tomorrow’s Canberra clash with Melbourne.