Kangas welcome midfield muscle
Key trio on comeback trail
NORTH Melbourne is hopeful Ben Cunnington and Jared Polec will be available to give its midfield a boost for its clash with Hawthorn on Saturday.
And star veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein is on track to return for the AAMI Community Series clash after sitting out of the scratch match loss to St Kilda on Thursday.
Cunnington, pictured, will be assessed for any lingering concussion symptoms at training this week after copping a knock to the head in an intraclub match on February 12.
He was one of the first players to serve a compulsory 12day break, which expired last week, as part of the AFL’s bolstered concussion protocols.
The Roos are keen to unleash their star hard ball winner after an injury-ravaged 2020, but only if he is passed fit to play against the Hawks at Arden St.
Cunnington, 29, is considered one of the best clearance winners in the competition after an outstanding 2019 season, but the former Geelong Falcon managed only three games amid a debilitating back problem last year.
Polec, 28, is on the comeback from a hamstring problem and is keen to recapture his best form this season after a difficult year, being dropped from the senior side.
New coach David Noble has made clear he wants to maximise Polec’s weapons as a hard-running wingman while continuing to develop the Roos’ emerging playmakers such as Luke Davies-Uniacke, Bailey Scott and superstar-inthe-making Jy Simpkin.
The return of Goldstein, Cunnington and potentially Polec will be a significant injection of class for the Roos.
The Kangas also have No.3 draft pick Will Phillips, who missed out on a berth for North’s practice match in favour of fellow youngsters Tom Powell and Charlie Lazarro and mature-age recruits Connor Menadue, from Richmond, and ex-Bulldog Lachie Young.
Tough nut Jed Anderson is in a race against time to be fit for the season-opener as he tries to overcome a calf issue.
Anderson is unlikely to play against the Hawks this week and has instead set himself to take on Port Adelaide in Round 1 at Marvel Stadium.
Anderson is a key plank in Noble’s first-choice midfield unit after a breakthrough year, finishing third in the club’s best-and-fairest.
Hawthorn Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell remains under a cloud as he returns to full contact training after shoulder surgery.
But there were encouraging signs in attack from Hawthorn’s tall forwards Mitch Lewis and Tim O’Brien in their scratch match win over Western Bulldogs on Wednesday.
The duo combined for five goals in the comeback victory while versatile big man Jacob Koschitzke is also in the mix for a Round 1 guernsey as a third marking target.
It is unclear when Hawks spearhead Jon Patton will be available after seeking treatment for a personal issue.
First-year wingman Connor Downie also impressed in his first hitout and is in line to step straight into an outside midfield role vacated by departed premiership hero Isaac Smith.