Cats call for a Constable to play Port
CHARLIE Constable is on the verge of becoming Geelong’s fifth debutant this season, and coach Chris Scott is a big fan.
The Cats mulled over naming him for tomorrow night’s away clash with Port Adelaide and he is among their emergencies. They have made two changes, recalling James Parsons and Jackson Thurlow for Cory Gregson (foot) and Zach Guthrie.
The 18-year-old Constable, a tall midfielder, was a secondround pick at No.36 in last year’s national draft.
“We’re getting more and more confident that Charlie Constable is an AFL player,” Scott said yesterday.
“We thought that through the pre-season and he’s pressing his case pretty strongly.”
Meanwhile, winless Carlton is without star ruckman Matthew Kreuzer (groin) for tomorrow’s twilight match against West Coast at the MCG. Kreuzer was also a late withdrawal from their Round 2 team because of a groin problem, but he had played the past two games.
Matthew Kennedy is also out again because of an ankle injury and Jacob Weitering is sidelined with a groin problem. The Blues have made five changes, dropping David Cunningham and Nick Graham.
Sam Rowe is back from his knee reconstruction and Harry McKay and Sam Kerridge will play their first games of the year.
Andrew Phillips is in the senior side for the first time since Round 5 last year, while Jed Lamb is also recalled.
Western Bulldogs key forward Tom Boyd will return in tomorrow night’s match against Fremantle at Optus Stadium. The 2016 grand final hero has been sidelined since Round 13 last season.
The Bulldogs regained Zaine Cordy from suspension and recalled Lukas Webb and Patrick Lipinski.
They will replace Lachie Hunter (suspension), Bailey Williams (middle ear infection), Jack Redpath (knee) and Shane Biggs. Fremantle will promote Taylin Duman for his debut and have recalled Ed Langdon, with Michael Johnson listed as managed and Tommy Sheridan dropped.
St Kilda has made three changes for tomorrow’s Etihad Stadium match against GWS, which is unchanged.
Tim Membrey, top-10 draft pick Hunter Clark and Maverick Weller are the inclusions for Dylan Roberton (heart), Rowan Marshall (concussion) and Jack Lonie.
Port Adelaide announced Sam Powell-Pepper had made himself unavailable for selection ahead of tomorrow night’s home game against Geelong. Powell-Pepper has served a one-game club ban after an incident in an Adelaide bar but remains under AFL investigation.