Bulldogs cult hero Bailey too crook to make journey to the west

WESTERN Bulldogs star midfielder Bailey Smith will miss Saturday night’s road trip to the west, ruled out of his side’s clash with West Coast.

The Bulldogs’ pin-up boy was kept away from the group this week and missed his side’s main training session on Wednesday as he battled illness.

The decision has been made to leave him out of the Eagles showdown, although ruckman Tim English, livewire Cody Weightman and defender Taylor Duryea are back.

Zaine Cordy, Luke Cleary and Roarke Smith (medical sub) have been omitted.

At Collingwood, forward Jack Ginnivan and big man Mason Cox have been named to face Carlton in Sunday’s blockbuster at the MCG.

Both players will need to prove their fitness after injury interrupted weeks. Jack Martin will return to bolster the Blues in the first coaching showdown between former premiership teammates Michael Voss and Craig McRae.

Sydney has been dealt a big blow on the eve of its Friday match against Richmond at the SCG, with ruckman Tom Hickey out through injury.

The big man is out alongside Josh Kennedy (hamstring), leaving Peter Ladhams and the recalled Sam Reid to take on the ruck duties.

Matty Roberts has been named to make his debut.

Premiership forward Marlion Pickett will return from suspension for Richmond, while Jack Graham is back from a toe injury.

Hawthorn star Jaeger O’Meara will miss his side’s clash with Gold Coast due to hamstring tightness.

“Knowing we have the long flight to Darwin ahead of us, we opted to take a precautionary approach,” Hawks football boss Rob McCartney said.

Hawthorn will be bolstered by the return of Jack Scrimshaw, with the defender named to make his return from a shoulder complaint.

At Melbourne, vice-captain Jack Viney is back to face Fremantle but his teammate Ed Langdon will be sidelined with a rib injury.