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Carlton defender Mitch McGovern has been cleared of any structural damage after a brutal Friday night at the MCG left the victorious Blues licking their wounds.
McGovern copped a heavy knock to the chest-throat area in an opening-term collision with St Kilda’s Liam O’Connell that saw him subbed out of the game at quarter-time and taken to hospital for scans.
Mitch McGovern of the Blues hits the turf after taking a bump.Credit: AFL Photos
Images of McGovern, 30, in the Carlton rooms before he was loaded into an ambulance showed him in pain and labouring for breath.
But the relieved Blues said on Saturday morning that McGovern had been released from hospital on Friday night and the scans had come back clear of any breaks.
They said McGovern would be further assessed during the week and could be in doubt for their Friday night clash against Sydney at the SCG.
The defender was one of four players injured in Carlton’s 11.11 (77) to 9.8 (62) victory.
Blake Acres played out the match after dislocating a shoulder, Nick Haynes copped a boot to the neck in what was initially feared to be a head knock, while Lachie Cowan had hamstring soreness and will face a test next week.
Carlton were unable to release any further updates on Acres, Haynes and Cowan on Saturday.
Blue Blake Acres nurses a sore shoulder.Credit: AFL Photos
“It was a pretty frantic moment as I was down the race and I saw Lachie Cowen getting treatment and [Mitch] McGovern getting in the ambulance – it was crazy at that time,” Acres said.
“If you scanned my shoulders before the game, it would have shown you they were pretty banged up already after 10-plus years playing footy. I strapped it up and got back out there.
“I don’t like missing games of footy, so we will see how it goes. I had to play with this one [motions to left shoulder] a couple of years ago, we will see how the shoulder pulls up in the morning.”
This has not been a pretty match to watch, but we at least we can say it’s a close one.
The Hawks take a one-point lead into the main break after a scrappy quarter in which the inaccurate Demons failed to make their ascendancy count on the scoreboard.
The Dees booted two goals five, but missed several simple shots.
Adding to their frustration, they were denied what would have been a certain goal when the umpires missed a clear trip on Kysaiah Pickett in the goal square.
The Dees, with Christian Petracca and Kysaiah Pickett both influential, have won clearance by six and contested ball by 20. Despite encouragement from the crowd, Clayton Oliver’s return has been a quiet one, limited to just six possessions.
He seems to be struggling with his run, though on the few times he’s got near the ball he’s found that extra ping in his legs. The Hawks are not playing like a flag contender. They’re missing targets and are having trouble generating meaningful chains of possessions.
Their quarter was summed up by the goal they conceded near the siren when Jai Newcombe, with a teammate either side of him, lost track of a 20-metre chip kick over his shoulder and dropped a sitter.
Harvey Langford cleaned up the spillage and curled a beauty. He looks a gem of a player. The key for the Dees will be to maintain their dominance at the contest and improve their kicking. The Hawks need to get their hands dirty, otherwise this game will slip away from them.
This is the missed trip that cost Melbourne the half-time lead against Hawthorn at the MCG.
Damaging Demons forward Kysaiah Pickett was blatantly brought down in the goal square during a tight second term, but the umpires allowed play to continue as Hawthorn held on to a one-point lead at the long break.
It is not the first time the umpires have been blind to the obvious this week, copping criticism on Thursday night for not seeing Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz suffer a concussion and stopping play.
Usually unflappable, Gerard Whateley was incredulous on SEN at that decision. “How can you miss that?,” he screams. “There’s four of them, four of them! Sack em all.”
The Demons have served it up to the higher-ranked Hawks in this match, but have wasted opportunities in front of goal to trail 5.5 (35) to 4.10 (34).
Melbourne lead the possession count 189 to 17, the inside-50 count 27 to 19 and are way ahead in the free-kicks 16 to 9. Their leading possession winners are Christian Petracca with 16 and Caleb Windsor with 14, while the returning Clayton Oliver has been quiet with six.
The Hawks have made the most of their limited forward forays. Opportunist Nick Watson has two goals, while James Worpel tops the game’s disposal count with 18 (four kicks and 14 handballs).
The Demon fans are outraged as their side continues to push Hawthorn, but can’t pull back the lead.
Star forward Kysaiah Pickett was blatantly legged in the goal square in the second term and yet the umpires let the play continue.
It was clear-cut. A desperate Hawthorn defender Blake Hardwick grabbed at his ankle, and it caused him to trip. When the umpires failed to rule in his favour, the MCC section of the stands erupted.
But Pickett was not done with. Soon after he sharked a beautiful Max Gawn tap, was collected high and, this time, was paid the free. He went back and booted truly from 35m.
Hawks 5.5 (35) lead the Demons 3.8 (26) with four minutes until half-time.
A bearded Ben Simmons has been spotted in a corporate box at the MCG.
The former NBA No.1 draft pick who now plays for the LA Clippers was a footballer in his younger years growing up in Melbourne suburbs.
The Clippers were bundled out of the play-offs last week by the Denver Nuggets.
It’s an interesting watch for Simmons, who is known to be an Essendon supporter.
For those who struggled to watch the dour second-half of the Blues-Saints clash at the MCG on Friday night, Blues skipper Patrick Cripps had an explanation.
He said it was all down to increased numbers at the stoppages in the second half – as both teams managed just three goals each in a final scoreline of 11.11 (77) to 9.8 (62).
Patrick Cripps of the Blues kicks whilst being tackled by Jack Steele of the Saints.Credit: Getty Images
“They bring up a lot of numbers around the stoppage,” Cripps told 3AW after the Carlton victory.
“So you don’t really get a lot of flow out of the stoppage. It is a bit of a grind. You sort of get that rolling-maul type of footy when there is a stoppage.
“And then I feel like both teams were trying to defend the outside and the around (the ball) a lot, so it was pretty slow ball movement.”
Cripps said he felt like Carlton played with a lot more dare in the first half, outscoring the Ross Lyon-coached Saints 8.6 (54) to 6.4 (40).
“I felt like injuries probably played a part a little bit for us (in the second half). We had to adjust.
“I still felt like we could have played with a little bit more dare in the second half. But in the end we slogged out a tough win and it was really important for our year.”
Hawthorn has taken a six-point lead into quarter-time against Melbourne at the MCG.
Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch had a shot after the siren after a holding-the-ball decision was paid against Hawks skipper James Sicily, but the Demons forward butchered a gettable shot from 25m on a slight angle.
Luke Breust is congratulated for a first-quarter goal.Credit: Getty Images
James Worpel was the leading possession winner in the opening term with nine.
The Hawks’ goal kickers were Lloyd Meek, Luke Breust and Nick Watson, while Melbourne’s majors came from Harvey Langford and Tom Sparrow.
QT: Hawks 3.3 (21) lead Demons 2.3 (15)
A perfect day for football at the sun-drenched MCG on this May afternoon, and so far, the game is relatively even. Early days, obviously.
Melbourne dominated possession in the opening few minutes, but Lloyd Meek kicked the first goal for the Hawks, drifting forward on his opponent Max Gawn to mark close to the big sticks.
The Demons countered through Harvey Langford before Hawthorn edged back in front when Luke Breust nailed a six-pointer.
Hawks 2.2 (14) lead the Demons 1.2 (8) with 10 minutes until quarter-time.
Jacob van Rooyen flies for a mark in the first quarter.Credit: Getty Images
No late changes. Hawthorn and Melbourne are sticking to the script as we count down the last 20 minutes before kick-off at the MCG. It’s a 1.20pm start time.
The Dees are sticking with Koltyn Tholstrup as their sub, while the Hawks have handed their subs’ vest to Bailey Macdonald
Carlton defender Mitch McGovern has been cleared of any structural damage after a brutal Friday night at the MCG left the victorious Blues licking their wounds.
McGovern copped a heavy knock to the chest-throat area in an opening-term collision with St Kilda’s Liam O’Connell that saw him subbed out of the game at quarter-time and taken to hospital for scans.
Mitch McGovern of the Blues hits the turf after taking a bump.Credit: AFL Photos
Images of McGovern, 30, in the Carlton rooms before he was loaded into an ambulance showed him in pain and labouring for breath.
But the relieved Blues said on Saturday morning that McGovern had been released from hospital on Friday night and the scans had come back clear of any breaks.
They said McGovern would be further assessed during the week and could be in doubt for their Friday night clash against Sydney at the SCG.
The defender was one of four players injured in Carlton’s 11.11 (77) to 9.8 (62) victory.
Blake Acres played out the match after dislocating a shoulder, Nick Haynes copped a boot to the neck in what was initially feared to be a head knock, while Lachie Cowan had hamstring soreness and will face a test next week.
Carlton were unable to release any further updates on Acres, Haynes and Cowan on Saturday.
Blue Blake Acres nurses a sore shoulder.Credit: AFL Photos
“It was a pretty frantic moment as I was down the race and I saw Lachie Cowen getting treatment and [Mitch] McGovern getting in the ambulance – it was crazy at that time,” Acres said.
“If you scanned my shoulders before the game, it would have shown you they were pretty banged up already after 10-plus years playing footy. I strapped it up and got back out there.
“I don’t like missing games of footy, so we will see how it goes. I had to play with this one [motions to left shoulder] a couple of years ago, we will see how the shoulder pulls up in the morning.”
Game 1 – Melbourne v Hawthorn, MCG, 1.20pm
In a nutshell: Huge game for the Demons, who are 3-5 for the season and need to get closer to squaring the ledger. The 6-2 Hawks rediscovered their potency last week by thumping Richmond. All eyes will be on Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver who returns to the line-up after a week’s rest and a swirl of speculation about his future. He is joined by Jacob van Rooyen and Matthew Jefferson, while the Demons have managed Jake Melsham and lost Jack Viney and Harrison Petty to injury. The Hawks have managed big defender Tom Barrass, and brought in Karl Amon. Expecting Sam Mitchell’s mob to pull away after a tight first half.
Dylan Shiel returns to the Bombers line-up.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Game 2 – Essendon v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium, 4.15pm
In a nutshell: Crucial clash for both teams. When are they not crucial? The Bombers sit 12th at 4-3, while the Swans are 14th at 3-5. The Swans emerged victorious in their previous encounter at Marvel Stadium, 98 to 59, in August last year, so hold no fears for the away venue. They lose Lewis Melican to suspension after last week’s big win over GWS, while bringing in Ben Paton. The Bombers are coming off an unconvincing three-point win over North and lose Jordan Ridley, Jade Gresham and Harrison Jones to injury. They also dropped Jye Menzie and Elijah Tsatas. Their five inclusions are Jye Caldwell, Dylan Shiel, Lewis Hayes, Archer Day-Wicks and Saad El-Hawli. This looks like a Swans win.
Game 3 – Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs, Tio Stadium, Darwin, 7.35pm
In a nutshell: The Suns have turned Darwin into a home-ground fortress. They have a 6-2 record at the Top End where the ball can become slippery and the conditions tough to handle because of the humidity. They are also sitting fourth at 5-2 for the year. Competitive forward Ben Long is an important inclusion. The sixth-placed Bulldogs have won their past three and are sitting 5-3 for the season. They have lost Adam Treloar to injury and dropped Jedd Busslinger, while bringing in Harvey Gallagher and Caleb Poulter. Expect the Suns to go 7-2 in the NT.
Sidelined: Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli will not face the Crows this weekend.Credit: Getty Images
Game 4 – Port Adelaide v Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, 8.10pm
In a nutshell: The build up to this normally fierce rivalry has been overshadowed by Willie Rioli’s suspension, but you can rest assured both teams will be switched on for The Showdown. Adelaide hold the form edge, coming off a big win over Carlton and sitting fifth at 5-3 for the year. Port have been inconsistent, sitting 13th at 4-4. They dropped four and lost Rioli after last week’s thumping at the hands of the Bulldogs – Will Lorenz, Jordon Sweet, Logan Evans and Joe Berry. But their inclusions hardly scream match winners – Dante Visenti, Josh Sinn, Christian Moraes, Jed McEntee and Ryan Burton. Too many might unsettle Port, giving the Crows a distinct advantage.
