Voss admitted he was expecting Dangerfield to remain suspended and miss Geelong’s match against Essendon on Saturday night.
“We’re thankful that Sam is OK, wasn’t concussed and we got him for the rest of the game and this week,” he said.
“We’ve got a fairly stringent process there – there’s the MRO has their view and then the tribunal has their own view as well and you have to state your case.
“It’s (outcome) probably a little bit different than what we expected.
“But at the same time, the process is there to be followed through on, and in this instance Geelong were able to follow through on that and they’ve got a player available.
“We’re just thankful that we’ve got a player available as well.”
AAP
Suns look to shake unwanted tag
Gold Coast will have to shed their reputation as the AFL’s Jekyll-and-Hyde team of 2024 if they are to break through for a maiden finals appearance this season.
And when better to start the process than in a sold-out clash against the reigning premiers?
The Suns (7-7) welcome Collingwood (8-4-2) to People First Stadium on Saturday, hell-bent on rectifying their wild swings in performance.
“We’re playing a really good opposition and it’s a sell-out, which is really important, but we want to get back on track,” Suns coach Damien Hardwick said.
“We’ve lost two in a row and need to make sure we play our best footy.
Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick.Credit: AFL Photos
“We think it’s not too far away and we understand there’s going to be some ups and downs.
“But it’s important that we get that consistency of performance that we’re craving at the moment.”
Gold Coast’s roller-coaster season has them unbeaten at home (7-0) and winless away (0-7).
Their contrasting fortunes haven’t gone unnoticed at Collingwood, with premiership coach Craig McRae acutely aware of what his side is up against.
“It’s their clearance game,” McRae said.
“There’s a drop-off in winning clearances away and the impact of that compared to home, and contested possession.
AAP
Bontempelli an ‘above 50 per cent’ chance of tackling the Kangas
Captain Marcus Bontempelli is “pretty optimistic” he will be fit to play in the Western Bulldogs’ clash against North Melbourne despite lingering concerns over a back issue.
Bontempelli completed the Dogs’ light touch session at Whitten Oval on Friday, two days after suffering a back spasm when he fell awkwardly under the weight of a tackle at training.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge suggested his star man was an “above 50 per cent” chance of playing against the Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
If required, Bontempelli will be given until the opening bounce to prove his fitness.
“It’s just one of those back spasms where he’s been a bit ‘discy’ from the tackle that he received,” Beveridge told reporters on Friday morning.
Dogs star Marcus Bontempelli.Credit: Getty Images
“That can settle down or it can last for a bit longer.
“It has settled down and now it’s just the bending and the mobility and agility aspect of it.
“He’s pretty optimistic he’s going to be OK, but we’ll just make sure.
“From a probability point of view, he’s more on the ‘above 50 per cent’ side, but I can’t tell you whether he’s playing or not.”
Bontempelli has been in scintillating form this season, again being rated among the leading Brownlow Medal contenders after finishing runner-up for the second time last year.
The five-time All-Australian is third on the AFL Coaches Association’s player of the year leaderboard, behind Sydney star Isaac Heeney and Collingwood playmaker Nick Daicos.
Bontempelli has played every game so far in 2024 and was outstanding in wins over Fremantle and Collingwood before last week’s mid-season bye, despite battling illness in the lead-up to both fixtures.
“Some of us might just step off or flick the bails, but he’s obviously prepared to push himself through,” Beveridge said.
“He’s had a couple of his really outstanding games off the back of being sick.”
The Bulldogs have made three unforced changes, with key forwards Aaron Naughton (knee) and Sam Darcy (suspension) returning against North Melbourne.
Oskar Baker has been recalled after strong VFL form, while Caleb Daniel, Buku Khamis and Anthony Scott have been dropped.
Naughton and Darcy will link up with fellow talls Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb, as well as ruckman Tim English.
“Fitting them all in our front end will be a challenge at times, so you’ll probably just need to hang on and have a look at the variations of where they all play,” Beveridge said.
“But we think that as a collective … they can put North under a bit of pressure no matter where they play.”
North Melbourne have lost Rising Star candidate George Wardlaw (concussion), replaced by Kallan Dawson.
The Kangaroos (1-13) will be looking for another step forward after showing improved form since their bye, with a win over West Coast followed by narrow defeats to Collingwood and Melbourne.
AAP
Post a Comment