- \n
- Carlton heroes Sam Docherty and Blake Acres are expected to put their hands up to play through the pain barrier again next week.<\/li>\n
- Taylor Adams has endured more September heartbreak, this time ruled out of the Magpies\u2019 preliminary final.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Docherty, Acres keen to play through the pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Andrew Wu<\/em><\/p>\n
Carlton heroes Sam Docherty and Blake Acres are expected to put their hands up to play through the pain barrier again next week, as the Blues deal with a selection headache leading into the preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions.<\/p>\n
The wingmen were heroic for the Blues on Friday night, playing through duress to feature in the match-winning play that powered the club into their first preliminary final in 23 years, and consigned Melbourne to a straight-sets exit for the second year in a row.<\/p>\n
Docherty suffered a dislocated shoulder shortly before half-time but, with sufficient range still in the joint and club medical staff confident there was only a small risk of re-injury, he returned after the break and played out the game.<\/p>\n
The inspirational veteran put his shoulder on the line to take a clutch mark on the wing before delivering a long kick deep inside 50 for Acres to mark and goal and send Blues fans into raptures.<\/p>\n
Coach Michael Voss revealed Docherty had played through a slight calf tear late in the home and away season when thrown into the centre square fray to cover for Adam Cerra and Sam Walsh. Now, Docherty is determined to put himself through more pain for the club he supported as a boy.<\/p>\n
Docherty underwent scans on Saturday morning, the results of which are unlikely to hold much weight in whether he takes on the Lions.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, I don\u2019t think the scans are going to be telling me whether I\u2019m playing or not,\u201d Docherty said with a laugh on the ABC on Saturday. \u201cIt\u2019ll be telling me whether or not I\u2019m having surgery at the end of the year. I\u2019m pretty confident I\u2019ll be out there this week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Voss paid tribute to Docherty, a revered figure at Ikon Park after overcoming testicular cancer and two knee reconstructions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt won\u2019t feel right going forward without him, that\u2019s for sure,\u201d Voss said on SEN. \u201cWe\u2019ll give him absolutely every opportunity to get up. He\u2019s been an extremely important person for us on this journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Acres, as he was in the win over Sydney, was in visible discomfort in the dying stages of the semi-final, favouring his left shoulder as he came off the field after his match-winning goal. The first-season Blue is nursing a sore, but not broken, left collarbone which Voss said flares during matches but improves through the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what it is, and that\u2019s what he\u2019s got to live with,\u201d Voss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has to manage it early in the week, then it settles down and he\u2019s right to go again. It\u2019s certainly not stopping him doing anything at the moment. If playing footy means you\u2019ve got to have a crook shoulder I reckon he\u2019d take it at the moment. He\u2019s playing some really good footy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bargain buy Acres, secured for a future third-round pick, has been pivotal to the Blues\u2019 rise. He has etched his name into the hearts and minds of Carlton fans with the winning goal in each of their two finals victories.<\/p>\n
The Blues will start overwhelming underdogs against the Lions, as they did in their famous preliminary final win against Essendon in 1999, but are likely to be bolstered by the returns of Coleman medallist Harry McKay (concussion) and X-factor forward Jack Martin (suspension). Forward Jack Silvagni is also available.<\/p>\n
Star defender Jacob Weitering was cleared of concussion after appearing wobbly on his feet from an accidental clash with Joel Smith in the final quarter.<\/p>\n
The Blues are adamant they have not breached the AFL\u2019s concussion guidelines in their handling of Weitering or Patrick Cripps.<\/p>\n
The Blues say Weitering, who was doubled over after being helped to his feet by Smith, copped a knock to the throat and was struggling to breathe. He underwent assessments after the game and was cleared of concussion.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Blue September: Jacob Weitering celebrates with fans.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AFL Photos \/ Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n
Weitering took the intercept mark on the MCC Members wing which started the chain of possessions that resulted in Acres\u2019 match-winning goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s [knock to the throat] probably why Weiters was so adamant, he\u2019s just struggling to breathe there for a little while,\u201d Blues coach Michael Voss told SEN on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re comfortable with where that sits. He got struck to the throat and he couldn\u2019t breathe so I reckon that\u2019s a reason to stop for a couple of seconds, I would have thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I think we\u2019ll be OK there.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Melbourne\u2019s Kysaiah Pickett delivers a high bump on Patrick Cripps.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Channel Seven<\/cite><\/p>\n
A football source familiar with Cripps\u2019 situation said the Carlton skipper showed no signs of concussion after being bumped by Melbourne star Kosi Pickett, who was given a one-game ban. Pickett was also fined $2500 for striking Mitch McGovern.<\/p>\n
Cripps suffered damage to his nose but was cleared to play on by the doctors. The reigning Brownlow medallist was among his team\u2019s best players, collecting 27 possessions – 16 of which were contested – and nine clearances.<\/p>\n
The AFL was contacted for comment.<\/p>\n
Taylor Adams ruled out of Pies\u2019 preliminary final<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Jon Pierik, Andrew Wu<\/em><\/p>\n
Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams has not given up on his premiership dream this year as another September injury threatens to end his finals campaign prematurely.<\/p>\n
The Magpies co-vice-captain has been ruled out of his club\u2019s preliminary final because of a hamstring strain sustained at training on Friday after colliding with John Noble. The 29-year-old clutched his left hamstring and left the field early.<\/p>\n
Magpies football department boss Graham Wright confirmed on Saturday that the robust onballer will sit out next weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate to confirm that Taylor Adams has sustained a low-grade hamstring strain during our training session held yesterday evening,\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Heartbreak: A dejected Taylor Adams leaves training on Friday. He will miss the preliminary final because of injury.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n
\u201cTaylor has been an integral part of our midfield this season, and while it\u2019s disappointing for him and the team that he won\u2019t be available for the upcoming preliminary final, the positive is that it is only a minor strain.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur medical staff are working closely with Taylor who will immediately commence rehabilitation on his left hamstring.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the injury is on the \u201cminor\u201d scale, the Magpies will hope Adams could return for the grand final \u2013 should they make it.<\/p>\n
Adams, who missed last year\u2019s preliminary final with a torn groin, put on a brave face on Saturday in a video posted on his Instagram account.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like we\u2019ve been here before, this time nowhere near as bad,\u201d Adams said. \u201cLast night wasn\u2019t ideal but all good, feeling good this morning, still a chance to get back and play some footy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adams played 23 games this season, averaging 18.4 disposals and 3.7 clearances.<\/p>\n
While Adams will miss, star midfielder Nick Daicos will return from a knee injury for his first match since the round 21 loss to Hawthorn.<\/p>\n
Darcy Moore, nursing a hand tendon injury, trained on Friday and is expected to play. The Magpies skipper wore a light bandage through the session.<\/p>\n
Despite Adams\u2019 absence, the Magpies have selection issues, for Patrick Lipinski and Jack Ginnivan could be under pressure, with Noble desperate for a return, having been dropped on the eve of the finals for the first time in 83 games.<\/p>\n
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