AFL Teams Chopping Block: Eagles and Tigers face tough selection decisions

Kieran Francis

AFL Teams Chopping Block: Eagles and Tigers face tough selection decisions image

Several West Coast players will be in the gun after their horror loss to Geelong, while reigning premiers Richmond could swing the changes after winning only one of their last four games.

The Eagles went down by 97 points to the Cats at GMHBA Stadium last weekend - in the biggest loss ever suffered by coach Adam Simpson.

With Josh Kennedy, Shannon Hurn and Jack Petruccelle all a chance to return from injury, the likes of Zac Langdon, Nathan Vardy and Jake Waterman could find themselves out of the team.

A recruit from GWS, Langdon has struggled to have a major impact in all five of his games this season, only getting nine touches against Geelong, with a season-high of 13 in round five.

Vardy managed to have an impact in the ruck with 18 hitouts, but only managed to find the ball four times around the ground, and it seems his omission is most likely with Kennedy to come in to the forward line, with Oscar Allen being back-up ruck to Nic Naitanui.

Waterman has yet to hit his straps this season and has failed to have a significant influence over the three games he has played this campaign.

Richmond are in a concerning period of form, with a huge victory over St Kilda their only win among losses to Sydney, Port Adelaide and Melbourne.

Noah Balta was one of the form defenders in the competition last season, particularly when Dylan Grimes was injured, and the athletic full back has failed to have the same impact in 2021.

While the axe probably won't be swung on Balta yet, he is averaging 3 marks a game this season, down from 3.8 last year in shorter game time, and only picked up six possessions in his last match.

Small forwards Jake Aarts and Jason Castagna will also be looking over their shoulders with the exciting Maurice Rioli pressing hard for his senior Tigers debut in the VFL.

Struggling St Kilda wingman Brad Hill will likely be out of the team for the match against former club Hawthorn, but not because of his poor form. Hill suffered an Achilles injury against Port Adelaide.

Brett Ratten hasn't opted to swing the axe after several heavy losses this season but the undisciplined Ben Long and Irish defender Darragh Joyce are shaping as possible omissions.

Jake Carlisle looked like he wasn't moving too well in the second half versus the Power, while Max King will want to work harder otherwise he could find his position in question.

Carlton still have an issue with the form of small forward Eddie Betts, with the veteran only contributing four behinds against Brisbane.

Michael Gibbons has also battled to get going this season, along with Levi Casboult.

Jesse Hogan is a near-lock to make his GWS debut against Adelaide on Saturday, with Jake Riccardi looking most likely to make way.

Several Collingwood players could be axed after the loss to Essendon, with forward Trey Ruscoe heading the list after failing to make a strong contribution.

Fremantle rookie Josh Treacy looks set for return to WAFL, having had only one scoring shot in three games despite playing predominantly in the forward line.

With yet-to-debut Adelaide small forward Tariek Newchurch regularly kicking majors in the SANFL, goalsneak James Rowe could find his spot in question.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.