3 minute read
Melbourne captain Max Gawn is likely to feature against Fremantle, while Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson has suffered a season-ending injury.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn could be a chance to line up for his side's AFL clash with Fremantle after rapidly recovering from an ankle injury.
Elsewhere, Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson and Gold Coast's Ben Ainsworth have both sustained season-ending injuries.
Gawn, initially expected to miss at least two to three weeks following a right ankle injury, is a chance to return on the weekend after sitting out just one match.
The 32-year-old ruckman was on crutches after his foot cannoned into the body of West Coast's Harley Reid in round 17, resulting in a chip at the base of his right fibula.
After watching their 17-point win over Essendon from the sidelines, Gawn has returned to running at training.
"Max has progressed well," Melbourne high-performance manager Selwyn Griffith said. "He got back into running earlier this week and we'll look to integrate him into training as long as he recovers well from that run.
"Then a decision on his availability will be made following that training session later in the week."
Finlayson has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after scans revealed he had suffered a "small and stable" laceration to his spleen.
The 28-year-old injured himself in a collision during their 14-point loss to Gold Coast and reported worsening symptoms afterwards.
He will not require surgery but will need an extensive period to heal.
Suns forward Ainsworth could have played his last game for the club after suffering a season-ending AC joint injury in his shoulder in the same match.
Ainsworth, a free agent, has reportedly attracted strong interest from interstate rivals and has yet to recommit to the Suns.
Gold Coast will at least welcome back Lachie Weller, who has been cleared to feature in his first AFL game of the season after tearing his ACL last year.
Suns co-captain Jarrod Witts, recovering from a back injury, could join Weller should he prove his fitness during training.
Hawthorn duo Jack Ginnivan (knee) and Massimo D'Ambrosio (ankle), Greater Western Sydney's Stephen Coniglio (shoulder), Brisbane defensive duo Noah Answerth (shoulder) and Brandon Starcevich (concussion) and Sydney defender Harry Cunningham (hamstring) are also a chance to play this weekend.
But the Swans will be without Justin McInerney for an indefinite amount of time.
The midfielder sustained a posterior cruciate ligament injury against North Melbourne and will be in a brace for at least two weeks before his progress is reassessed.