WHISPERS

DON’T be surprised if there is a late change or two down the highway before Geelong takes on the Bulldogs on Sunday.

Cats’ captain Joel Selwood, who has been sore since the Fremantle game seven weeks ago, now has some hamstring tightness which may force the iron man to miss.

And Steve Johnson is said to have been restricted due to a back complaint, one that is claimed to have resulted in an epidural before Geelong played the Gold Coast.

media_camera Cats star Steve Johnson battling back complaint. Picture: Michael Klein

Meanwhile, Adelaide could be tempted to pull a swifty with a battered and bruised Patrick Dangerfield ahead of Saturday’s game against Greater Western Sydney.

The explosive Dangerfield was crunched — not for the first time this season — late in the Showdown and would benefit from a breather as the Crows mount their charge to September.

Veteran Jason Porplyzia was the only Crows’ emergency to make the trip.

The wily forward returned to the line-up last week for just his third game of the season.

We might be jumping at shadows here... but West Coast naming four ruckmen - Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Scott Lycett and Callum Sinclair - poses many a SuperCoach concerns. One to watch.

In other selection news: Fremantle star Stephen Hill has withdrawn from the Dockers’ squad with a minor quad strain. The flying wingman was replaced by Clancee Pearce.

St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes will miss the Saints’ clash with Carlton, replaced in the side by Sam Dunnell.

Richmond midfielder Matt Thomas (Achilles) was replaced by Matt Arnot earlier today, while Port Adelaide elevated Jake Neade to the emergency list for Sam Gray.

media_camera Sam Mitchell was pretty pumped to get his spot back. Picture: Getty

VESTED INTEREST

NORTH MELBOURNE: Would like to see Liam Anthony get a full game to earn his stripes, with that in mind, Ryan Bastinac — skating on thin ice at selection — looms large as the substitute.

HAWTHORN: Head says Sam Mitchell following his extended stint on the sidelines but can’t go past Taylor Duryea.

RICHMOND: Matthew Arnot was a late inclusion on Friday and it makes sense he starts as the sub.

BRISBANE: Wily veteran Ash McGrath or the versatile Ryan Lester.

GWS: Zac Williams or Will Hoskin-Elliot

ADELAIDE: Ricky Henderson of Jason Porpylzia should he be a late inclusion.

GOLD COAST: Sean ‘The Candyman’ Lemmens or Jesse Lonergan.

COLLINGWOOD: Ben Kennedy or Josh Thomas.

PORT ADELAIDE: As you were, Aaron Young. The small forward is Ken Hinkley’s Giansiracusa.

ESSENDON: Jake Melksham could add a spark up forward in the second half from one of the Merretts.

MELBOURNE: Dom Barry for the second week running.

FREMANTLE: Anthony Morabito or late inclusion Clancee Pearce.

CARLTON: Expect Blaine Johnson to start his second AFL game as the substitute. Tom Bell is a sneaky chance.

ST KILDA: Daniel Minchington made the role his own last week. Rates highly from Sam Dunnell, who replaced Lenny Hayes in the squad.

WEST COAST: It’s a toss up between Sam Butler and Patty McGinnity as both have donned the green vest regularly this season.

SYDNEY: Brandon Jack was the sub last week and we expect him to be the sub this week. Harry Cunningham and Jake Lloyd are outside chances if John Longmire feels like a change.

GEELONG: With late changes aplenty forecast for the Cats this is anyone’s guess, really. Josh Caddy would be well in the frame while Jordan Murdoch will also come into contention.

WESTERN BULLDOGS: Expect Mitch Honeychurch to keep his spot and start as the substitute.

media_camera Cats forward Tom Hawkins in full flight. Picture: Herald Sun

MONEY MATTERS

Round 16 bet: We like Tom Hawkins to really put a score on the board against the Bulldogs, although wait until the say to check the weather.

Futures: It might be the time to back against Little Gary in the Brownlow. Not that he can’t win it but imagine if he was injured this weekend? If that happened then Scott Pendlebury and Sydney’s Josh Kennedy would have their odds cut in half, so why not $20 on both in an attempt to beat the odds?

media_camera North Melbourne players ponder the shock loss to Brisbane. Picture: Getty

ON NOTICE

Any number of North Melbourne players as the club struggles to win back some AFL respect. Aaron Black and Ryan Bastinac are two who have the talent but not the consistency. Tonight would be a good time to turn things around.

West Coast can be put in the same bracket although they have been more consistent of late in their effort, so don’t be totally shocked if they give Sydney some hurry up in Perth on Sunday.