logo
Call-up looms for Fyfe after Young scans come through

Call-up looms for Fyfe after Young scans come through

Yahoo19 hours ago
Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe could receive an SOS call as early as this week after Fremantle confirmed Hayden Young had suffered an adductor strain.
Young tweaked his groin tackling an opponent in Fremantle's 27-point win over Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
The 24-year-old was playing just his third game back from hamstring surgery, and his groin setback leaves a massive hole in the midfield.
"It doesn't look very serious... I think today's injury was a bit unlucky."Justin Longmuir provides an update on Hayden Young's injury post-match: https://t.co/3GIHzV6CjZ pic.twitter.com/QJG01IQr3N
— AFL (@AFL) August 3, 2025
The Dockers confirmed on Monday Young would definitely miss Saturday night's match against Port Adelaide, with a more concrete timeline to be provided in coming days.
"We've escaped serious injury. It's just a matter of whether we can get him back before our last game," Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said on AFL 360.
"We're cutting it pretty fine with timelines. We'll get a little bit more information back and see where the timelines fit.
"Clearly the last couple of weeks has shown that he's important to us.
"He adds a different dimension to our midfield.
"Having said that, we've got to this point without him for the majority of the year, so I'm sure we'll be fine.
"I feel for him more than I feel for us. He's been in and out all year and had setbacks. He'll be flat."
Fremantle initially struggled against Carlton without Young's big body and class, with the Dockers trailing by 24 points at halftime before Jaeger O'Meara's move to the midfield to quell George Hewett helped turn the tables.
Fyfe has missed most of the season after damaging his hamstring soon after returning from knee surgery.
The 33-year-old made his belated return in round 12, before injuring his calf just three matches later while warming up at half-time as the sub.
Fyfe's latest bid to return to the AFL side began on Saturday when he racked up 27 disposals, six tackles and five clearances while playing for Peel Thunder in the WAFL.
That huge display came despite him being rested for the entire final quarter, with Fyfe now a chance to return to the AFL side for Saturday night's clash with the Power in Adelaide.
"I thought he was the best player on the ground for his 60 minutes," Longmuir said of Fyfe.
"He only played 60 minutes though, so we'll have a chat during the week.
"He'll be involved in that and work out his next progression and whether there's a spot in the side."
Asked whether Fyfe needed some continuity first, Longmuir replied: "A little bit, but we're running out of time in the season and we need to put our best team out there to win next week.
"A lot of things will come into consideration with him and Alex Pearce coming back, but we need to get going as well.
"So we'll see what it spits out at selection."
If Fyfe plays, there's a strong chance he will be the sub.
Pearce has played just one of Fremantle's past nine matches due to a hot spot in his shin, but is in line to return against Port.
Fremantle have just three more matches - against Port, Brisbane and the Bulldogs - before the finals begin, so the race is on for Young to overcome his injury and build up fitness.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller
England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller

Yahoo

time40 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller

England suffered an agonising six-run loss to India at the Oval on Monday as one of the most dramatic Test series of recent times ended in a 2-2 draw. Their next major red-ball assignment is a five-match Ashes series away to arch-rivals Australia -- where England have gone 15 Tests without a win -- starting in November. Below AFP Sport looks at some of the key issues that emerged from England's rollercoaster contest with India and what they mean for their quest to regain the Ashes 'Down Under'. Stokes central to England's hopes What England gain from having Ben Stokes in their side was never more evident than when their inspirational captain missed the fifth Test with a shoulder injury -- a fresh worry following his history of hamstring trouble. The 34-year-old all-rounder was the most threatening member of England's attack against India, taking 17 wickets at 25 in 140 overs -- the most he has bowled in a series. Stokes also looked back to his best with the bat, scoring 141 in England's mammoth total of 669 in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. By contrast specialist opener Zak Crawley failed to reach three figures in nine innings. And at the Oval, the sight of vice-captain Ollie Pope running off to the dressing room to receive what appeared to be tactical guidance from Stokes did not say much for England's depth of leadership. England limited-overs captain Harry Brook, also a mainstay of the Test team and a lively skipper in the Stokes mould, could yet prove a better fit as vice-captain against Australia. Fast-bowling plan under threat England have long believed a battery of genuinely fast bowlers is essential if they are to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since 2010/11. But fitness issues could blight their best-laid plans. Jofra Archer made an encouraging return to Test cricket against India but played just two matches as England looked to manage the express paceman's workload. Mark Wood, another bowler with genuine pace, has not played Test cricket for nearly 12 months and had knee surgery earlier this year. The inconsistent Josh Tongue's return of 19 wickets at under 30 in the India series could well see him selected for Ashes duty, with Gus Atkinson's five-wicket haul on his return to Test duty at the Oval doing his cause no harm. Spin dilemma England, and Stokes in particular, have shown huge faith in Shoaib Bashir, a 21-year-old off-spinner unable to hold down a regular place in a county side but who has now taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests at 39. In the India series, Bashir's 10 wickets came at an expensive average of 54.1, before a finger injury ruled him out of the last two Tests. But Hampshire stalwart Liam Dawson failed to seize his chance in the drawn fourth Test, with Stokes appearing to tell the left-armer where he should be bowling on the Old Trafford pitch. Leicestershire's 20-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, already England's youngest Test cricketer, is another option. England, however, didn't bother with a specialist spinner at the Oval, deploying Joe Root and Jacob Bethell -- clean bowled following a reckless charge down the pitch during a second-innings collapse -- for a mere 11 overs combined. But former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes England should stick with Bashir for the Ashes because of his similarity to outstanding Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. "Australia will have probably three or four left-handers in their line-up which will aid the right-arm off-spinner as well," Ponting told Sky Sports. "And it's the over-spin that you need in Australia." jdg/ea

Indigenous group in legal bid to stop Olympic park plan
Indigenous group in legal bid to stop Olympic park plan

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Indigenous group in legal bid to stop Olympic park plan

An Indigenous group has launched an application to stop controversial plans to develop a park with cultural significance as the 2032 Olympic centrepiece. The group wants the Commonwealth to step in and save inner Brisbane's Victoria Park, which is set to become the 2032 games hub, hosting a $3.7 billion, 63,000-seat main stadium. The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation has lodged an application with the federal government to protect the park, warning the 2032 plans will cause "long-term injury" to a site of Indigenous significance. The main stadium is set to be built at a park that contains stories, archaeological evidence, possible ancestral remains and ancient trees, the corporation's Uncle Steven said. He also believes there's potential for further Aboriginal heritage research at the park, but fears that won't happen if it's bulldozed for the Olympics. "Once it's lost, it's gone forever," the Yagara elder told AAP. "This is about trying to protect the cultural heritage for future generations, for our First Nations children, for non-First Nations children - it's the history of Queensland." The clock is ticking to construct the 2032 venues after Queensland's Liberal National government finally unveiled its blueprint in March, more than 1300 days after Brisbane was named the Olympics host. It also fast-tracked legislation to override 15 environmental and heritage acts to speed up the 2032 build. This ensured the government could bypass existing laws to construct the main stadium at Victoria Park, despite half of it being state heritage-listed. "The state government has gone to a lot of trouble to take away any democratic rights that we had to be consulted, or to make submissions about the proposals, so we've gone to the federal legislation," Save Victoria Park's Sue Bremner told AAP. Save Victoria Park has backed the corporation lodging an application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. If successful, the federal government could declare the long-term protection of the park and halt any development. But the legal process may take years, sparking fears among activists that the park may be bulldozed before a decision is made. Ms Bremner warned the group is willing to look at alternative emergency action to halt shovels in the ground in support of the corporation. Uncle Steven said the application was not about stopping development for the 2032 Games at other locations but instead about protecting Victoria Park's values and history. "We don't want to hold progress up. We don't want to stop people from enjoying the facilities that may come with 2032," he said. "But just stop a moment and have a look at what's already been destroyed and impacted in southeast Queensland, and have a little bit of thoughtfulness towards it and work out something more appropriate." A state government spokesperson defended the 2032 venue plan, claiming recent legislation would still recognise Aboriginal heritage matters. "The Crisafulli government's new laws underpin the delivery of Games infrastructure on time, on budget, and with a clear legacy for communities beyond 2032," the spokesperson said. "The new laws provide a bespoke process that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage matters, incorporating engagement and consultation with relevant parties and preparation of a cultural heritage management plan." A damning report last week revealed the Games blueprint may not be completed in time due to a productivity drop. But Treasurer David Janetzki said the government was up to the 2032 challenge.

Tigers sponsor detail singled out as players face NRL action over 'offensive' act
Tigers sponsor detail singled out as players face NRL action over 'offensive' act

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Tigers sponsor detail singled out as players face NRL action over 'offensive' act

The Wests Tigers have been urged to get 'on the front foot' and sanction players accused of a vulgar act towards Bulldogs fans, amid suggestions it's a terrible look for the club and its sponsors. Several Tigers players are at the centre of an NRL investigation into an incident that occurred after the final try of their side's shock 28-14 victory over the high-flying Dogs on Sunday afternoon. Samuela Fainu's 70th minute four-pointer saw the Tigers forward and a number of teammates appear to taunt Canterbury fans with what has widely been accepted as the "khod" gesture, which is the equivalent of "flipping the bird" in the Arabic community. The Bulldogs have a proud contingent of Arabic-speaking supporters and the club reportedly contacted the NRL integrity unit to lodge a complaint about the 'offensive' hand gestures. Veteran league reporter Phil Rothfield told NRL 360 on Monday night that the NRL was not happy about the incident and indicated the Wests Tigers players involved were each facing fines. 'I can say that the NRL didn't like it and I'm told there will be a punishment,' Rothfield said. 'We had a similar incident in the AFL last week when a Hawthorn player gave the bird to the crowd. He was fined $1500. I'm told the Wests Tigers players who did the same will cop a $1500 fine.' Fainu and his brother Latu, as well as Sunia Turuva and Brent Naden were the Tigers players seen on camera making the hand gesture towards the crowd. Calls for Wests Tigers to reprimand players over incident The controversy has overshadowed the Tigers' memorable win, and veteran NRL commentator Andrew Voss has questioned why the club has remained silent in the wake of the backlash. Voss pointed out that the situation was a poor look for the club and its sponsors and insists the Tigers should not wait for the NRL to act before handing down their own sanctions to the players. 'What happens if a player just flips the bird to the crowd? Would the NRL take action to that? 100% they would,' Voss said on SEN radio on Tuesday. 'What sport in the world wouldn't (sanction a player). What are the Tigers' players thinking and where are their heads at? 'If you're a sponsor, is that how you want the club to represent you? Should the Tigers have waited for the NRL to take action? Or should the Tigers have got on the front foot and said that 'we don't stand for that'? I believe they should've taken action on their players straight away and told them to pull their heads in.' Some Tigers players reportedly said the gestures were in response to relentless abuse they claimed to have copped from Bulldogs fans during the contest. Tigers centre and former Bulldogs star Naden was also at the centre of a post-game controversy after appearing in a since-deleted TikTok video in which he made the same gesture and yelled "f***ing dogs" to the camera. The video was reportedly sent by Naden to a friend and then leaked publicly. Lachie Galvin reportedly abused in pre-game incident It follows reports Bulldogs recruit Lachie Galvin was also abused by a fan before the grudge match against his former club. AAP was told the incident occurred after Tigers members and fans left the ground, having formed a guard of honour for the players before kick-off. RELATED: Warriors in brutal setback amid fury over NRL's response to illegal act Classy Jayden Campbell act missed in Panthers trainer furore The incident left Canterbury officials privately questioning why security was not on hand, given the tensions around Galvin after his unpopular mid-season switch to the Dogs. The 20-year-old was mercilessly booed by Tigers fans every time he touched the ball on Sunday, with Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo proud of how Galvin handled the hostile reception. "Nothing much flusters him," the Bulldogs coach said about the young playmaker after the game. "I thought he went out there, he did his job... I don't think it rattled him that much. It's just we got beaten as a team." with AAP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store