Thompson Out, Grant Returns For The Roos
The Age
Friday July 18, 2008
NORTH Melbourne forward Nathan Thompson has been dumped for tonight's match against Collingwood at Telstra Dome.
Thompson, who kicked one goal in last week's win against Port Adelaide, was overlooked in favour of Shannon Grant - who returns from a one-week club-imposed suspension - and Corey Jones. It is the first time Thompson has been dropped by the Roos since he switched from Hawthorn at the end of 2004. Midfielder Blake Grima was also dropped.Grant, who admitted this week that his ban resulted from drinking too much at a sponsor golf day during the split round, is on track to play his 300th game in round 22.Coach Dean Laidley said it was difficult to tell a younger player (Grima) that "you're out, even though you performed pretty well last week", in order to bring Grant back for tonight's crucial game."That's probably something that I've had to wrestle with probably the whole week," Laidley said.Collingwood takes an unchanged line-up into the game after beating Adelaide last weekend.Geelong named Brent Prismall and James Kelly - who was a late withdrawal from last week's win over Fremantle with a calf strain - for tomorrow's top-of-the-table clash against the Western Bulldogs. Cats midfield pair Gary Ablett (ankle) and Cameron Ling (fractured cheekbone) will miss the sold-out match at Skilled Stadium.The Bulldogs welcome back onballer Ryan Griffen and forward Scott Welsh, who replace Josh Hill and Cameron Wight.On the back of a four-game winning streak, Essendon will be without in-form midfielder Mark McVeigh (knee) and Andrew Lovett, who the club banned for two games for disciplinary reasons. Ricky Dyson and Jarrod Atkinson return for the must-win game against Richmond at the MCG tomorrow.The Tigers will be without Matthew Richardson (hamstring) for a second successive week, while Adam Pattison will play his 50th game. Hawthorn's Chance Bateman returns from a corked thigh for tomorrow's game against St Kilda, but veteran Shane Crawford will miss with ongoing knee tendonitis.After the win over Carlton, the Saints have dropped James Gwilt and Jarryd Allen and brought back Aaron Fiora, for his sixth game of the year, and Adam Schneider.Brisbane Lions have named mature-age recruit Bradd Dalziell for his first game. He was picked up at No. 52 in last year's national draft. The 21-year-old midfielder/forward joined the club from East Fremantle. The Lions also recalled Jason Roe and Scott Harding for tomorrow night's home game against West Coast, while Jed Adcock (quad), Matthew Leuenberger (knee) and Troy Selwood (omitted) are out of the side that lost to Essendon.The Eagles named Chad Fletcher, Jamie McNamara, Scott Selwood, Brent Staker and Eric Mackenzie, while Daniel Kerr (suspended) and Steven Armstrong and Michael Braun (omitted) join Adam Hunter (knee and shoulder) and Brett Jones (knee) on the sidelines.Carlton's No. 1 draft pick Matthew Kreuzer could be in doubt for Sunday's game against Sydney after being named on the Blues' expanded bench.The Blues have named Andrew Walker for his first game since shoulder surgery in the pre-season and dropped Steven Browne and Joe Anderson. The Swans have lost Amon Buchanan (suspension) and named Heath Grundy, Nick Malceski, Ben Mathews and Matthew O'Dwyer in a 25-man squad.
© 2008 The Age
