Playing through gritted teeth

Port Adelaide speedster Matt White and Fremantle small forward Hayden Ballantyne are both hoping to grit their teeth and play in Saturday night’s semi-final in Perth despite fractured jaws.

Scans revealed that White had suffered a fracture in his jaw while playing against his former club Richmond on Sunday, but he remains a chance for the knockout final.

Hayden Ballantyne after Saturday’s loss against the Swans. Photo: Getty

“He has got a small crack in his jaw,” Port ruckman Matthew Lobbe said on Monday. “They will look at it later in the week and they’ll base the selection on that. We’d love him to play. But if he doesn’t, we have got great depth as well.”

Ballantyne, who will undergo surgery after breaking his jaw against the Swans, is hoping to line up for the Dockers against the Power.

Ballantyne also broke his jaw in round eight this year, but was able to play a key role against Geelong just four days after undergoing minor surgery.

Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow has been added to the club’s list of injury concerns after returning home from Sydney on crutches, despite picking up 28 possessions against the Swans. It remains unclear whether Barlow suffered a notable injury, or was just using the crutches as a precaution.

All-Australian defender Luke McPharlin, who has been sidelined for the past four weeks with a calf injury, is unlikely to return against the Power.

The Dockers beat Port Adelaide by just eight points to secure the double chance when the teams last met two weeks ago, but Fremantle were missing star midfielder Nat Fyfe in that match.

But Lobbe said the Power now carry priceless momentum into the rematch.

“We have improved every game probably for the last month, we have been building,” he said. “We have got a lot of respect for Fremantle and the way they play. But we’re also confident with where we’re at.”

Payback time for Boomer

Helpless and guilt-ridden in week one of the AFL finals, North Melbourne’s Brent Harvey is out to repay his club on Friday night.

Harvey served the final leg of his three-match suspension last Saturday night, when the Kangaroos came from 33 points down to post a memorable win over Essendon.

It was among the more stressful evenings in Harvey’s 19 seasons at Arden St.

“I was pretty quiet in the (coach’s) box … you feel so helpless,” Harvey said on Monday.

Brent Harvey was thanking his lucky stars after his teammates beat Essendon. Photo: Getty

“Regardless of the situation with the scoreboard, you know your body is able. I want to repay the boys, the club and all our supporters.”

Harvey was mindful that his delight will come at the expense of a teammate. “I’ll definitely have a chat with them (whoever is dropped),” he said.

Three weeks ago, it would have been hard to convince Harvey his punishment for an unsightly clash with Liam Picken was a good thing. But with North winning and the 36-year-old being refreshed mentally and physically – that’s how it has eventuated.

“My body feels good. I’ve had three weeks off. I’ve done a little bit of extra running, but that’s about it,” Harvey said. “They (some of the tips picked up in the coach’s box) will certainly be in the back of my mind.”

Harvey will rise to equal fourth on the all-time VFL/AFL games list when he tackles the Cats in game No.383. 

No.384 is not expected to come until 2015, the Cats starting as favourites to progress to an away preliminary final against Sydney.

No top-four side has exited the finals in straight sets since 2007, when Collingwood edged West Coast in extra-time.

Harvey insisted his side can buck the trend.

“The fact we’ve made the finals, won our first final and beaten a lot of good teams this season (are causes for confidence),” he said. “We’re capable of beating good teams and Geelong are certainly that.”

The teams met twice this year, but Daniel Wells missed both of those losses.

Relief for big Cat

Geelong’s key forward Tom Hawkins has been cleared to play against the Kangaroos by the AFL’s match review panel.

Tom Hawkins has been given the all-clear to play the Kangaroos. Photo: Getty

The AFL announced on Monday no charges had been laid following last weekend’s first week of the finals series.

Hawkins, who has kicked 63 goals this season, clashed with Hawthorn’s Ben Stratton during the third quarter of Friday’s qualifying final.

The panel ruled the force used by Hawkins to “jumper punch” his opponent was below that required for a reportable offence.

Levi Greenwood’s match-day report for rough conduct against Essendon’s Mark Baguley has been withdrawn. “It was the view of the panel that Greenwood’s actions were not a reportable offence,” the panel said.

The panel found Fremantle’s Zac Dawson had made high contact with Sydney’s Lance Franklin, but again the force was below that required for a reportable offence.

“The ball bounces in front of Franklin as he attempts to take possession and Dawson goes to tackle his Sydney opponent and makes high contact,” the panel said.

“A free kick was paid at the time for the high contact. It was the view of the panel the force used was below that required to constitute a reportable offence.”

Fremantle’s ruckman Aaron Sandilands has been cleared following his bump on Sydney’s Luke Parker.

“It was the view of the panel the majority of contact was made to Parker’s shoulder,” the panel said.

Adversity drives Hawks

Shaun Burgoyne feels Hawthorn’s year of setbacks has helped drive their push for back-to-back AFL flags.

Cyril Rioli, Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson and Brian Lake – four of the Hawks’ most important players – all missed large chunks of the season.

In addition, coach Alastair Clarkson missed five games after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Shaun Burgoyne says setbacks have made the Hawks more determined. Photo: Getty

“It’s been one out of the blue,” Burgoyne said of the Hawks’ 2014 campaign.

“Lots of ups and downs. It’s just made the group a bit more determined, and also provided a lot of great opportunities.”

Even at the start of the year, the reigning premiers were a notably different beast to the 2013 premiership edition.

Max Bailey and Brent Guerra had retired, while excitement machine Lance Franklin joined Sydney on a nine-year contract worth $10 million.

Midfielder Jordan Lewis has gone from serviceable to star this season, while Matthew Spangher is among the previously fringe players to seemingly lock down a spot in the Hawks’ best 22.

Will Langford and Jonathon Ceglar have likewise stepped up.

“It is hard to compare (2013 to 2014). Two different feelings,” Burgoyne said after the Hawks trumped Geelong by 36 points to stroll into their fourth consecutive preliminary final.

“We’ve got some younger guys into the team.

“We’re a year older and a year wiser, but all the other teams have gotten better as well.”

Hawthorn will play either Fremantle or Port Adelaide on Saturday week, Burgoyne suggesting he has no preference.

Matt Suckling (knee) and Rioli (hamstring) will be testing out their respective injuries, while prized recruit Ben McEvoy will be doing all he can to claim Ceglar’s place in the side.

“This is the problem you want to have, a couple of players at your disposal and competition for spots,” Burgoyne said.

Swan cleared

Nick Malceski cuts a downcast figure after going off injured. Photo: Getty

Gun Sydney defender Nick Malceski has been cleared of any tear to his hamstring and is expected to be available for the preliminary final.

The 30-year-old was subbed out at quarter-time in Saturday’s win over Fremantle to get treatment.

But scans on Monday confirmed there was no tear to his hamstring and coach John Longmire believed the Swans’ week off would be enough to have Malceski fit to return in their next match.

“It’s the best possible news,” Longmire told sydneyswans.com.au. “There is no tear in his hamstring muscle, which is a good thing.

“He’s got a tiny bit of fluid on the outside of the muscle, which is similar to what Josh Kennedy had, but not as bad.

“It’s only very small and that’s probably why he had a little bit of soreness in the muscle, but it should be fine for Friday week.”

Longmire said he expected the All-Australian team nominee to resume regular training next week, ahead of their grand final qualifier on September 19.