State-of-the-art NSW a dream Origin bunch
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, June 20

Zac Williams bursts out of the backline and chips a kick to Isaac Heeney.

The Blues star handballs to Isaac Smith, who drives the Sherrin deep into the forward line, where Tom Hawkins takes a strong mark and goals.

State of Origin is a thing of the past in the AFL but it’s still nice to dream.

NSW has produced some of the game’s greatest players, starting with triple Brownlow Medallist Haydn Bunton way back in the 1930s through to Wayne Carey, Paul Kelly and Shane Crawford.

That pipeline of talent is running stronger than ever, with 45 players who grew up in NSW and Canberra on AFL lists.

That stretches across 14 of the 18 clubs, with 21 based in Sydney (GWS have 11 and the Swans 10).

It’s the greatest representation of home grown talent in the game’s history.

So just how would a NSW AFL Origin side stack up against the traditional powerhouses of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia?

The short answer, on paper at least, is very well.

B: Matthew Suckling, Michael Hartley, Zac Williams

HB: Callum Mills, Dane Rampe, Jarrad McVeigh

C: Isaac Smith, Kieren Jack, Will Langford

HF: Harry Cunningham, Josh Bruce, Matt Kennedy

F: Luke Breust, Tom Hawkins, Sam Lloyd

Foll: Sam Naismith, Isaac Heeney, Jacob Hopper

I/C: Jarrod Witts, Harry Perryman, Harrison Himmelberg, Jack Steele

E: Jake Barrett, Daniel Lloyd, Dan Robinson

Coach: John Longmire

Ankle saves selectors headache
Greg Denham
The Australian, June 20

Sydney ruckman Kurt Tippett will not be considered against Essendon on Friday night at the SCG after pulling up sore from a weekend NEAFL appearance.

After his second straight game in the Swans seconds, the out of sorts big man pulled up with ankle soreness. His topsy-turvy season continues, and the ankle trouble puts an end to any selection debate this week over whether he should replace Callum Sinclair to partner No 1 ruckman Sam Naismith against the Bombers.

Tippett has played only five games this season, including a cameo appearance against the Bulldogs in round two when he damaged his ankle early after just one possession. The 30-year-old, who is contracted until the end of 2020, has not played since a 12-possession game when the Swans lost to Hawthorn at the SCG in round 10.

“He’s got an ankle that’s sort of been grumbling along a little bit and that means that he’ll miss this week,” coach John Longmire said yesterday. “He got through the game on the weekend but pulled up a bit sore and it’s just been getting worse and worse, so we’ve got to make sure we get him right.”

Joel Selwood, Buddy Franklin fined
Greg Denham
The Australian, June 20

High-profile players Lance Franklin, Joel Selwood, Nick Riewoldt and West Coast’s Sam Mitchell and Luke Shuey are all free to play this weekend after escaping match review panel suspensions yesterday.

Swans star Franklin was offered a $1000 fine after being charged with engaging in rough conduct against Richmond’s Connor Menadue, and he can take his place against Essendon at the SCG on Friday night.

The panel classified his bump on Menadue as high contact, but he escaped a suspension when they deemed his conduct to be careless and of low impact.

Franklin had just competed for a mark and followed up at ground level when he collided with Menadue, who had his head over the ball. The incident sparked a melee in which Franklin became tangled with Alex Rance and his Richmond teammate Jack Riewoldt.

Kurt Tippett hits hurdle in bid for Sydney Swans AFL recall, Jarrad McVeigh could return
Rob Forsaith
AAP, SMH, June 20

Sydney ruckman Kurt Tippett will have to wait for at least another week for a recall because of a pre-existing ankle injury.

However,  veteran Jarrad McVeigh is a chance to play this week, according to Swans coach John Longmire. McVeigh has missed most of 2017 with calf and hamstring complaints.

Meanwhile, in bad news for Geelong, Scott Selwood has confirmed he suffered a minor hamstring tear in the loss to West Coast last Thursday night. He will miss the Cats' clash with Fremantle, but hopes not to sit out "too much" footy.

Tippett, who was left out of the Swans' side for recent wins over the Western Bulldogs and Richmond,  pulled up sore on Monday following a second game in the reserves, with Longmire confirming the r big man would not be right to face Essendon at the SCG on Friday night.

"He's got an ankle [injury] that's sort of been grumbling along a little bit and that means that he'll miss this week," Longmire said on Monday.

"He got through the game on the weekend but pulled up a bit sore and it's just been getting worse and worse, so we've got to make sure we get him right.

"We expect him to be right [next week]. He's had it for a couple of weeks, but that's what AFL footy is about, you go through those patches when this happens.

"It's just about showing the resilience to be able to bounce back and I'm sure he will, he's a really resilient character."

Lance Franklin and Joel Selwood avoid suspensions
Lauren Wood
Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph, June 20

Sydney star Lance Franklin has escaped with a fine but one of his teammates could miss this Friday night’s clash with Essendon.

Franklin has been offered a $1000 fine for his high bump on Tiger Connor Menadue, but fellow Swan Zak Jones wasn’t so lucky.

Jones has been offered a one-match penalty for striking Richmond’s Dan Butler.

Sun Matt Rosa can also accept a one-match ban for his swinging arm on Blue Dale Thomas, while Thomas was cleared for his contact on Adam Saad.

It was the panel’s view that “Thomas over-ran the ball, did not elect to bump and the incident was not reportable in the circumstances”.