North Melbourne are hopeful midfield star Daniel Wells will return from a calf strain for Sunday’s Etihad Stadium AFL clash with Fremantle.
The Dockers risk falling out of the top eight if they lose but, while the Kangaroos should play finals regardless of the result, coach Brad Scott said Wells would not be given an extra week off if he was fit to play.
“Everyone knows we’re a better side with Daniel Wells in it and we’re really keen for him to come back in,” Scott told reporters on Thursday.
“We’re certainly not treating this game as one where we’ll rest him.
“If he’s right to play, we’ll play him.
“We’ll give him as long as we possibly can.”
Scott said Wells’ explosive pace and agility would be valuable against a side with the fanatical defensive focus of the Dockers.
But he said winning the contested ball would be the game’s most important aspect.
Scott said Fremantle’s grinding style would make the clash another good finals rehearsal for the Kangaroos, who have won nine of their past 10 matches.
“Fremantle at the moment are playing footy that I think’s worthy of a top-four standing, so they’re going to be a real challenge,” he said.
“You can say it’s at Etihad, but they’ve put that one away as well because they’ve played well at Etihad this year and they’re going to be a great challenge.”