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Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge didn’t use the best turn of phrase when confirming the end of the club-imposed suspension of forward Tom Boyd.
“He’s fighting fit,” Beveridge said of Boyd, who will return to AFL ranks on Saturday against Gold Coast.
Boyd had been suspended indefinitely by the Dogs for an altercation with teammate Zaine Cordy.
But the highly-paid attacker is among two changes for the Bulldogs for their encounter with the injury-depleted Suns – Josh Dunkley also returns, with Tom Liberatore sidelined by a lung complaint and Lukas Webb omitted.
Gold Coast lost captain Gary Ablett (shoulder), Michael Rischitelli (knee) and Dion Prestia (knee).
Meanwhile, North Melbourne have been strengthened by the return of a key trio – Nick Dal Santo, Jarrad Waite and Daniel Wells – for their encounter against Port Adelaide on Saturday.
The Roos lost Mason Wood (knee) and Farren Ray (hamstring) to injury and dropped Trent Dumont while Port also made three changes with Brad Ebert (bruised lung), Nathan Krakouer (family funeral) and Cam O’Shea (omitted) replaced by Sam Gray, Paul Stewart and Brendon Ah Chee.
Geelong has rested Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel for their away trip to meet Fremantle on Friday night and also dumped Mitch Clark and Darcy Lang, recalling Shane Kersten, Rhys Stanley and Josh Cowan.
The Dockers named experienced duo Michael Barlow and Tendai Mzungu as replacements for Ed Langdon (hamstring) and Darcy Tucker (omitted).
Essendon included influential pair David Zaharakis and Matthew Leuenberger for Saturday afternoon’s match against Richmond, who recalled Shaun Grigg at the expense of Reece Conca.
In other selection news for Saturday games, Collingwood will be without Alex Fasolo (shoulder) for their away match game against an unchanged Adelaide side.
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