Star Carlton midfielders Patrick Cripps and Adam Cerra have been grounded by injury, while Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas has fallen out of favour yet again ahead of the Power’s top-of-the-table clash with Collingwood.
Cripps (corked leg) and Cerra (hamstring tightness) were ruled out of Saturday’s match against West Coast at Marvel Stadium as a precaution, with the duo joining forward Harry McKay (knee) on the sidelines.
West Coast will be without star defender Jeremy McGovern (concussion) and midfielder Reuben Ginbey (hamstring), but Jack Petruccelle returns from injury and last week’s sub Andrew Gaff is back in the 22.
Port have been boosted by the returns of Trent McKenzie, Willie Rioli, Charlie Dixon and Jason Horne-Francis among five changes for the blockbuster against the Magpies at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
But Jonas, who had been frozen out of the side since round 10 before returning for last week’s 50-point loss to Carlton, has been dropped again.
The Magpies welcome back forward Brody Mihocek and ruckman Darcy Cameron, with Billy Frampton among the omissions.
Fremantle have lost Sean Darcy, Brandon Walker, Nathan O’Driscoll, James Aish and Bailey Banfield to injury for Saturday night’s assignment against Sydney in Perth.
Caleb Serong returns from suspension, while Hayden Young and Michael Frederick are back from injury.
Former Suns forward Josh Corbett has been handed a recall for just his second Dockers appearance.
Sydney welcome back Jake Lloyd and Chad Warner, but have lost Lewis Melican to injury.
Richmond speedster Maurice Rioli has been dropped less than a week after refusing to take a phone call from the coaches after being subbed off in Sunday’s win over West Coast.
Adam Cerra of the Blues runs with the ball. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Rhyan Mansell has replaced Rioli in the side for Saturday’s match against Hawthorn at the MCG.
The Hawks opted to drop ruckman Lloyd Meek.
Melbourne have named Brodie Grundy on an extended bench for Sunday’s match against Adelaide.
Grundy was dropped to the VFL last week to work on his forward craft, but could return in a Demons side that has recalled Adam Tomlinson to replace Harrison Petty (ribs).
The Crows have recalled Matt Crouch for just his second AFL game of the year, but Rory Laird (shoulder) and Josh Rachele (suspension) go out.
Essendon have axed Sam Weideman and brought in Nik Cox for Friday night’s encounter with the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
The Bulldogs regain Bailey Smith from illness.
Brisbane have been boosted by the return of Josh Dunkley and Callum Ah Chee for Saturday’s vital match against Geelong at the Gabba, but Zac Bailey is out with a calf injury.
North Melbourne have lost George Wardlaw (hamstring), Cam Zurhaar (ankle) and Callum Coleman-Jones (concussion) for their match against St Kilda.
Jack Higgins is back for the Saints, and he could be joined by Jack Billings, who has been named on an extended interchange bench.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is thrilled his players are helping drive standards as they face a season-defining match against Essendon.
Defeat to the Bombers at a sold-out Marvel Stadium on Friday night could drop the Bulldogs from seventh to as low as 12th.
However, a win would solidify their position in the top-eight as they attempt to play finals for a fifth straight season.
The Bulldogs are coming off a heartbreaking two-point loss against Sydney, after which Beveridge questioned some unidentified individual players for playing roles that cost his team the match.
Bulldogs midfielder Adam Treloar this week said the club had to treat the remaining six games like finals.
“Those words haven’t come out of my mouth, but I like the way he’s (Treloar) thinking,” Beveridge said. “There’s no time like the present. If our players are using that sort of terminology, it’s fine with me.
“I’m a dreamer, I’m a believer, I’m someone who doesn’t let go until it’s finished.
“I’m telling our players that we are capable of anything – but it remains to be seen.”
Essendon sit eighth and are coming off a 77-point smashing from reigning premiers Geelong at the Cats’ Kardinia Park fortress last Saturday night
But the Bulldogs will treat the Bombers as if they will come out in the scintillating form they showed against Adelaide a week earlier.
“Their offensive brilliance has been quite evident in some of their games,” Beveridge said.
“They had a bit of a shoot-out against Adelaide as well, so we can see where their threats are. They’ll be a handful.
“The Bombers are striving to make sure at the end of the year that they’re finishing in that top eight – as we are – so like Sydney last week, they’re as dangerous as any team on their day.”
© AAP
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