Don’t forget to check out Ben’s ‘Submit Your Team‘ article from this morning!

COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG CATS
Collingwood
B: Heath Shaw, Ben Reid, Ben Johnson
HB: Harry O’Brien, Nick Maxwell, Sharrod Wellingham
C: Luke Ball, Dane Swan, Alan Toovey
HF: Shane O’Bree, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
F: Dayne Beams, Brent Macaffer, Leon Davis
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
I/C: Nathan Brown, Chris Dawes, Steele Sidebottom, Cameron Wood
Emg: Tarkyn Lockyer, Josh Fraser, John Anthony

In: Wellingham
Out: John Anthony

  • Wellingham is the big in for the Pies, however plenty of coaches will be disappointed to see that Presti didn’t get a guernsey – especially after his 2 goals for the VFL on the weekend.
  • Not surprisingly, Jack Anthony makes way. Medhurst is still not back into the team.

Geelong Cats
B: Josh Hunt, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie
HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Darren Milburn
C: James Kelly, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Travis Varcoe
F: Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins, Gary Ablett
Foll: Mark Blake, Joel Selwood, Paul Chapman
I/C: Shannon Byrnes, James Podsiadly, David Wojcinski, Tom Lonergan
Emg: Simon Hogan, Mitch Duncan, Taylor Hunt

In: Kelly, Podsiadly
Out: Simon Hogan, Mitch Duncan

  • Podsiadly is fortunately over his general soreness and is back in the side alongside Kelly who missed last week’s game with injury.
  • The unlucky Mitch Duncan makes way despite plenty of great performances through the year – this is the problem with playing for a great side i guess!

NORTH MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
North Melbourne
B: Michael Firrito, Scott Thompson, Brady Rawlings
HB: Nathan Grima, Lachlan Hansen, Daniel Pratt
C: Jack Ziebell, Sam Wright, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Aaron Edwards, Josh Smith, Brent Harvey
F: Daniel Wells, Nathan O’Keefe, Lindsay Thomas
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Levi Greenwood
I/C: Scott McMahon, Ben Cunnington, Leigh Harding, Matt Campbell
Emg: Brayden Norris, Corey Jones, Cruize Garlett

In: Campbell, O’Keefe
Out: David Hale (back), Cruize Garlett

New: Nathan O’Keefe (Eastern Ranges)

  • O’Keefe is a medium sized full-forward and appears to be coming into the side in favour of Corey Jones and Ben Warran. He is a good size and can take a decent mark – he has been in good form in the VFL. Last year he kicked 22 goals from 14 games at Werribee.
  • Campbell also comes back in after falling out of favour earlier in the season. Hale and Garlett make way – no huge fantasy news there.

Western Bulldogs
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Ryan Hargrave, Tom Williams, Lindsay Gilbee
C: Josh Hill, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Brennan Stack, Mitch Hahn, Jason Akermanis
F: Jarrad Grant, Barry Hall, Daniel Giansiracusa
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen
I/C: Dylan Addison, Nathan Eagleton, Will Minson, Liam Picken
Emg: Andrejs Everitt, Brodie Moles, Easton Wood

In: Griffen, Picken
Out: Shaun Higgins (general soreness), Robert Murphy (knee)

  • Two huge outs for the Dogs – we knew Murphy would miss (likely a month) with his knee issues, but Higgins’ soreness is an unwanted surprise. It is likely the Dogs are resting him due to his poor injury history – no point in risking him. I would be surprised if he weren’t back next week.
  • Griffen comes back into the squad after being a late withdrawal last week and Picken plays his first game in six weeks after an early season injury.

SYDNEY SWANS v FREMANTLE
Sydney Swans
B: Rhyce Shaw, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Tadhg Kennelly
HB: Martin Mattner, Heath Grundy, Nick Malceski
C: Daniel Hannebery, Brett Kirk, Nick Smith
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes, Josh Kennedy
F: Paul Bevan, Daniel Bradshaw, Jarrad McVeigh
Foll: Mike Pyke, Jude Bolton, Kieren Jack
I/C: Campbell Heath, Lewis Jetta, Henry Playfair, Gary Rohan
Emg: Matt O’Dwyer, Ted Richards, Patrick Veszpremi

In: Heath, Bradshaw
Out: Ted Richards, Jesse White

New: Campbell Heath (Gippsland Power)

  • Heath’s selection is a surprising one considering both his age and injury woes – after rupturing his ACL early in last year’s pre-season, Heath spent very little time at the club, instead choosing to focus on his year 12 studies. He was the second youngest player drafted in 2008 and therefore has very little footy behind him. Since being drafted, he has gained 10kgs and his form in the reserves has been solid, running off the half back and through the middle. Roos hinted on Thursday that a similar role would be played by the debutant in his first game, so he could be worth keeping an eye on.
  • Bradshaw also returns after missing last week’s game and versatile tall, Jesse White makes was after several sub-par performances.

Fremantle
B: Garrick Ibbotson, Chris Tarrant, Kepler Bradley
HB: Antoni Grover, Alex Silvagni, Roger Hayden
C: Adam McPhee, David Mundy, Paul Hasleby
HF: Jay van Berlo, Matthew Pavlich, Stephen Hill
F: Nathan Fyfe, Chris Mayne, Hayden Ballantyne
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Michael Barlow, Paul Duffield
I/C: Nick Suban, Rhys Palmer, Anthony Morabito, Ryan Crowley
Emg: Matthew de Boer, Steven Dodd, Clancee Pearce

In: Grover, Suban, Bradley, van Berlo
Out: Luke McPharlin (knee), Greg Broughton (foot), Michael Johnson (club susp), Matthew de Boer

  • Grover and Suban are the main inclusions for Freo, putting further pressure on the rookies that have so far been treating the team very well over the past couple of months.
  • Greg Broughton however looks to be out for up to a month with his foot injury – as devastating as this is, his omission may have just saved Silvagni’s bacon!

ESSENDON v RICHMOND
Essendon
B: Heath Hocking, Dustin Fletcher, Courtenay Dempsey
HB: Mark McVeigh, Tayte Pears, Brent Prismall
C: Jake Melksham, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis
HF: Angus Monfries, Scott Gumbleton, Sam Lonergan
F: David Hille, Michael Hurley, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Brent Stanton, Jason Winderlich
I/C: David Myers, Leroy Jetta, Jarrod Atkinson, Ben Howlett
Emg: Kyle Hardingham, Mark Williams, Travis Colyer

In: Pears, Lonergan
Out: Cale Hooker (hamstring), Travis Colyer

  • No huge surprises with the omissions – Hooker will miss four weeks of footy with his hamstring and Colyer seems to be out with the ‘last in, first out’ policy. Howlett seems to be safe after a good game against the Saints, as does Melksham with his NAB rising star nomination.

Richmond
B: Kelvin Moore, Will Thursfield, Luke McGuane
HB: Shane Tuck, Brett Deledio, Chris Newman
C: Shane Edwards, Ben Cousins, Jeromey Webberley
HF: Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Ben Nason
F: Robin Nahas, Alex Rance, Matt White
Foll: Tyrone Vickery, Trent Cotchin, Nathan Foley
I/C: Angus Graham, Jake King, David Astbury, Mitch Farmer
Emg: Andrew Collins, Tom Hislop, Graham Polak

In: King, Astbury, Cousins
Out: Graham Polak, Richard Tambling, Daniel Jackson (susp)

  • Astbury comes back in after missing the game against the Hawks and Polak leaves the squad after providing very little in his couple of games.

MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE
Melbourne
B: Clint Bartram, Joel Macdonald, Jared Rivers
HB: Jack Grimes, James Frawley, Colin Garland
C: James McDonald, Jack Trengove, Aaron Davey
HF: Jamie Bennell, Brad Miller, Cale Morton
F: Nathan Jones, Brad Green, Jack Watts
Foll: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Colin Sylvia
I/C: Tom Scully, Austin Wonaeamirri, Jordie McKenzie, Jake Spencer
Emg: Neville Jetta, James Strauss, Lynden Dunn

In: Miller, Macdonald, Wonaeamirri, Morton, Spencer
Out: Cameron Bruce (hamstring), Paul Johnson, Matthew Bate (ankle), Daniel Hughes, Matthew Warnock (soreness)

  • Melbourne will be stoked to see Wona and Morton lining back up in the squad! Morton is nearly premium priced, but Wona is dirt-cheap for his potential. He does have some injury worries, but after missing all of last season he could be a bargain buy for a downgrade in the forward line. Hopefully his return could see Sylvia move back into the midfield!
  • Bruce and Bate make way with unfortunate injuries, which Danny Hughes is surprisingly dropped.

Port Adelaide
B: Jacob Surjan, Alipate Carlile, Troy Chaplin
HB: Paul Stewart, Chad Cornes, Steven Salopek
C: Danyle Pearce, Domenic Cassisi, Jason Davenport
HF: Matt Thomas, Justin Westhoff, David Rodan
F: Robbie Gray, Brett Ebert, Daniel Motlop
Foll: Dean Brogan, Travis Boak, Kane Cornes
I/C: Tom Logan, Jack Trengove, Jay Schulz, Cameron Hitchcock
Emg: Josh Carr, Daniel Stewart, Jay Nash

No change

  • Both Hitchcock and Trengove are the good news here, keeping their spots. Shultz is very lucky, whilst Stewart is a bit stiff after a good game in the SANFL on the weekend.

ADELAIDE v BRISBANE LIONS
Adelaide
B: Brent Reilly, Ben Rutten, Scott Stevens
HB: Simon Goodwin, Nathan Bock, Michael Doughty
C: Myke Cook, Tyson Edwards, David Mackay
HF: Richard Douglas, Taylor Walker, Nathan van Berlo
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Jared Petrenko
Foll: Ivan Maric, Andrew McLeod, Patrick Dangerfield
I/C (from): Scott Thompson, Jonathon Griffin, Phil Davis, Jack Gunston, Tony Armstrong, Chris Schmidt, Will Young

In: Griffin, Gunston, Mackay, Thompson, Young
Out: Bernie Vince (club susp), Matthew Jaensch (club susp)

New: Jack Gunston (Sandringham Dragons)

  • A club imposed suspension has outed Jaensch and Vince, although Vince will miss more than the nominated week due to an ankle injury (estimated return is 3 weeks).
  • Mackay and Thompson are two very strong inclusions for Adelaide, whilst Gunston may make his debut after being named on the extended bench. Gunston is a full-forward whose junior stats definitely compliment him – as a lead-up forward, he averaged 15 disposals, 5 marks and nearly 2 goals a game – impressive stats. He is a little undersized though, so the expectation is that he won’t be able to replicate this yet in seniors, however he certainly has the talent. Keep an eye on him, however i feel he is just keeping the seat warm for the likes of Knights and Burton.

Brisbane Lions
B: Jed Adcock, Matt Maguire, Luke Power
HB: James Hawksley, Brent Staker, Joel Patfull
C: Tom Rockliff, Michael Rischitelli, Justin Sherman
HF: Jack Redden, Jonathan Brown, Amon Buchanan
F: Todd Banfield, Brendan Fevola, James Polkinghorne
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
I/C (from): Matt Austin, Andrew Raines, Cheynee Stiller, Ashley McGrath, Mitchell Clark, Travis Johnstone, Aaron Cornelius

In: Clark, Cornelius, Johnstone
Out: -

  • Clark in the big possible in for the Lions – the fact he is named intimates that he is fit and capable of playing and therefore will.
  • Tom Rockliff is named on the field, a massive relief to those missing the likes of Higgins/Murphy/Brennan etc from their squad.

CARLTON v HAWTHORN
Carlton
B: Michael Jamison, Bret Thornton, Aaron Joseph
HB: Bryce Gibbs, Simon White, Jordan Russell
C: Heath Scotland, Dennis Armfield, Kade Simpson
HF: Marc Murphy, Setanta O’hAilpin, Ryan Houlihan
F: Chris Yarran, Matthew Kreuzer, Eddie Betts
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Andrew Carrazzo, Chris Judd
I/C (from): Joe Anderson, Steven Browne, Jeff Garlett, Richard Hadley, Lachie Henderson, Chris Johnson, Mitch Robinson

In: Hadley, Anderson, Browne, Henderson, Robinson
Out: Jarrad Waite (susp), Kane Lucas (hamstring)

  • Waite will miss two weeks with suspension and Lucas will likely miss 3-4 with his hamstring trouble.
  • Henderson looks a likely inclusion in Waite’s place and Robinson will likely step in for Lucas.

Hawthorn
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Campbell Brown
HB: Grant Birchall, Ben Stratton, Brendan Whitecross
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Clinton Young
HF: Cyril Rioli, Lance Franklin, Carl Peterson
F: Shaun Burgoyne, Jarryd Roughead, Rhan Hooper
Foll: Brent Renouf, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C (from): Xavier Ellis, Thomas Murphy, Beau Muston, Michael Osborne, Wayde Skipper, Cameron Stokes, Matt Suckling

In: Osborne, Murphy, Hooper
Out: -

  • No outs yet, but Osbourne and Hooper are both very good boosts to the Hawks forward line. Expect Muston, Stokes and Suckling to miss.

WEST COAST v ST KILDA
West Coast
B: Scott Selwood, Eric Mackenzie, Beau Waters
HB: Lewis Stevenson, Will Schofield, Shannon Hurn
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Brad Ebert
HF: Brad Sheppard, Josh Kennedy, Andrew Embley
F: Nic Naitanui, Quinten Lynch, Mark LeCras
Foll: Dean Cox, Adam Selwood, Tom Swift
I/C (from): Mitchell Brown, Bradd Dalziell, Ashton Hams, Patrick McGinnity, Ben McKinley, Mark Nicoski, Beau Wilkes

In: Wilkes, Brown, Dalziell, Embley
Out: Darren Glass

  • Embley is a very welcome inclusion for the Eagles, especially on the wide expanses of Subi. Dalziell may also get the gig due to his running power.
  • Glass is a big out for the Eagles, but fortunately in DT land, it’s not such a big issue.

St Kilda
B: James Gwilt, Zac Dawson, Sam Gilbert
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Jason Blake
C: Brendon Goddard, Nick Dal Santo, Farren Ray
HF: Nick Heyne, Rhys Stanley, Adam Schneider
F: Clinton Jones, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna
I/C (from): Raphael Clarke, Robert Eddy, Jarryn Geary, Andrew McQualter, Ben McEvoy, Brett Peake, Jack Steven

In: Clarke, Peake, Eddy, Steven, Stanley
Out: Jason Gram (groin), David Armitage

New: Rhys Stanley (West Adelaide)

  • Some very big changes at the Saints: Gram will miss four weeks with a groin injury and Armitage is dropped (he would have been rubbish at Subi anyway). I will also eat my hat if McQualter doesn’t get dropped.
  • Into the side is Rhys Stanley, the Riewoldt prodigy which made most Saints supporters wet their pants in the pre-season – he was also the only bit they remember from Grand Final day when he won the 100metre sprint at half time. He is a high-leaping ruckman-cum-forward with a great set of hands, agility and leap – not unlike Paddy Ryder. Don’t expect too much from the kid in his debut, but he could be the hit-up player the Saints are looking for in Roo’s absence.
  • On the extended bench, expect Steven, Peake, McEvoy and Geary to play – Raph is also a chance in Geary’s place due to the ground. Also great to see Nick Heyne named for his second game.

Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Hawthorn, West Coast and St Kilda will name their final sides (22 plus three emergencies) from 5pm AEST on Friday.