Carlton will be without inspirational captain Patrick Cripps in their AFL clash with Fremantle, while Sydney have backed Tom McCartin to fill the void left by Lance Franklin in a rejigged forward line.
Cripps headlines the big-name omissions in round 15, with the Blues expecting the Brownlow Medal favourite to miss one or two games because of a sprained foot.
The Swans have made three changes for Saturday’s SCG match against Gold Coast, calling up McCartin, Ben Ronke and James Rowbottom in place of off-season recruits Dan Menzel and Ryan Clarke plus hamstrung superstar Franklin.
“We’ve got a lot of faith in what Tommy can do,” Swans coach John Longmire said.
“It’s disappointing to lose Lance but we get a quality, competitive young forward back in the team.”
The Suns also made three changes, recalling Pearce Hanley, Touk Miller and Brad Scheer at the expense of George Horlin-Smith, Nick Holman (back) and Callum Ah Chee (ankle).
The Blues’ hopes of upsetting Fremantle in Perth on Sunday have been dealt an immense blow, with Cripps and Harry McKay (groin) both confirmed omissions.
Fremantle key forward Cam McCarthy, Melbourne’s Jordan Lewis and Michael Hibberd and some seven Richmond players are among the inclusions in Sunday’s extended squads.
The Tigers have promoted fit-again captain Trent Cotchin, David Astbury, Jayden Short, Kane Lambert, Shane Edwards, Ivan Soldo and Shai Bolton for their match against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
Four-time premiership forward Jarryd Roughead is once again out of Hawthorn’s AFL team but this time it is because of sore ribs rather than poor form.
The Hawks have made three changes for their MCG clash with West Coast, picking debutant Oliver Hanrahan, Conor Nash and Daniel Howe in place of Roughead, Harry Morrison and Kaiden Brand.
The reigning premiers have been boosted by the return of Willie Rioli, who has served a one-game suspension, and Nic Naitanui, who will play his first AFL game since undergoing a knee reconstruction last year.
Kyron Hayden will soon become the ninth North Melbourne player to debut in 2019, having been called up to face Collingwood after Taylor Garner’s club-imposed suspension.
The Magpies made one change for Saturday night’s contest at Marvel Stadium, replacing Jeremy Howe (calf) with Josh Daicos.
Western Bulldogs named an unchanged side as they seek to topple Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The Power recalled Peter Ladhams and Willem Drew following Karl Amon and Dougal Howard’s suspensions.
Adelaide were forced to make three changes for Friday night’s clash with Geelong because of injuries to Josh Jenkins, Wayne Milera and Cameron Ellis-Yolmen.
The Crows promoted veteran Bryce Gibbs, forward Elliott Himmelberg and debutant Ben Davis.
The Cats have picked Lachie Fogarty and Jed Bews in place of Gary Rohan, who was knocked out in the club’s loss to Port Adelaide, and omitted big man Darcy Fort.
