AFL premiers West Coast have backed in Tom Hickey to go it alone against star ruckman Max Gawn in Sunday’s clash with Melbourne in Alice Springs.
The Eagles have opted against bringing in a specialist ruckman to support Hickey after losing Nic Naitanui to a potentially season-ending ankle injury.
Forward duo Jake Waterman and Jack Petruccelle were instead named to replace Naitanui and Jamie Cripps (groin), with young forward Oscar Allen set to pinch-hit in the ruck against Gawn and fellow giant Braydon Preuss.
The Demons named brothers Corey and Josh Wagner and omitted Mitch Hannan and Kyle Dunkley.
Western Bulldogs veteran Dale Morris was denied an improbable AFL comeback after being overlooked for Sunday’s clash with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
The 36-year-old returned through the VFL last month after suffering a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at training in March.
Morris was named as an emergency with the Bulldogs confirming Tom Liberatore and Caleb Daniel will return from injury alongside Bailey Dale.
The Dogs lost Toby McLean and Ed Richards to hamstring injuries and dropped Bailey Williams.
St Kilda swung two changes for their first game under caretaker coach Brett Ratten, adding debutant Doulton Langlands and mature-aged recruit Matthew Parker.
Hawthorn received a boost for Sunday’s clash with Geelong at the MCG with Jack Gunston set to return from a leg injury in place of Daniel Howe.
Geelong will welcome back key defender Jake Kolodjashnij and James Parsons and have lost Brandan Parfitt (back) and Jack Henry (managed).