North Melbourne has put its trust in Tristan Xerri, with Todd Goldstein not selected in the starting 22 for the Kangaroos’ clash with the West Coast Eagles on Saturday afternoon.

Goldstein, 34, has been one of the AFL’s most durable players in recent seasons, playing every game for the Kangaroos in the past five seasons.

But the All-Australian ruck has been named as an emergency for the match against the Eagles, with Xerri to start in the ruck with support from Charlie Comben.

New AFL rules mean the Kangaroos could name Goldstein as the sub against West Coast, who’ll be without No. 1 ruck Nic Naitanui. Rucks Bailey Williams and Callum Jamieson have both been named for West Coast.

Geelong has named star forward duo Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron for Friday night’s blockbuster against Collingwood, with trade acquisitions Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry to also play their first game in the blue and white hoops.

However the Cats have opted not to name Jon Ceglar in the first 22, with Rhys Stanley to go into the game as the sole recognised ruck. Brandan Parfitt has also been named on the emergencies list.

Collingwood has opted for Nathan Murphy over recent recruit Billy Frampton for the blockbuster against the Cats.

Frampton, who was brought over from the Crows during last year’s trade period, had been part of Collingwood’s senior team during match sinulation over the summer. But he’s been named as an emergency, with fellow defender Murphy getting the start on the bench.

Dan McStay, Tom Mitchell and Bobby Hill will all play their first game for the Pies.

Peter Ladhams will be Sydney’s recognized ruck against the Suns on Saturday, with bolter Lachlan McAndrew named as an emergency.

Melbourne has been dealt another selection blow ahead of its season-opener against the Western Bulldogs, with dual All-Australian Steven May ruled out of Saturday night’s clash due to a calf issue.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin on Wednesday confirmed Jack Viney (knee) and Bayley Fritsch (foot) wouldn’t play, joining Christian Salem on the sidelines, although the rebounding defender isn’t expected to miss too many games.

May didn’t train fully on Wednesday and was ruled out on Thursday night.

May’s absence is a major blow for the Demons, who face the prospect of a stacked Bulldogs tall forward line that includes Aaron Naughton, Sam Darcy, Rory Lobb and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

Hawthorn’s will unveil four recruits against Essendon on Sunday, with top draft pick Cam Mackenzie, as well as exchange period acquisitions Lloyd Meek, Fergus Greene and Karl Amon, to play.

Adelaide could also name a third recruit for Sunday’s match against the Giants.

The Crows had already confirmed trade acquisition Izak Rankine and father-son draftee Max Michalanney would play. But ex-Magpie Tyler Brown has been named on the Crows’ extended bench.

Dashing defender Wayne Milera has been named on a half-back flank.

Fremantle has opted to take a cautious approach with veteran Michael Walters, who won’t face St Kilda this weekend.

Walters, who’s been dealing with an Achilles issue in recent weeks, will instead play a practice match for WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder this weekend.

Michael Frederick (quad), Brennan Cox (hip and knee), Luke Ryan (back), Luke Jackson (concussion) and Jaeger O’Meara (ankle) have all been deemed fit fit for Sunday’s clash.

St Kilda has named top draftee Mattaes Phillipou, as well as recent SSP acquisition Anthony Caminiti, on an extended bench. Although coach Ross Lyon suggested during the week both would face Fremantle.

Ex-Blue Liam Stocker will play his first game for the Saints.

Gold Coast welcomes back star forward Ben King, while it’s also named academy product Bodhi Uwland for his AFL debut.

ROUND 1 AFL TEAMS

RICHMOND v CARLTON

Thursday, March 16, 7:20pm at MCG

Tigers

B: N. Balta, N. Vlastuin, D. Grimes (c)

HB: N. Broad, L. Baker, D. Rioli

C: K. McIntosh, D. Prestia, J. Short

HF: M. Rioli, J. Graham, S. Bolton

F: J. Riewoldt, D. Martin, T. Lynch

FOLL: T. Nankervis, T. Taranto, J. Hopper

I/C: B. Miller, M. Pickett, T. Cotchin, R. Mansell

EMER: J. Ross, S. Ryan, J. Clarke, T. Dow

Blues

B: Le. Young, J. Weitering, A. Saad

HB: S. Docherty, M. McGovern. L. Cowan

C: B. Acres, P. Cripps (c), O. Hollands

HF: J. Martin, H. McKay, J.Silvagni

F: M. Owies, C. Curnow, Z. Fisher

FOLL: T. De Koning, M. Kennedy, G. Hewett

I/C: N. Newman, A. Cerra, E. Curnow, J. Motlop

EMER: J. Honey, L. O’Brien, L. Plowman, M. Pittonet

GEELONG v COLLINGWOOD

Friday, March 17, 7:40pm at MCG

Cats

B: O’Connor, De Koning, Ratugolea

HB: Smith, Stewart, Z.Guthrie

C: Blicavs, Holmes, Tuohy

HF: Stengle, Cameron, Miers

F: Henry, Hawkins, Rohan

FOL: Stanley, C.Guthrie, Dangerfield

I/C: Bews, Atkins, Bruhn, Close

EMG: Ceglar, Simpson, Parfitt, Whyte

Pies

B: Quaynor, Howe, Maynard

HB: Hoskin-Elliott, Moore, N.Daicos

C: Noble, Crisp, Sidebottom

HF: Mitchell, De Goey, Hill

F: Mihocek, Elliott, McStay

FOL: Cameron, J.Daicos, Adams

I/C: Pendlebury, McCreery, Murphy, Cox

EMG: Frampton, McInnes, Carmichael, Markov

NORTH MELBOURNE v WEST COAST

Saturday, March 18, 1:45pm at Marvel Stadium

Roos

B: McDonald, Logue, Bonar

HB: Goater, Ziebell, Scott

C: Shiels, Powell, Simpkin

HF: Zurhaar, Comben, Stephenson

F: Sheezel, Larkey, Taylor

FOL: Xerri, Davies-Uniacke, Turner

I/C: Curtis, Greenwood, Bergman, Cunnington

EMG: Phillips, La.Young, Goldstein, Dawson

Eagles

B: Hurn, Barrass, Cole

HB: Duggan, McGovern, Hunt

C: Gaff, Kelly, Chesser

HF: Sheed, Darling, Cripps

F: Ryan, Allen, Long

FOL: Williams, Ginbey, Shuey

I/C: Witherden, O’Neill, Jones, Jamieson

EMG: Waterman, Petruccelle, West, Clark

PORT ADELAIDE v BRISBANE

Saturday, March 18, 4:35pm at Adelaide Oval

Power

B: Burton, Jonas, McKenzie

HB: Byrne-Jones, Aliir, Houston

C: Bergman, Drew, Duursma

HF: Georgiades, Marshall, Rozee

F: Butters, Dixon, Powell-Pepper

FOL: Lycett, Wines, Horne-Francis

I/C: Farrell, Fantasia, Rioli, Jones

EMG: Evans, Bonner, McEntee, Burgoyne

Lions

B: Starcevich, Payne, Rich

HB: McKenna, Andrews, Wilmot

C: Ashcroft, Bailey, Berry

HF: Cameron, Gunston, McCluggage

F: Rayner, Daniher, Hipwood

FOL: McInerney, Dunkley, Neale

I/C: Robertson, McCarthy, Coleman, Tunstill

EMG: Prior, Sharp, Fort, Joyce

MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Saturday, March 18, 7:25pm at MCG

Dees

B: Petty, Lever, McVee

HB: Harmes, Tomlinson, Bowey

C: Hunter, Oliver, Langdon

HF: Chandler, Brown, Spargo

F: Pickett, Grundy, Neal-Bullen

FOL: Gawn, Sparrow, Petracca

I/C: Brayshaw, Laurie, Rivers, McDonald

EMG: Van Rooyen, Hibberd, Melksham, Jordon

Dogs

B: Duryea, Jones, Daniel

HB: Dale, Keath, Richards

C: Williams, Bontempelli, Macrae

HF: Smith, Naughton, Ugle-Hagan

F: Scott, Darcy, Lobb

FOL: English, Liberatore, Treloar

I/C: Johannisen, Bruce, Baker, Hannan

EMG: Khamis, Crozier, McLean, Sweet

GOLD COAST SUNS v SYDNEY SWANS

Saturday, March 18, 8pm at Heritage Bank Stadium

Suns

B: Farrar, Collins, Macpherson

HB: Long, Ballard, Constable

C: Hollands, Miller, Uwland

HF: Lukosius, Chol, Swallow

F: Holman, King, Flanders

FOL: Witts, Rowell, Anderson

I/C: Ainsworth, Casboult, Davies, Jeffrey

EMG: Berry, Fiorini, Graham, Moyle

Swans

B: T.McCartin, Rampe, P.McCartin

HB: Cunningham, Lloyd, Florent

C: Warner, Mills, McInerney

HF: Hayward, McLean, Heeney

F: Papley, Franklin, Gulden

FOL: Ladhams, Parker, Rowbottom

I/C: Campbell, Blakey, Stephens, McDonald

EMG: Francis, Roberts, McAndrew, Sheldrick

GWS GIANTS v ADELAIDE

Sunday, March 19, 1:10pm at Giants Stadium

Giants

B: Idun, Taylor, Cumming

HB: Whitfield, Aleer, Ash

C: Callaghan, Green, Wehr

HF: Ward, Himmelberg, Lloyd

F: Greene, Hogan, Riccardi

FOL: Flynn, Kelly, Coniglio

I/C: Haynes, Buckley, Hamilton, Daniels, Perryman, Kennedy, Stone, Peatling

Crows

B: Doedee, Butts, Murray

HB: Smith, Dawson, Milera

C: Soligo, Laird, Hinge

HF: Rachele, Pedlar, Keays

F: Walker, Fogarty, Rankine

FOL: O’Brien, Slaone, Berry

I/C: Himmelberg, Schoenberg, Brown, Michalanney, Parnell, Murphy, Thilthorpe, McAdam

HAWTHORN v ESSENDON

Sunday, March 19, 3:20pm at MCG

Hawks

B: Jiath, Blanck, Frost

HB: Impey, Sicily, Day

C: Bramble, Newcombe, Amon

HF: Mackenzie, Koschitzke, Breust

F: Wingard, Greene, Moore

FOL: Meek, Maginness, Worpel

I/C: Reeves, Nash, Ward, Long, Hardwick, Macdonald, Brockman, Scrimshaw

Bombers

B: Redman, Ridley, Zerk-Thatcher

HB: Kelly, Laverde, McGrath

C: Heppell, Setterfield, Shiel

HF: Durham, Weideman, Langford

F: Davey Jnr, Wright, Perkins

FOL: Draper, Merrett, Parish

I/C: Caldwell, Snelling, Jones, Phillips, Martin, D’Ambrosio, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Menzie

ST KILDA v FREMANTLE

Sunday, March 19, 4:40pm at Marvel Stadium

Saints

B: Battle, Howard, Wilkie

HB: Stocker, Sinclair, Wanganeen-Milera

C: Wood, Steele, Byrnes

HF: Higgins, Hill, Owens

F: Cordy, Gresham, Butler

FOL: Marshall, Crouch, Clark

I/C: Bytel, Webster, Paton, Windhager, Phillipou, Campbell, Sharman, Caminiti

Dockers

B: Clark, Pearce, Ryan

HB: Cox, Young, Chapman

C: Hughes, Brodie, Aish

HF: Frederick, Jackson, O’Meara

F: Schultz, Fyfe, Switkowski

FOL: Darcy, Brayshaw, Serong

I/C: Walker, Henry, Taberner, Banfield, Johnson, Treacy, Sturt, Wilson