St Kilda has named top draftee Mattaes Phillipou, as well as recent SSP acquisition Anthony Caminiti, in its starting 22 for Sunday’s clash against Fremantle.
Ex-Blue Liam Stocker will play his first game for the Saints.
But the Dockers will head into Sunday’s clash with St Kilda with an imposing tall forward line, with Josh Treacy joining Matt Taberner and Nat Fyfe inside 50 with support to also be provided from resting rucks Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy.
Michael Frederick (quad), Brennan Cox (hip and knee), Luke Ryan (back), Jackson (concussion) and Jaeger O’Meara (ankle) have all been deemed fit for Sunday’s clash.
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.
With Essendon star Peter Wright to miss Sunday’s match against Hawthorn with injury, Harry Jones and Sam Weideman have been named at full-forward and centre half-forward respectively for the Bombers.
Returning Bomber Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has been named as an emergency, with fellow small forwards Alwyn Davey Jnr and Jye Menzie in the starting 22.
Hawthorn 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.
But Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has not named Jack Scrimshaw and Conor Nash in the club’s starting 22, despite the duo playing 20 and 21 games last year.
Adelaide has opted not to 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, with ex-Magpie Tyler Brown on Thursday night named on the Crows’ extended bench.
But recent SSP signing Brown wasn’t named in the starting 22, while forward Lachie Murphy and Riley Thilthorpe have also been named as emergencies.
Dashing defender Wayne Milera has been named on a half-back flank.
Giant Brent Daniels has been locked in to play his first game in 590 days, with the exciting small forward named on the bench to face the Crows.
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.
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, Daniels, Perryman, Peatling
EMG: Buckley, Hamilton, Kennedy, Stone
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, Michalanney, McAdam
EMG: Parnell, Murphy, Thilthorpe, Brown
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, Ward, Hardwick, Macdonald
EMG: Nash, Long, Brockman, Scrimshaw
Bombers
B: Redman, Ridley, Zerk-Thatcher
HB: Kelly, Laverde, McGrath
C: Heppell, Setterfield, Shiel
HF: Durham, Weideman, Langford
F: Davey Jnr, Jones, Perkins
FOL: Draper, Merrett, Parish
I/C: Caldwell, Phillips, Martin, Menzie
EMG: Snelling, D’Ambrosio, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Baldwin
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, Phillipou, Caminiti
EMG: Windhager, Campbell, Sharman, Paton
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: Henry, Taberner, Treacy, Wilson
EMG: Walker, Banfield, Johnson, Sturt
