GREATER Western Sydney will be boosted by the return of five experienced players for its clash with Melbourne.
The Giants were hit by a COVID-19 outbreak, sitting out last week, and four of the five – midfielders Chloe Dalton and Katie Loynes, key forward Bec Privitelli and key defender Pepa Randall – had missed the previous round due to AFL health and safety protocols.
Haneen Zreika also returns after opting to sit out round four due to personal reasons.
NAB AFLW Rising Star winner Tyla Hanks returns for Melbourne after health and safety protocols, replacing Casey Sherriff (concussion).
Carlton is in a similar position, welcoming back All-Australian ruck Breann Moody from protocols.
Forward Courtney Jones – the team's leading goalkicker in 2022 – will miss through protocols. Earlier this week, Brooke Vickers (ankle) had been given the all-clear to hold her spot in the side, but ultimately won't make the trip west to face Fremantle.
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The Dockers have just made one change, dropping Ann McMahon in place of Jasmin Stewart, with Matilda Sergeant to miss a second game with concussion.
Akec Makur Chuot will play her first game for the season for Richmond, with Meagan Kiely recalled after being managed last week.
They will replace Laura McClelland (syndesmosis) and Hannah Burchell (ACL), with former VFLW Roo Kiely to face her former club.
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North Melbourne is unchanged, with Kaitlyn Ashmore sidelined for a second week with a hamstring issue. Tess Craven and Grace Campbell are emergencies.
Saturday, February 12
Richmond v North Melbourne at the Swinburne Centre, 2.10pm AEDT
RICHMOND
B: S.D'Arcy 12 R.Miller 15
HB: A.Makur Chuot 34 J.Hosking 11 K.Dempsey 19
C: T.Lavey 37 S.Hosking 7 M.Shevlin 35
HF: B.Lynch 32 M.Brancatisano 5 E.Yassir 27
F: E.McKenzie 22 G.Seymour 28
Foll: P.Kelly 14 K.Brennan C 3 M.Conti 4
I/C: S.Sansonetti 18 T.Stahl 24 M.Kiely 31 M.Macdonald 38 K.Jacques 10
Emerg: S.Molan 1 S.Dargan 17
In: A.Makur Chuot, M.Kiely
Out: L.McClelland (injured), H.Burchell (injured)
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: J.Ferguson 20 S.Wright 17
HB: B.Brown 36 E.Kearney C 9 A.Gilroy 8
C: N.Bresnehan 12 J.Bruton 35 I.Eddey 3
HF: A.O'Loughlin 6 E.King 60 E.Gavalas 22
F: T.Randall 16 S.Abbatangelo 1
Foll: K.Rennie 26 J.Garner 25 A.Riddell 7
I/C: D.Bateman 11 D.Bannister 2 M.King 23 A.Smith 15 J.Duffin 27
Emerg: T.Craven 5 G.Campbell 43
No changes
Melbourne v Greater Western Sydney at Casey Fields, 4.10pm AEDT
MELBOURNE
B: L.Birch 9 G.Colvin 32
HB: S.Goldrick 23 S.Lampard 8 S.Heath 30
C: L.Mithen 14 T.Hanks 5 E.McNamara 22
HF: S.Scott 12 K.Hore 10 M.Fitzsimon 24
F: D.Pearce C 6 T.Harris 7
Foll: L.Pearce 15 K.Paxman 4 E.Zanker 29
I/C: L.Magee 26 E.West 11 M.Caris 21 J.Parry 19 A.Bannan 16
Emerg: B.Tarrant 20 A.Brown 28
In: T.Hanks
Out: C.Sherriff (injured)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
B: J.Grierson 10 B.Stack 15
HB: A.Lister 14 P.Randall 21 T.Hetherington 9
C: E.Pease 33 A.Parker 3 K.Smith 4
HF: R.Privitelli 19 C.Staunton 13 J.Doyle 5
F: L.Stephenson 12 N.Barr 8
Foll: E.McKinnon 23 A.Eva C 2 K.Loynes 7
I/C: L.Graham 37 A.Dallaway 30 C.Dalton 11 H.Zreika 24 A.Morphett 22
Emerg: L.Steane 20 E.Lorenzini 25
In: P.Randall, R.Privitelli, K.Loynes, C.Dalton, H.Zreika
Out: E.Lorenzini (omitted), G.Fowler (omitted), B.Mowbray (omitted), C.Simmons (omitted), L.Steane (rested)
Fremantle v Carlton at Fremantle Oval, 3.10pm AWST
FREMANTLE
B: E.O'Driscoll 3 L.Pugh 32
HB: S.Verrier 5 A.Tighe 10 J.Low 30
C: E.Antonio 12 A.Stannett 4 S.Cain 20
HF: A.Runnalls 22 K.Antonio 15 R.Roux 17
F: G.Houghton 27 M.Tuhakaraina 13
Foll: M.Strom 21 H.Miller C 19 G.O'Sullivan 9
I/C: T.Toth 33 J.Stewart 7 M.Hyde 28 D.East 8 M.Morrison 11
Emerg: S.Wielstra 24 B.Webb 26
In: J.Stewart
Out: A.McMahon (omitted)
CARLTON
B: C.Wilson 20 P.Trudgeon 26
HB: J.Dal Pos 2 K.Harrington C 9 D.Walker 23
C: N.Plane 32 E.O'Dea 46 G.Pound 6
HF: G.Gee 19 N.Stevens 21 B.Walker 7
F: L.McEvoy 13 D.Vescio 3
Foll: B.Moody 16 M.Prespakis 4 A.McKay 5
I/C: M.Hill 10 V.Laloifi 8 J.Good 15 L.Brazzale 12 G.Egan 1
Emerg: A.Lee 11 C.Hammans 17
In: B.Moody, L.Brazzale
Out: C.Jones (HS protocol), B.Vickers (injured)
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