For one of the rare times this season, Michael Voss has no new injury concerns after Sunday's win over Port Adelaide. Livewire forward Todd Banfield will undergo a test on the hamstring he injured in round 13 against Richmond, while Mitch Clark (ankle) and Josh Drummond (knee) will still be unavailable to take on Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday. Brent Staker made his comeback from LARS surgery through the reserves last week and is likely to stay there for at least another week.
-Michael Whiting
CARLTON
Ed Curnow (quad), Nick Duigan (calf) and Setanta O'hAilpin face fitness tests ahead of this Sunday's twilight clash with the Western Bulldogs while Simon White will miss after picking up a hamstring injury against Richmond. Brock McLean had 27 touches in the Northern Bullants' 29-point loss to Williamstown on Sunday while Dennis Armfield, Mark Austin and rookie Joe Dare played well. Paul Bower also played in the VFL and could be considered if the Blues wanted to experiment beyond replacing Michael Jamison with Lachie Henderson in the backline, although the former Brisbane Lions' performance against Jack Riewoldt on the weekend was more than promising.
-Jennifer Witham
COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies will need to work out how best to manage the absence of Chris Dawes, who will miss between four and six weeks with a broken knuckle. Do they shift a defender - like Ben Reid or Chris Tarrant - forward and bring in Tyson Goldsack or Lachie Keefe, who Mick Malthouse said a few weeks ago had been stiff not to debut yet? Ben Johnson, in his second straight game in the VFL, was in the best in the Pies' four-point loss to Box Hill while Brent Macaffer got through his second game back from the foot stress fracture that derailed his first half of the season. Alan Didak is expected to miss another week with the calf strain he sustained against the Sydney Swans while Dale Thomas should be fine for the clash with North Melbourne on Sunday despite suffering a mild concussion on the weekend.
-Jennifer Witham
ESSENDON
It's unlikely Essendon will make too many unforced changes this week against Richmond after its surprise win over Geelong last Saturday. Andrew Welsh will miss with a hamstring injury, and Alex Browne, Jake Carlisle and Ricky Dyson would be leading the way to be his replacement. The Bendigo Bombers had the bye in the VFL last weekend meaning Scott Gumbleton is unlikely to come into contention to return to the senior team to face the Tigers.
-Callum Twomey
GEELONG
Having recovered from niggling injuries, midfielders Joel Corey and Travis Varcoe will be recalled to Geelong's team for the Cats' much-anticipated clash with West Coast at Patersons Stadium on Friday night. Simon Hogan, who was given leave from the club earlier in the season as he battled depression, is also a chance to return after some great performances in the VFL. Young forward Mitch Brown has been ruled out for the rest of the year with a shoulder injury, while Cameron Mooney will spent another week in the VFL, despite kicking five goals against Frankston last weekend.
-Adam McNicol
GOLD COAST
With injuries to Sam Day and Josh Fraser, Guy McKenna looks like having to make some forced changes for Saturday's home clash against the Swans. Tom Lynch will come back in after a rest, while Charlie Dixon's 11 goals in reserves will almost guarantee him a start. Michael Rischitelli will undergo a test on his hamstring, while Daniel Harris may also get a recall, with his hardened body perfect for taking on the rugged Swans.
-Michael Whiting
HAWTHORN
The Hawks will lose young key defender Jordan Lisle (fractured cheekbone) for their clash with the Brisbane Lions in Launceston, but will be hopeful Lance Franklin (ankle), Chance Bateman (ankle) and Michael Osborne (corked thigh) will all come up. Premiership half-back Xavier Ellis made his return from a month-long lay-off in the VFL on the weekend and was one of Box Hill's best. Riley Milne, an emergency in round 15, was Box Hill's standout and might also be considered, while Rick Ladson is off the injured list and could be called upon.
- Mark Macgugan
NORTH MELBOURNE
First-year midfielder Shaun Atley is a strong chance to return to North's side after being rested last week. Key defender Robbie Tarrant's name is also likely to be considered after he held two-time Coleman medallist Brendan Fevola to two goals in Werribee's win over Casey. Others to impress for Werribee were rookie Majak Daw and Ben Ross, while Hamish McIntosh had 24 possessions, 17 hit-outs and a goal in his second game back from achilles tendon surgery. However, McIntosh is likely to spend at least another week in the VFL before being recalled. Rookie Marcus White and Cruize Garlett (both 32 possessions) were North's best for North Ballarat, while Cameron Richardson and Matt Campbell (both 21 possessions and a goal) also put their hands up for a recall.
- Nick Bowen
PORT ADELAIDE
Small forward Simon Phillips (shoulder) is in doubt for the clash with St Kilda and could be replaced by Cam Hitchcock, who kicked five goals for Glenelg. Jason Davenport, Jacob Surjan and Mitch Banner also had good games in the SANFL and will be considered if Matthew Primus decides to ring the changes, while Michael Pettigrew could be recalled to bolster the back line in the absence of Alipate Carlile. Dean Brogan (hamstring) could be available, but the club is likely to stick with young ruckman Matthew Lobbe. Daniel Motlop and Steven Salopek had quieter games in the local league.
-Katrina Gill
RICHMOND
After copping a 103-point thrashing from Carlton in round 15, the Tigers could make a number of changes for Saturday night's clash with Essendon. While their VFL team had the bye last weekend, Shane Tuck is one player who had been pushing hard for a return to the AFL side. He is a good chance to replace Ben Griffiths, who was subbed off early against the Blues after suffering a rib injury. Matt White (knee) and Daniel Connors (quad) are expected to return through the VFL in the next two weeks.
- Adam McNicol
ST KILDA
Tommy Walsh continues to knock on the door after another best on ground performance for Sandringham.. He has come close to making his debut a couple of times this season and is once again likely to be considered. The Saints briefly trialled Tom Lynch and Sam Gilbert as back-up ruckmen to Ben McEvoy last week without any great return so Walsh could be next cab off the rank. Andrew McQualter is also close to returning to the senior side after several decent games for the Zebras. Jason Blake may return from a knee injury.
- Luke Holmesby
SYDNEY SWANS
Goal-kicking is the topic of the week at the Swans after they kicked 13 straight behinds during their upset seven-point loss to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last week. Trent Dennis-Lane keeps doing his part for a recall by kicking a bag of goals every week in the reserves, including 12 in another lopsided victory last week. Kieren Jack (ankle) and Craig Bird (knee) are likely to return against Gold Coast, while No.1 ruckman Shane Mumford should slot straight back in following a two-week suspension.
-James Dampney
WEST COAST
Selection will be challenging for West Coast this week as it looks to replace important players Quinten Lynch (suspended) and Sam Butler (quad). Beau Waters is ready to return from a long-term elbow injury, but he faces a five-day turnaround after playing in the WAFL. The other options to replace Butler are half-back Lewis Stevenson and lockdown defender Pat McGinnity. The match committee could also choose to include in-form midfielders Andrew Gaff, who had 33 possessions in the WAFL, and Koby Stevens. Callum Wilson, who kicked four goals in the WAFL, could be included if the Eagles want to maintain their tall forward line in Lynch's absence.
-Nathan Schmook
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Williamstown enjoyed a 29-point win over the Northern Bullants on Sunday and there were a plethora of Bulldog players instrumental in the result. Jordan Roughead, Dylan Addison, Jason Tutt, Nathan Djerrkura and Tom Liberatore were listed in the best while Brian Lake got through another game and kicked three goals after spending the entire game in the forward line. Will Minson, Jayden Schofield and Christian Howard - last week's emergencies owing to match up reasons - also got through unscathed. Meanwhile, Ed Barlow was subbed from Friday night's win over Melbourne with a dislocated finger and was their only injury concern.
-Jennifer Witham
