WEST Coast has lost big man Nathan Vardy for Sunday's clash with the Brisbane Lions, leaving veteran Drew Petrie to shoulder the ruck load against Stefan Martin.
The Eagles (9-8) have come under ferocious scrutiny this week after last round's final-quarter capitulation to Collingwood and must overcome the bottom-placed Lions, who have named two debutants, to stay in the finals hunt.
Vardy (strained glute) will miss his first game since crossing from Geelong at the end of last season, while youngster Tom Cole (omitted), the retiring Matt Priddis (quad) and Lewis Jetta (calf) also make way.
Check out the full round 19 teams
Key defender Eric Mackenzie will return after missing two games with a hamstring injury and could support Petrie in the ruck, or free-up star backman Jeremy McGovern to relieve the 34-year-old workhorse.
Speedy forward Malcolm Karpany has been recalled alongside debutant Luke Partington and veteran Sam Mitchell.
The Lions have managed three young stars – Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry and Eric Hipwood – lost Dayne Zorko to suspension and Daniel McStay (shoulder) to injury.
Into Chris Fagan's line-up comes Sam Skinner, who ruptured his ACL last year, and Jacob Allison for their first games, while Nick Robertson returns from suspension alongside Jarrad Jansen and big man Michael Close.
In Sunday's early game, power forward Travis Cloke will make his AFL comeback for the Western Bulldogs against Essendon after several encouraging weeks in the VFL following a break to deal with mental health issues.
Cloke replaces suspended full-forward Jack Redpath, while sharpshooter Tory Dickson also bolsters the Dogs' firepower in place of veteran backman Dale Morris (broken arm).
With nine wins, the 10th-placed Dogs boast the same record as the in-form Bombers, who are in eighth spot and searching for four-straight victories.
Essendon will go in unchanged for the crunch clash at Etihad Stadium after overcoming North Melbourne last round.
Adelaide has been forced into two changes for its encounter with Collingwood, with ex-Pies runner Paul Seedsman set to play his first senior game this season against his former club.
Seedsman and young gun Wayne Milera, who has overcome a groin issue, replace star forward Eddie Betts (appendix) and midfielder Brad Crouch (cheekbone) for the League leaders.
The Pies have recalled Matt Scharenberg and Tom Phillips, who collected 40 touches and booted three goals in the VFL last weekend, with Travis Varcoe (elbow) and Jarryd Blair (omitted) making way from last round's winning side.
Sunday, July 30
Western Bulldogs v Essendon at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: T.Cloke, T.Dickson, F.Roberts, L.Webb, T.English
Out: J.Redpath (suspension), D.Morris (arm)
ESSENDON
No changes
Collingwood v Adelaide at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST
COLLINGWOOD
In: M.Scharenberg, T.Phillips
Out: T.Varcoe (elbow), J.Blair
ADELAIDE
In: P.Seedsman, W.Milera
Out: E.Betts (appendix), B.Crouch (cheekbone)
West Coast v Brisbane Lions at Domain Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
WEST COAST
In: S.Mitchell, E.Mackenzie, M.Karpany, L.Partington
Out: M.Priddis (quad), L.Jetta (calf), N.Vardy (glute), T.Cole
BRISBANE LIONS
In: M.Close, J.Jansen, N.Robertson, S.Skinner, J.Allison
Out: J.Berry (managed), H.McCluggage (managed), E.Hipwood (managed), D.Zorko (suspended), D.McStay (shoulder)
New: Sam Skinner (Gippsland U18), Jacob Allison (Aspley)
