- Bulldog Matthew Boyd dumped on cusp of record-breaking match
- Free agent Jasper Pittard one of three Power players dropped
- Gary Rohan back for Swans' critical match with Richmond
THE AXE has fallen on former Western Bulldogs skipper Matthew Boyd just as he was set to break retired West Coast ruckman Dean Cox's games record for rookie-drafted players.
Boyd and Cox are locked on 290 games, but the 2016 premiership player will now have to wait to pass the ex-Eagle after being dumped from Sunday's clash with Melbourne.
Coach Luke Beveridge has not been shy in the past two years about omitting big-name players, and Boyd is only the latest.
Defender Fletcher Roberts and young big man Tim English were also dropped, while Travis Cloke (soreness) and Marcus Adams (foot) were forced outs.
However, premiership trio Dale Morris, Tom Boyd and Zaine Cordy are back.
Tom Liberatore – after playing three VFL matches – Tom Campbell, Mitch Honeychurch, Lukas Webb and Bailey Williams were named on the extended bench and could also return.
The Demons have no confirmed changes yet, with Jake Spencer potentially back to help solve their ruck struggles, along with Ben Kennedy and Sam Weideman as possible ins. All three have been named on the extended bench.
St Kilda welcomes back Nick Riewoldt as it bids to end its three-match losing slide, as well as beat North Melbourne for the first time since 2011.
Luke Dunstan and Jack Lonie also return for Jack Steele, who was dropped, and Nathan Wright (shoulder) and Paddy McCartin (knee).
The Roos made just one change, replacing promising backman Ed Vickers-Willis (knee) with Declan Mountford, who has not played at AFL level since making his debut in round one.
Richmond is unchanged for its big test against suddenly in-form Sydney at the MCG on Saturday.
The Swans have brought back speedster Gary Rohan at Lewis Melican's expense.
Port Adelaide has followed through with coach Ken Hinkley's mid-week promise of multiple selection changes in response to last week's 70-point loss to Essendon.
Defender Jasper Pittard, an unrestricted free agent at year's end, is the highest-profile casualty, joining Power teammates Brendon Ah Chee and Jimmy Toumpas in being omitted.
Fifty-one-game small forward Jake Neade will play his first match of the year, while Aaron Young – fresh from 37 disposals and five goals in the SANFL – and Dan Houston also come into the side.
Port Adelaide's opponents, the Brisbane Lions, enter Saturday's clash at Adelaide Oval unchanged for just the second time this season after their 57-point defeat of Fremantle last week.
Gold Coast is also going into round 13 unchanged after holding off Hawthorn at the MCG last Saturday.
The Suns' opponent, Carlton, has promoted Sam Petrevski-Seton and Blaine Boekhorst in place of injured pair Liam Sumner (adductor) and Alex Silvagni (knee).
Thursday, June 15
West Coast v Geelong at Domain Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
WEST COAST
In: T.Cole, T.Barrass
Out: J.Hill, S.Butler
GEELONG
In: R.Stanley, J.Bews
Out: M.Blicavs (managed), T.Hawkins (suspended)
Friday, June 16
North Melbourne v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
NORTH MELBOURNE
In: D.Mountford
Out: E.Vickers-Willis (knee)
ST KILDA
In: N.Riewoldt, J.Lonie, L.Dunstan
Out: P.McCartin (knee), N.Wright (shoulder), J.Steele
Saturday, June 17
Richmond v Sydney at the MCG, 1.45pm AEST
RICHMOND
No change
SYDNEY
In: G.Rohan
Out: L.Melican
Port Adelaide v Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval, 4.05pm ACST
PORT ADELAIDE
In: D.Houston, J.Neade, A.Young
Out: B.Ah Chee, J.Pittard, J.Toumpas
BRISBANE LIONS
No change
Gold Coast v Carlton at Metricon Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
GOLD COAST
No change
CARLTON
In: S.Petrevski-Seton, B.Boekhorst
Out: L.Sumner (adductor), A.Silvagni (knee)
Sunday, June 18
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: D.Morris, T.Campbell, T.Liberatore, T.Boyd, M.Honeychurch, L.Webb, Z.Cordy, B.Williams
Out: M.Boyd, T.Cloke (soreness), F.Roberts, M.Adams (foot), T.English
MELBOURNE
In: J.Spencer, B.Kennedy, S.Weideman
Out: -
