Fremantle v Melbourne, Fremantle Oval, Fremantle, Thursday, 4.10pm AWST

Fremantle: The Dockers have named a relatively strong squad despite the absences of Aaron Sandilands and Nat Fyfe. Matthew Pavlich, Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson have all been named. Fremantle has named three power forwards, Pavlich, Matt Taberner and Michael Apeness and three ruckmen in Zac Clarke, Jack Hannath and Jon Griffin in the initial squad of 29. Ross Lyon has talked about experimenting with three talls in the Dockers' forward line structure. Chris Mayne may also spend some time in defence. Young midfielder Connor Blakely is in line to make his debut for the club and is one to watch.

Melbourne: Much of the interest surrounding Melbourne in this match involves the return of key forward Jesse Hogan. Coach Paul Roos has said his only hope for Hogan is to build into the season and improve. Development is also his mantra for the team this season. But there are other new names for Demons fans to keep an eye on. Heritier Lumumba, Jeff Garlett, Ben Newton and Sam Frost will all play their first games in Demons colours. Father-son recruit Billy Stretch and mature-age midfielder Aaron vandenBerg are also two to watch. - Alex Malcolm

The Demons are trying to contain the excitement generated by Jesse Hogan. Picture: AFL Media

Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions, Coffs Harbour International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Friday, 7.10 AEDT

Sydney Swans: It's time to get a look at the most talked-about academy player in the competition – Isaac Heeney. The teenager was not only hyped as a top-five draft pick (the Swans got him at No.18), but he almost single-handedly led to the discussion of a new bidding system for future northern states academy players. His pre-season has been slightly interrupted by knee tendonitis, but let's see what the 18-year-old's got first up.

Brisbane Lions: They're two of the most injury-prone ruckmen in the competition, but at their best, Matthew Leuenberger and Stefan Martin have the ability to form one of the best combinations in the game. Justin Leppitsch got a glimpse of the duo together against Geelong in round 23 last season, and he'll want them to work in tandem in 2015. We get our first glimpse of just how they'll share the workload against the Swans. - Michael Whiting

GWS v Gold Coast, Bankstown International Sportspark, Sydney, Saturday, 4.10pm EST

GWS: Star midfielder Ryan Griffen will appear in Giants colours for the first time. His presence should add steel and class to the club's emerging midfield, while two time Brisbane Lions' best and fairest Joel Patfull adds experience to the backline. Watching key forward Jeremy Cameron return after an injury-interrupted 2014 will be exciting, as he can dominate inside 50 while Adam Treloar, Dylan Shiel and Josh Kelly are ready to announce themselves as elite midfielders this season. But the one to watch is Devon Smith. He has an x-factor the Giants are crying out for.

Gold Coast: Even without Gary Ablett in the line-up, the Suns are full of excitement machines. Jack Martin, Harley Bennell and Jaeger O'Meara are the standouts in the midfield but the pace of Adam Saad and Jarrod Harbrow out of defence adds a dimension that will trouble the opposition. Ruckman Zac Smith needs to prove he can perform on a consistent basis as well as he did in the NAB Challenge opener while Tom Lynch will dominate once he finds his timing and touch up forward. One smokey who may impress this season is Jesse Lonergan, who has played just 13 games since being chosen in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft. - Peter Ryan

Essendon v St Kilda, Morwell Recreation Reserve, Morwell, Saturday, 4:40pm AEDT

Essendon: All the interest in Saturday's clash will be focused on the Bombers' replacement players, with their seven ex-AFL recruits all likely to feature against the Saints. Essendon will field an inexperienced and young side, but the inclusion of top-ups Clint Jones, Jared Petrenko, Mitch Brown, James Magner, James Polkinghorne, Sam Michael and Mitch Clisby will add some hardened bodies. With 25 first-choice Bombers sitting out the NAB Challenge games, it will be one of the most strange – and yet probably most viewed – pre-season contests of the year. Who can show they still have enough for the top level?

St Kilda: The Saints were beaten by the Brisbane Lions in their first NAB Challenge game last week, but they have a good opportunity to post a win against an understrength Essendon line-up. It also presents another chance for the club's batch of developing players to give supporters some excitement ahead of the home and away season. No.1 pick Paddy McCartin played well in patches last week and will benefit from another run, and the Saints could expect him to continue to build some chemistry with fellow forward Tom Lee. Without skipper Nick Riewoldt in the team, McCartin and Lee can create some rapport.  - Callum Twomey

Aaron Heppell will join his brother Dyson in the Dons' line-up against St Kilda. Picture: AFL Media

Port Adelaide V West Coast, Norwood Oval, Adelaide, Sunday, 4.10pm CDT

Port Adelaide: The AFL world will get its first glimpse of one of the premiership favourites for 2015, but it won't be the Ken Hinkley-coached side that will vie for the flag. Defensive coach Matthew Nicks will mentor a side minus star recruit Patrick Ryder but one that will likely include Ollie Wines, Jared Polec and the yet-to-debut Karl Amon.

West Coast: An ACL injury to Eric Mackenzie was a devastating blow to the Eagles' backline and left a sour taste indeed after their first-up NAB Challenge win over Carlton. Young defender Jackson Nelson, who was solid in the win, will look to continue his campaign for round one selection, while forwards Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy will also hope to keep building their form. - Harry Thring

North Melbourne v Hawthorn, Deakin Reserve, Shepparton, Sunday, 4:40pm EDT

North Melbourne: The Roos will use this game to fine-tine their forward set-up before round one. If fit, Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite appear automatic selections, but fellow talls Aaron Black, Ben Brown, Majak Daw and Mason Wood are likely fighting for the remaining one or two spots. Daw strongly pressed his claims last Sunday against the Crows, while Black and Wood should get the chance to put their names forward against the Hawks. Wood has such exceptional endurance he could even be trialled on a wing.

Hawthorn: After his underwhelming performance against Collingwood last Thursday, Hawks fans will be keen to see whether big-name recruit James Frawley can bounce back against North. Frawley played in an inexperienced Hawks' backline against the Pies, but will likely have premiership defenders Brian Lake and Josh Gibson alongside him against the Roos. Nonetheless, North's tall forwards should provide a stern test for the former Demon. - Nick Bowen

Majak Daw was impressive during North's NAB Challenge game against Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images