ONLY four of Essendon's top-up players will wear the red and black in the Bombers' opening NAB Challenge hit-out against Carlton on Sunday. 

In a selection surprise, just Ryan Crowley, Sam Grimley, Jonathan Simpkin and the Dons' final recruit Sam Michael have been named in the 29-man squad. 

Ex-Geelong premiership veterans James Kelly and Mathew Stokes, and former Tigers backman Matt Dea, are among those left out, although No.5 draft pick Darcy Parish will play his first game for the club.

Carlton will unveil all five national draft recruits – highlighted by No.1 pick Jacob Weitering. 

Father-son selection Jack Silvagni will pull on the navy blue for the first time in a throwback to suburban football at the club's Ikon Park base on Sunday afternoon. 

Harry McKay, David Cuningham and Charlie Curnow – who played last week against Hawthorn – will also feature. 

Marc Murphy won't take his place again, with the skipper protecting his shoulder until the final NAB Challenge match. Patrick Cripps is also missing from the squad.

Richmond has loaded up with big guns for Saturday's clash with Hawthorn, bringing in Trent Cotchin, Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin to face an inexperienced Hawks side. 

Fremantle smashed a youthful Tigers team to the tune of 60 points last Friday, but coach Damien Hardwick is set to ramp-up preparations for round one on Saturday evening in Beaconsfield.

Important midfielders Shane Edwards and Brandon Ellis have been picked, while top draft pick Daniel Rioli will have his second run. 

But key forward Ty Vickery will miss the match after his disturbing collapse away from the play against the Dockers, while Brett Deledio's lingering Achilles soreness will keep him sidelined.

Hawks stars Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne are set for their first pre-season hit-outs, although Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Luke Breust have been rested while Jon Ceglar misses his second game in a row.

Star forward Jack Gunston is battling shin soreness but aiming to play in the Hawks' final NAB Challenge match against North Melbourne in two weeks.

Meanwhile, Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe and Matthew Pavlich have been named in another strong Fremantle squad to face Adelaide at Mount Barker. 

Giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands – who is suspended for round one - Stephen Hill, Lachie Neale and Michael Walters will all play.

Port Adelaide stars Travis Boak, Ollie Wines, Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard are set for their first pre-season games, with the Power and Melbourne naming powerful line-ups for their clash in Elizabeth. 

The Demons want to play their best available teams throughout the NAB Challenge and have picked gun youngsters Jesse Hogan, Angus Brayshaw and top defender Tom McDonald for the afternoon match.

However, skipper Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince and Heritier Lumumba won't play as they build towards round one. 

Adelaide gun Rory Sloane and recruit Troy Menzel will play their first matches this pre-season, while exciting youngster Wayne Milera is in for his second game.

Taylor Walker, Daniel Talia and Eddie Betts have been left out.

Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs, Thursday, February 25, 7.10pm AEDT at StarTrack Oval (Canberra)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

1. Phil Davis, 2. Jacob Hopper, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 5. Dylan Shiel, 6. Lachie Whitfield, 7. Rhys Palmer, 9. Tom Scully, 11. Jack Steele, 12. Jonathon Patton , 14. Jarrod  Pickett, 15. Matthew Kennedy, 16. Nathan Wilson, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matt Buntine, 22. Josh Kelly, 24. Joel Patfull, 26. Dawson Simpson, 27. Harrison Himmelberg, 28. Jake Barrett, 29. Zac Williams,, 31. Jeremy Finlayson, 33. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 34. Caleb Marchbank, 35. Aidan Corr, 36. James Stewart, 37. Rory Lobb, 40. Adam Kennedy, 42. Pat McKenna, 50. Sam J. Reid

Notable absentees: Toby Greene, Callan Ward, Ryan Griffen, Jeremy Cameron, Heath Shaw

WESTERN BULLDOGS

1. Matthew Suckling, 2. Robert Murphy, 3. Mitch Wallis, 4. Marcus Bontempelli, 5. Matthew Boyd, 6. Luke Dahlhaus, 7. Lachie Hunter, 9. Jake Stringer, 10. Easton Wood, 11. Jack Macrae, 13. Nathan Hrovat, 15. Tom Campbell, 16. Toby McLean, 19. Lukas Webb, 22. Mitch Honeychurch, 23. Jordan Roughead, 24. Shane Biggs, 25. Koby Stevens, 26. Declan Hamilton, 27. Will Minson, 29. Tory Dickson, 31. Bailey Dale, 32. Kieran Collins, 33. Marcus Adams, 35. Caleb Daniel, 38. Dale Morris, 39. Jason Johannisen, 42. Liam Picken, 44. Jed Adcock

Notable absentees: Tom Liberatore, Tom Boyd, Stewart Crameri, Lin Jong

Geelong v Collingwood, Friday, February 26, 7.10pm AEDT at Simonds Stadium

GEELONG
1. Rhys Stanley, 4. Andrew Mackie, 5. Nakia Cockatoo, 6. Lincoln McCarthy, 7. Harry Taylor, 8. Jake Kolodjashnij, 9. Zac Smith, 10. Daniel Menzel, 11. Darcy Lang, 18. Josh Cowan, 21. Jordan Murdoch, 22. Mitch Duncan, 23. Josh Caddy, 24. Jed Bews, 25. Lachie Henderson, 26. Tom Hawkins, 27. Sam Menegola, 28. Cory Gregson, 29. Cameron Guthrie, 30. Nathan Vardy, 32. Steven Motlop, 33. George Horlin-Smith, 35. Patrick Dangerfield, 36. Tom Ruggles, 37. Michael Luxford, 39. Shane Kersten, 40. Jackson Thurlow, 44. Corey Enright, 46. Mark Blicavs

Notable absentees: Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood, Scott Selwood, Mitch Clark

COLLINGWOOD
1. Alex Fasolo, 2. Jordan de Goey, 3. Brent Macaffer, 4. Brodie Grundy, 9. Jesse White, 11. Jarryd Blair, 13. Taylor Adams, 14. James Aish, 15. Jarrod Witts, 16. Nathan Brown, 17. Jonathon Marsh, 18. Travis Varcoe, 19. Levi Greenwood, 21. Tom Phillips, 22. Steele Sidebottom, 25. Jack Crisp, 28. Ben Sinclair, 29. Tim Broomhead, 30. Darcy Moore, 31. Jackson Ramsay, 34. Alan Toovey, 36. Dane Swan, 37. Brayden Maynard, 40. Josh Smith, 41. Tim Golds, 43. Adam Oxley, 44. Corey Gault, 45. Jack Frost, 46. Mason Cox

Notable absentees: Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Adam Treloar, Jamie Elliott

Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Saturday, February 27, 1.35pm ACDT at Playford Alive Oval
PORT ADELAIDE
1. Travis Boak, 3. Jake Neade, 5. Matthew Broadbent, 7. Brad Ebert, 8. Hamish Hartlett, 9. Robbie Gray, 11. John Butcher, 12. Jackson Trengove, 13. Cam O'Shea, 15. Karl Amon, 16. Ollie Wines, 18. Jimmy Toumpas, 19. Matt White, 20. Chad Wingard, 21. Jared Polec, 23. Matthew Lobbe, 24. Jarman Impey, 27. Alipate Carlile, 28. Jay Schulz, 29. Jasper Pittard, 32. Dougal Howard, 33. Darcy Byrne-Jones, 36. Jack Hombsch, 37. Jesse Palmer, 39. Justin Westhoff, 40. Aaron Young, 41. Brendon Ah Chee, 42. Tom Jonas, 46. Sam Gray

Notable absentees: Tom Clurey, Charlie Dixon, Patrick Ryder, Angus Monfries

MELBOURNE
1. Jesse Hogan, 3. Christian Salem, 4. Jack Watts, 7. Jack Viney, 10. Angus Brayshaw, 11. Max Gawn, 12. Dom Tyson, 13. Clayton Oliver, 14. Lynden Dunn, 15. Billy Stretch, 16. Dean Kent, 17. Sam Frost, 20. Colin Garland, 21. Cameron Pedersen, 22. Viv Michie, 25. Tom McDonald, 28. Oscar McDonald, 29. Jayden Hunt, 30. Alex Neal-Bullen, 31. Jack Grimes, 32. Tomas Bugg, 35. Ben Kennedy, 36. Jeff Garlett, 37. Aaron vandenBerg, 39. Neville Jetta, 42. Josh Wagner, 43. James Harmes, 45. Matt Jones, 46. Dean Terlich

Notable absentees: Bernie Vince, Nathan Jones, Chris Dawes, Heritier Lumumba

Richmond v Hawthorn, Saturday, February 27, 4.40pm AEDT at Holm Park Recreation Reserve
RICHMOND
1. Nick Vlastuin, 2. Dylan Grimes, 4. Dustin Martin, 5. Brandon Ellis, 7. Ben Lennon, 8. Jack Riewoldt, 9. Trent Cotchin, 10. Shane Edwards, 11. Jake Batchelor, 14. Bachar Houli, 15. Andrew Moore, 17. Daniel Rioli, 18. Alex Rance, 20. Ivan Maric, 21. Jacob Townsend, 23. Kane Lambert, 25. Troy Chaplin, 26. Anthony Miles, 28. Taylor Hunt, 30. Reece Conca, 31. Oleg Markov, 32. Corey Ellis, 33. Kamdyn McIntosh, 34. Liam McBean, 37.Connor Menadue, 38. Steven Morris, 41. Mabior Chol, 45. Jayden Short, 46. Jason Castagna

Notable absentees: Brett Deledio, Tyrone Vickery, Shaun Grigg, Ben Griffiths

HAWTHORN
3. Jordan Lewis, 4. Billy Hartung, 6. Josh Gibson, 7. Ben McEvoy, 8. Taylor Duryea, 9. Shaun Burgoyne, 10. Bradley Hill, 11. Brendan Whitecross, 12. James Frawley, 13. Jonathan O'Rourke, 14. Grant Birchall, 17. Angus Litherland, 20. Dallas Willsmore, 21. James Sicily, 23. Tim O'Brien, 24. Ben Stratton, 25. Ryan Schoenmakers, 26. Liam Shiels, 28. Paul Puopolo, 30. Kaiden Brand, 32. Jack Fitzpatrick, 33. Cyril Rioli, 36. Kieran Lovell, 37. Blake Hardwick, 41. Daniel Howe, 42. Teia Miles, 43. Marc Pittonet, 45. Jermaine Miller-Lewis, 46. Lachlan Langford, 47. Shem-Kalvin Tatupu

Notable absentees: Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jack Gunston, Luke Breust

Carlton v Essendon, Sunday, February 28, 2.05pm AEDT at Ikon Park 
CARLTON
2. Jack Silvagni, 6. Kade Simpson, 7. Dylan Buckley, 10. Harry McKay, 12. Blaine Boekhorst, 13. Jed Lamb, 14. Liam Jones, 15. Sam Docherty, 17. Sam Rowe, 22. Jason Tutt, 23. Jacob Weitering, 24. Mark Whiley, 25. Clem Smith, 28. David Cuningham, 30. Charlie Curnow, 31. Matthew Dick, 32. Nick Graham, 33. Andrejs Everitt, 34. Andrew Phillips, 35. Ed Curnow, 37. Daniel Gorringe, 38. Ciaran Byrne, 40. Michael Jamison, 41. Levi Casboult, 42. Zach Tuohy, 45. Andrew Gallucci, 46. Matthew Wright, 47. Jesse Glass-McCasker, 48. Matt Korcheck

Notable absentees: Marc Murphy, Matthew Kreuzer, Patrick Cripps, Andrew Walker

ESSENDON
3. Darcy Parish, 6. Joe Daniher, 7. Zach Merrett, 8. Martin Gleeson, 9. Brendon Goddard, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Mark Baguley, 14. Jason Ashby, 15. Courtenay Dempsey, 17. Adam Cooney, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Jackson Merrett, 24. Craig Bird, 28. Mitch Brown, 30. Kyle Langford, 33. Jayden Laverde, 34. Jake Long, 36. Michael Hartley, 38. Nick Kommer, 41. Will Hams, 42. James Gwilt, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 51. Ryan Crowley, 52. Jonathan Simpkin, 54. Sam Grimley, 56. Sam Michael

Notable absentees: Mathew Stokes, James Kelly, Matthew Leuenberger, Patrick Ambrose

Fremantle v Adelaide, Sunday, February 28, 1.40pm AWST at Sounness Park
FREMANTLE
3. Zac Dawson, 5. Garrick Ibbotson, 6. Danyle Pearce, 7. Nat Fyfe, 8. Nick Suban, 9. Matt de Boer, 10. Michael Walters, 11. Tommy Sheridan, 12. Jonathon Griffin, 13. Tendai Mzungu, 14. Lachie Weller, 15. Ethan Hughes, 17. Hayden Crozier, 19. Connor Blakely, 20. Matt Taberner, 21. Michael Barlow, 23. Chris Mayne, 26. Ed Langdon, 27. Lachie Neale, 28. Brady Grey, 29. Matthew Pavlich, 31. Aaron Sandilands, 32. Stephen Hill, 33. Cameron Sutcliffe, 36. Alex Silvagni, 37. Michael Johnson, 38. Jack Hannath, 40. Sam Collins, 46. Clancee Pearce

Notable absentees: David Mundy, Hayden Ballantyne, Harley Bennell, Zac Clarke

ADELAIDE
4. Josh Jenkins, 6. Jake Lever, 7. Nathan van Berlo, 8. Mitch Grigg, 9. Rory Sloane, 11. Paul Seedsman, 14. David Mackay, 15. Kyle Hartigan, 16. Luke Brown, 17. Curtly Hampton, 21. Rory Atkins, 25. Kyle Cheney, 26. Richard Douglas, 27. Tom Lynch, 28. Cam Ellis-Yolmen, 29. Rory Laird, 30. Wayne Milera, 31. Jarryd Lyons, 32. Troy Menzel, 33. Brodie Smith, 34. Sam Shaw, 35. Harrison Wigg, 36. Dean Gore, 38. Harry Dear, 40. Luke Lowden, 41. Mitch McGovern, 43. Reilly O’Brien, 44. Matt Crouch, 47. Jake Kelly

Notable absentees: Eddie Betts, Brad Crouch, Sam Jacobs, Scott Thompson