- Geelong drops small forward Mathew Stokes for Giants clash
- Harley Bennell returns for Suns after club suspension
- Key midfielder Rory Sloane back for Adelaide
THE CAREER of Geelong veteran Mathew Stokes is at the crossroads after he was dropped for the Cats' must-win clash against Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Saturday night.
The future also looks bleak for Essendon ruckman Jonathan Giles, who was not chosen in the Essendon team to take on Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Stokes, who was relegated to the starting substitute in round 16, has been dumped alongside Jed Bews for the crucial match as the Cats welcome back skipper Joel Selwood and defender Billie Smedts.
GWS key defender Joel Patfull will be a valuable inclusion after passing a fitness test on his broken ribs, which kept him sidelined since round 11.
Jed Lamb also returns for the Giants, with Matt Buntine (concussion) and Cam McCarthy making way.
Giles looked set to make his Essendon debut against Port after months of being overlooked since crossing to the Bombers.
But the Dons have refused to act despite the 27-year-old's standout VFL performance last Saturday and Shaun McKernan's struggle against North Melbourne star Todd Goldstein in round 16. Giles has been named as an emergency.
Essendon has made just one change, with Alex Browne returning from concussion to replace Jason Ashby, who has been dropped.
The Power has regained Matt White after his recovery from a hamstring injury, with Andrew Moore and Sam Colquhoun recalled.
Nathan Krakouer will miss with a hamstring injury, while Brandon Ah Chee and Paul Stewart have been dropped. Defender Jasper Pittard remains sidelined after suffering an ankle injury at training last week.
Fantasy chat recap: The Traders answer your questions
Hawthorn has made two changes for Friday night's clash against Carlton, with Jono O'Rourke named to play his second game for the Hawks since crossing from the Giants.
The Hawks also regain Bradley Hill from a corked calf, with Ben Stratton (ankle) and Liam Shiels (corked quad) both unavailable.
The Blues have made two changes, with Liam Jones and Blake Boekhorst replacing Andrew Carrazzo (foot) and Tom Fields.
Adelaide star Rory Sloane will return after refracturing his cheekbone in round 13 in the only change for the Crows, who have omitted Matt Crouch for their clash against Gold Coast on Saturday.
Midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen has not been recalled despite his dominant 38-possession game in the SANFL.
Harley Bennell's return for the Suns has been confirmed after a two-week club suspension, with the midfielder one of five inclusions to face the Crows.
Tall forward Charlie Dixon has been named after missing last week's loss against GWS with an ankle injury, with Luke Russell, Sean Lemmens and Henry Schade also named.
The Suns lose Jarrod Harbrow (fatherhood), Mitch Hallahan (arm) and Tom Nicholls (quad), with Clay Cameron and Peter Wright omitted.
Richmond has named both ruckmen Shaun Hampson and Ivan Maric for its clash against Fremantle, with tall forward Ben Griffiths returning after a shoulder injury.
Nathan Gordon and Matt McDonough have been omitted, with Sam Lloyd named to face the Dockers.
Fremantle has made one change, bringing Clancee Pearce in to replace injured forward Hayden Ballantyne (pectoral).
Pearce, who responded to being dropped with 40 possessions in the WAFL, was joined on the flight to Melbourne on Thursday by emergencies Zac Dawson, Zac Clarke and Lachie Weller.
North Melbourne has been strengthened for its clash against the Brisbane Lions, with vice-captain Drew Petrie, forward Lindsay Thomas and young defender Luke McDonald all returning.
Jamie Macmillan and Aaron Mullett will each miss because of hamstring injuries, while Aaron Black has been omitted.
The Lions have made one change, with Liam Dawson replacing Ryan Harwood (hip).
Collingwood could replace injured star Travis Cloke with young forward Darcy Moore after naming the 19-year-old in an extended 25-man squad.
Sam Dwyer and Patrick Karnezis have also been included, while Tyson Goldsack could return after overcoming knee tendonitis.
Sam Darley could play his first game this season for the Western Bulldogs, joining Shane Biggs and Michael Talia in their extended 25-man squad.
Melbourne has named ruckman Mark Jamar on its extended bench for Sunday's clash against St Kilda, with Jack Grimes also included after impressing in his second VFL game back from a broken thumb.
Viv Michie and Matt Jones have been recalled to the squad, with Jay Kennedy-Harris omitted.
The Saints have named Adam Schneider, Tom Hickey and Tim Membrey in their 25-man squad.
West Coast has turned to second-year tall Tom Barrass to replace key defender Jeremy McGovern, who will miss Sunday's clash against the Sydney Swans with a hamstring injury.
Barrass, who is a 194cm defender from Claremont, would make his debut if selected in the final 22-man team.
Murray Newman has been elevated from the Eagles' rookie list and named in the extended squad, with Jamie Bennell and Fraser McInnes also included.
The Swans could call on Xavier Richards to replace his older brother Ted for after naming the 22-year-old in the extended squad.
Ruckman Mike Pyke has been named to return from a knee injury, while young star Isaac Heeney could return after three games in the NEAFL, including a 29-possession game at the weekend.
Jeremy Laidler, Dan Robinson and Dean Towers have also been named in the extended squad.
All the ins and out for round 17
Friday, July 24
Carlton v Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Carlton
In: L.Jones, B.Boekhorst
Out: A.Carrazzo (foot), T.Fields
Hawthorn
In: J.O'Rourke, B.Hill
Out: B.Stratton (ankle), L.Shiels (corked quad)
Saturday, July 25
Greater Western Sydney v Geelong at StarTrack Oval, 1.45pm AEST
GWS
In: J.Patfull, J.Lamb
Out: M.Buntine (concussion), C.McCarthy
Geelong
In: J.Selwood, B.Smedts
Out: M.Stokes, J.Bews
Adelaide v Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval, 1.40pm ACST
Adelaide
In: R.Sloane
Out: M.Crouch
Gold Coast
In: C.Dixon, L.Russell, H.Bennell, S.Lemmens, H.Schade
Out: J.Harbrow (fatherhood), M.Hallahan (arm), T.Nicholls (quad), C.Cameron, P.Wright
Richmond v Fremantle at the MCG, 4.35 pm AEST
Richmond
In: B.Griffiths, S.Lloyd
Out: N.Gordon, M.McDonough
Fremantle
In: C.Pearce
Out: H.Ballantyne (pectoral)
Essendon v Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, 7.20pm AEST
Essendon
In: A.Browne
Out: J.Ashby
Port Adelaide
In: M.White, A.Moore, S.Colquhoun
Out: N.Krakouer (hamstring), B.Ah Chee, P.Stewart
Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne at the Gabba, 7.20pm AEST
Brisbane Lions
In: L.Dawson
Out: R.Harwood (hip)
North Melbourne
In: D.Petrie, L.Thomas, L.McDonald
Out: J.Macmillan (hamstring), A.Mullett (hamstring), A.Black
Sunday, July 26
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
Western Bulldogs
In: S.Biggs, S.Darley, M.Talia
Out: -
Collingwood
In: S.Dwyer, T.Goldsack, P.Karnezis, D.Moore
Out: T.Cloke (calf)
Melbourne v St Kilda at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST
Melbourne
In: M.Jamar, J.Grimes, V.Michie, M.Jones
Out: J.Kennedy-Harris
St Kilda
In: A.Schneider, T.Hickey, T.Membrey
Out: -
West Coast v Sydney Swans at Domain Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
West Coast
In: J.Bennell, F.McInnes, T.Barrass, M.Newman
Out: J.McGovern (hamstring)
New: Tom Barrass (Claremont)
Sydney Swans
In: X.Richards, M.Pyke, J.Laidler, I.Heeney, D.Robinson, D.Towers
Out: T.Richards (suspension), K.Tippett (hand), C.Bird (calf)
