• Dockers regain Dawson, Pearce and Clarke
• Firrito back for Kangaroos, Nahas misses out
JOSH Simpson will play his second game for Fremantle on Sunday against Essendon after the Dockers made five changes to the side that lost to Hawthorn by 58-points last week.
Meanwhile Carlton's horrendous start to 2014 has seen coach Mick Malthouse lose patience with some of the club's key players, with Jarrad Waite and Jeff Garlett among those to be axed for Saturday's game against Melbourne.
Simpson made his AFL debut last season in round 23 against St Kilda. But the Dockers' first choice in the 2012 NAB AFL draft endured a difficult 2013 suffering from homesickness.
The 20-year-old had to return home to Yalgoo during the pre-season to deal with some family issues, but since his return Simpson has trained exceptionally well and has been a stand-out for Peel Thunder in the WAFL in the first three rounds to earn a call-up.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he has seen a significant shift in Simpson's approach to his football this year.
"He's sort of turned the corner and is starting to understand the commitment of AFL footy and the work-rate required," Lyon said.
"He's taken control of his life off the field. He's got himself in pretty good shape and that's enabled him to put together a couple of decent performances."
Fremantle also named Zac Dawson, Clancee Pearce, Zac Clarke, and Matt Taberner to replace the injured trio of Garrick Ibbotson (dislocated shoulder), Chris Mayne (ankle), and Michael Walters (ankle), while Jack Hannath and Tom Sheridan were both omitted.
Colin Sylvia will have to spend another week in the WAFL after being named as an emergency.
Essendon have gone into Sunday's blockbuster unchanged.
Former Brisbane Lion Billy Longer will make his long awaited debut for St Kilda replacing Tom Hickey, who has a calf issue, while 2013 best and fairest winner Jack Steven will play his first game for the year against Adelaide on Sunday.
Michael Firrito returns for North Melbourne against the Sydney Swans at the SCG in place of the injured Jamie Macmillan (leg). Former Tiger Robin Nahas and former Sun Joel Tippett have been named as emergencies for the Kangaroos against the unchanged Swans.
Meanwhile Carlton's horrendous start to 2014 has seen coach Mick Malthouse lose patience with some of the club's key players, with Jarrad Waite and Jeff Garlett among those to be axed for Saturday's game against Melbourne.
Waite, Garlett, Simon White and Tom Bell have all been dropped from the team that was humiliated by Essendon last Sunday night.
Carlton's first pick in last year's NAB AFL draft, Patrick Cripps, will make his debut following a best afield 35-disposal performance in the VFL , while the Blues have recalled Heath Scotland, Kane Lucas and Levi Casboult.
Melbourne's forward line woes may not be as pronounced this week, with Chris Dawes – who proved his fitness at training on Thursday – to return for the winless Demons.
Jordie McKenzie has earned a recall, with Shannon Byrnes and Jack Fitzpatrick making way.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge and Geelong star defender Corey Enright will make their returns for their respective teams on Saturday night.
Enright, who has overcome an ankle complaint, and Taylor Hunt (following a one-week suspension) return to the Cats side to take on West Coast at Simonds Stadium. Jackson Sheringham and Mitch Brown (ankle) are out.
The Eagles have made five changes for the match-up with Sam Butler, Josh Hill, Sharrod Wellingham, Scott Lycett and Dom Sheed coming in for Darren Glass (hip), Mark LeCras (arm), Chris Masten (hamstring), Luke Shuey (suspended) and Callum Sinclair.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has shown he is not afraid to make a statement at the selection table, dropping Jake King back to the VFL.
Shaun Hampson is over his knee issue and will play against Collingwood on Friday night, while Sam Lloyd (debut) and Matthew Arnot have been called upon by Hardwick.
The Magpies have made two forced changes with Josh Thomas and Jarrod Witts filling the void left by Sam Dwyer (knee) and Taylor Adams (suspension).
As has been documented, Port Adelaide will be without star forward star forwards Chad Wingard (ankle) and Angus Monfries (hamstring) for its clash with the Brisbane Lions.
The Power have also left John Butcher out of the side, bringing in Cam O'Shea, Aaron Young and elevated rookie Sam Gray into the line-up.
Gray, who joined the Power from the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL at the 2014 Rookie Draft, has long proven a star state league player and was runner-up for the 2013 Magarey Medal won by Richmond's Matt Thomas.
The Lions will field a youthful side to tackle the Power, with teenagers Nick Robertson and Tom Cutler to make their debuts.
Former Magpie Jackson Paine is set to play his first game in Lions colours, while Justin Leppitsch has decided to recall Ryan Harwood and Rohan Bewick.
Former Swan Jed Lamb has been brought into Greater Western Sydney's side to tackle the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
Liam Sumner has been given another chance, at the expense of Dylan Addison and Devon Smith (suspension).
The Dogs have resisted the urge to replace Jordan Roughead (shoulder) with a like-for-like tall defender, instead opting to bring in the run of Koby Stevens, Jason Tutt and Tom Young.
Luke Dahlhaus (calf) and Jason Johannisen will also miss.
Young Hawk defender Angus Litherland makes way for Hodge, while the Suns have brought back Jack Hutchins for the suspended Brandon Matera for the Gold Coast-Hawthorn match-up at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Richmond v Collingwood
MCG, 7.50pm AEST
RICHMOND
In: S.Hampson, S.Lloyd, M.Arnot
Out: R.Petterd (groin), O.Stephenson, J.King
New: Sam Lloyd (Frankston)
COLLINGWOOD
In: J.Thomas, J.Witts
Out: S.Dwyer (knee), T.Adams (suspension)
Saturday, April 12
Carlton v Melbourne
MCG, 1.45pm AEST
CARLTON
In: K.Lucas, L.Casboult, H.Scotland, P.Cripps
Out: J.Waite, S.White, J.Garlett, T.Bell
New: Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle)
MELBOURNE
In: C.Dawes, J.McKenzie
Out: S.Byrnes, J.Fitzpatrick
Port Adelaide v Brisbane LionsAdelaide Oval, 1.40pm ACST
PORT ADELAIDE
In: C.O'Shea, A.Young, S.Gray
Outs: A.Monfries (hamstring), J.Butcher, C.Wingard (ankle)
New: Sam Gray (Port Adelaide Magpies)
BRISBANE LIONS
In: R.Harwood, R.Bewick, J.Paine, N.Robertson, T.Cutler
Out: D.Merrett (suspension), D.Rich (knee), J.Green (leg), R.Lester, M.Close
Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs
StarTrack Oval, 4.40pm AEST
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
In: J.Lamb, L.Sumner
Out: D.Addison, D.Smith (suspended)
New: Jed Lamb (Sydney Swans)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: K.Stevens, J.Tutt, T.Young
Out: J.Roughead (shoulder), L.Dahlhaus (calf), J.Johannisen
Skilled Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
GEELONG
In: C.Enright, T.Hunt
Out: J.Sheringham, M.Brown (ankle)
WEST COAST
In: S.Butler, J.Hill, S.Wellingham, S.Lycett, D.Sheed
Out: D.Glass (hip), M.LeCras (arm), C.Masten (hamstring), L.Shuey (suspension), C.Sinclair
Gold Coast v Hawthorn
Metricon Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
GOLD COAST
In: J.Hutchins
Out: B.Matera (suspension)
HAWTHORN
In: L.Hodge
Out: A.Litherland
Sunday, April 13
Sydney Swans v North Melbourne
SCG, 1.10pm AEST
SYDNEY SWANS
No change
NORTH MELBOURNE
St Kilda v Adelaide
Etihad Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
ST KILDA
ADELAIDE
No change
Fremantle v Essendon
Patersons Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
FREMANTLE
ESSENDON
No change
In: M.Firrito
Out: J.McMillan (leg)
St Kilda v Adelaide
Etihad Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
ST KILDA
In: J.Steven, B. Longer
Out: S.Gilbert (foot), T. Hickey (calf)
ADELAIDE
No change
Fremantle v Essendon
Patersons Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
FREMANTLE
In: Z.Dawson, C.Pearce, Z.Clarke, M.Taberner, J.Simpson
Out: G.Ibbotson (shoulder), C.Mayne (ankle), M.Walters (ankle), J. Hannath, T. Sheridan
ESSENDON
No change
