There’s big news at Geelong where last week’s bruising encounter against St Kilda looks to have taken its toll.
The Cats will arguably field their weakest line-up – at least on paper – in some time after losing four premiership stars to injury.
While star tagger Cameron Ling (knee) and Darren Milburn (ankle) have failed to come up from injuries sustained last week, All-Australian full-back Matthew Scarlett (back) and defender James Kelly (hamstring) have both felt tightness this week and won’t be risked. Steve Johnson (hip) will also miss another week.
Their omissions, however, have paved the way for debutant Tom Gillies to make his debut. At 192cm and 87kg, he could be called on to help counter Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.
Other Cats to win opportunities include David Wojcinski, Ryan Gamble and Tom Lonergan.
The Brisbane Lions have also named a debutant for Saturday night's game at the Gabba.
South Australian youngster Jack Redden – a 189cm, 76kg midfielder with the ability to play in attack – is set to get his crack at the big time for the Lions after Michael Voss made five changes to the team that lost by eight goals to the Power.
Matt Austin, Tom Collier and Tim Notting all return while Josh Drummond has been selected despite being under an injury cloud with a calf.
The home side has lost Jared Brennan (suspension) and Rhan Hooper (ill), while Scott Harding, Travis Johnstone and former Geelong Falcon Lachlan Henderson have been omitted.
The Western Bulldogs have recalled key defender Tom Williams for Friday night’s blockbuster with Collingwood at Docklands.
Williams hasn’t played since round nine after suffering from a foot injury, but is back to strengthen his side’s defence against the Magpies’ potent forward line.
Sam Reid is out for the Dogs after suffering a groin injury against the Hawks.
Collingwood’s Ben Johnson will play his first senior match since breaking his leg in round three when he returns to take on the Bulldogs.
Johnson has built up his match time in the VFL and will help the Magpies’ bid to counter Rodney Eade’s band of small forwards.
Nathan Brown is the only omission from the Collingwood side.
The Sydney Swans have brought in Luke Ablett for Saturday's home match against the Bombers as they look to build on last week's tight win over the Kangaroos.
Ablett comes in at the expense of Ryan Brabazon who drops back to the emergency list with Jesse White and Mike Pyke.
Essendon has been significantly boosted by the returns of key onballers Mark McVeigh and Jobe Watson with gun youngster Michael Hurley also earning back his spot.
Angus Monfries (hamstring), Hayden Skipworth (knee cap) and Nathan Lovett-Murray (omitted) depart the side defeated by the Magpies Friday night.
Lovett-Murray is an emergency with David Myers and Bachar Houli.
Strong performances at VFL level have not been enough for Scotland and Stevens to force their way back into the Carlton line-up to face the Tigers on Saturday.
The Blues have settled on one change for the match with Adam Hartlett in to replace the suspended Mark Austin.
Joe Anderson, Chris Yarran and Cameron Cloke are the emergencies.
Richmond loses Nathan Foley (calf) and Andrew Collins (hip) from the side defeated by Adelaide while Jarrod Silvester has been dropped.
Matthew White, Alex Rance and Jake King come into the team with Adam Pattison, Adam Thomson and Silvester the emergencies.
Adelaide has resisted the temptation to bring Brett Burton back into the side after the dynamic forward booted four goals for Woodville-West Torrens in his comeback game after a knee reconstruction.
But skipper Simon Goodwin makes a welcome return after missing three games with a medial ligament strain while Brent Reilly demanded a return to senior footy with his 46-possession hitout for Sturt last weekend.
Robert Shirley and Richard Douglas have been forced out of the side to face Fremantle on Saturday night with both named on the emergency list with Jared Petrenko.
Fremantle has suffered a double blow ahead of the clash at AAMI Stadium with Des Headland and Sandilands ruled out through injury.
Daniel Gilmore has been dropped while Ryan Murphy, Dean Solomon and Tim Ruffles come into the side.
Solomon is back after a club-imposed one-week suspension while Ruffles will make his debut.
Hawthorn's bid to battle back up the ladder received a significant boost with the addition of Rioli in a forward pocket for Sunday's clash with the Roos.
Rioli, 19, has not played since round 11 after suffering a hamstring injury against the Sydney Swans. Ryan Schoenmakers and Brendan Whitecross have been added to an extended bench with no players departing the side heavily defeated by the Bulldogs.
North Melbourne regains small forward Lindsay Thomas and has named Sam Power, Leigh Adams, Levi Greenwood and Josh Smith on a seven-man bench.
Daniel Pratt departs the side after being suspended last week while Cruize Garlett has been omitted.
Melbourne looks set to bolster its line-up with experience in the wake of Colin Sylvia’s suspension.
The Demons will be gunning for two straight wins when they take on Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday and will be forced to make at least one change, given Sylvia’s three-game ban.
Lynden Dunn, Daniel Bell, Clint Bartram and versatile tall Brad Miller are all in contention for a recall.
Port Adelaide has received a huge boost with Chad Cornes picked to play against the Demons after he made a quicker-than-expected recovery from knee surgery.
Cornes hasn’t played since his team’s loss to Collingwood in round 10 but, after forecasting his selection earlier this week, he has been named at centre-half back.
Michael Pettigrew, Matthew Westhoff and potential debutant Matthew Broadbent are other possible inclusions for Port Adelaide, who will be without defender Troy Chaplin, suspended for two weeks by the AFL Tribunal this week.
West Coast regains Dean Cox after a two-week absence while Daniel Kerr has been named on an extended bench.
Mark Nicoski and Eric Mackenzie also go straight into the starting 18 while youngster Patrick McGinnity joins Kerr on the bench and will debut if he survives Friday's final cut.
St Kilda has included Sean Dempster, Luke Miles, Robert Eddy and James Gwilt on a seven-man bench and dropped Jarryn Geary from the team that overcame the Cats last week.
