RICHMOND onballer Ben Cousins has succumbed to a knee injury and will not play against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

Coach Damien Hardwick went into bat for the 31-year-old on Thursday after a lacklustre performance in round one that raised questions about his playing future.

But news of the injury goes some way towards clarifying Cousins' struggle to keep up with the pace of the game.

Debutant Relton Roberts also departs the side after being slapped with a club-imposed ban for an unspecified indiscretion.

Important defender Dale Morris has overcome the virus that kept him out of the Bulldogs' season opener against Collingwood. Brodie Moles and Jordan Roughead have been added to an extended bench.

The loss of big man Justin Koschitzke to suspension hasn't deterred the St Kilda match committee from dropping ruckman Steven King after a seven-possession performance against the Sydney Swans last Saturday night.

Michael Gardiner comes in for his first game of the year while former Tiger Adam Pattison gets his first chance in Saints colours.

Livewire Hawthorn forward Cyril Rioli has been named on an extended bench for the Easter Monday clash with Geelong, but his participation remains in some doubt after a wretched pre-season dogged by groin issues.

Lance Franklin and Chance Bateman, however, are returning from suspension and slot straight into the starting 18.

Geelong has named James Podsiadly, Ryan Gamble, Steve Motlop and Nathan Djerrkura on an extended bench with Darren Milburn (hamstring) the only casualty of the side that defeated Essendon in round one.

Adelaide's playing stocks appear to be returning to some sort of health with Brett Burton, Jason Porplyzia and Ivan Maric included in the 25-man squad to face the Sydney Swans on Sunday.

James Sellar and Will Young join Burton on the bench with Rory Sloane (ankle) and Scott Stevens (concussion) out.

West Coast will host Port Adelaide on Saturday night and will do so without forward Mark LeCras who is out with a hamstring injury. Quinten Lynch has been dropped with Scott Selwood and Matt Spangher replacing them.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.