TIGER Mark Coughlan and Bulldog Robert Murphy are set to make highly-anticipated returns from injury, Nathan Brown has been ruled out with a groin complaint and Troy Simmonds has been dropped from the round five teams announced on Thursday night.
Port Adelaide has made two changes ahead of Friday night's encounter with the Saints at AAMI Stadium. The Power welcome back skipper Domenic Cassisi from suspension but lose Matt Thomas after the tribunal handed him a one-week ban.
Nick Lower comes in for Wade Thompson who drops back to the emergency list with Marlon Motlop and Toby Thurstans.
St Kilda has made one forced change with Robert Eddy coming in for injured forward Justin Koschitzke, who is out with a hamstring strain. Xavier Clarke, Ben McEvoy and Luke Miles make up the emergency list.
Essendon has swung the changes ahead of Saturday’s Anzac Day blockbuster at the MCG – the biggest home and away game of the season – making five to the team that lost to North Melbourne last week.
The Bombers were forced to replace injured defender Darcy Daniher (groin) and midfielder Hayden Skipworth (hamstring), but three players were axed as Matthew Knights sought fresh blood for the crucial clash.
Michael Quinn, Jay Nash and Ricky Dyson have been replaced by Nathan Lovett-Murray, in for his match of the season, Sam Lonergan, David Myers, Heath Hocking and Leroy Jetta.
Collingwood has named an unchanged line-up to the one that beat the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba last Friday night.
Despite coach Mick Malthouse casting doubts over the fitness over several of his stars earlier in the day, the Magpies have named the same 22 as round four with Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst and Alan Didak among those under a fitness cloud.
Anthony Corrie, Sharrod Wellingham and promising forward Brent Macaffer are all on standby, while Steele Sidebottom has been left out of the emergencies and appears set for another stint in the VFL.
Hawthorn has made just one change ahead of Saturday's clash with the Eagles in Launceston. Travis Tuck is back from a hip injury, but Brent Guerra drops out with a hamstring strain.
Josh Kennedy, Ben McGlynn and Ryan Schoenmakers are the emergencies.
West Coast has lost young gun Chris Masten to a corked thigh, but have recalled premiership midfielder Sam Butler.
Adam Cockie, Chad Fletcher and Josh Kennedy are the emergencies, with elevated rookie Cockie making the flight.
Wayward forward Aaron Edwards is back for North Melbourne after serving his club-imposed ban for a traffic infraction during the pre-season, while rugged defender Levi Greenwood will make his AFL debut.
They come in for forwards Josh Smith (omitted) and Matt Campbell (hamstring). Out-of-favour onballer Daniel Harris is an emergency along with Ben Ross and Smith.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace has again rung the changes as he tries to find a winning combination.
Coughlan makes a welcome return to senior football after more than two years ruined by knee reconstructions and hamstring setbacks and Richard Tambling, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Adam Pattison have all earned call-ups.
Brown departs the side with a groin injury, but Simmonds, Tom Hislop and Daniel Connors must fight their way back via the VFL.
Fremantle has made three changes ahead of Saturday night's meeting with the Sydney Swans at Subiaco. Ryan Murphy, Clayton Hinkley and Scott Thornton force their way into the side at the expense of Daniel Gilmore, Kepler Bradley and Josh Head.
The Sydney Swans have made just one adjustment to the side that defeated Carlton with Amon Buchanan in for Jarred Moore.
Geelong has recalled veteran defender Darren Milburn while Nathan Djerrkura is a chance to make his AFL debut.
The Cats take on the Brisbane Lions at Skilled Stadium on Sunday and Djerrkura, the 25th pick in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, is on the extended interchange bench after recent good form in the VFL.
He joins Ryan Gamble and David Johnson as other inclusions as the Cats look to cover the loss of injured midfielder Cameron Ling (achilles).
Irish rookie Pearce Hanley is in contention to play his first game of the season for the Brisbane Lions after being elevated this week.
Hanley is one of six additions for Michael Voss, with former Geelong Falcon Lachie Henderson likely to be given the nod to play on his former home turf.
Albert Proud, Scott Harding, Tom Collier and James Polkinghorne will battle for the other spots in the final 22.
The Lions have lost Jamie Charman (knee), while the experienced Tim Notting and Cheynee Stiller have both been dropped.
The Western Bulldogs are set to unleash their prized recruit from the 2007 NAB AFL Draft with forward Jarrad Grant named to debut against the Blues on Sunday.
And Rodney Eade’s team could have two first-gamers, with Guy O’Keefe also selected in a 25-man squad.
Grant showed his wares with some impressive performances in the NAB Cup while O’Keefe has shone for Williamstown at VFL level.
The Bulldogs have injected some much-welcomed marking power, with experienced forward Murphy in for his first game after overcoming a knee injury.
Andrejs Everitt is the other inclusion for the Bulldogs, who have lost Jason Akermanis for a week through suspension. Eade will finalise his squad on Friday.
Carlton has shored up its backline with Michael Jamison named to return from his shoulder injury.
Andrew Carrazzo and Heath Scotland are also back for the Blues, while Steven Browne and Setanta O’hAilpin – the man embroiled in controversy for striking teammate Cameron Cloke earlier this year – are still chances.
Carlton has lost the talented Shaun Grigg with an ankle injury, while many Toyota AFL Dream Team coaches will be filthy that Mitch Robinson has been dropped.
Melbourne regains skipper James McDonald but loses Brad Green, who will be sidelined for up to eight weeks with a broken jaw, as it prepares to host the Crows at the MCG on Sunday.
Adelaide coach Neil Craig publicly apologised to ruckman Ivan Maric for a big spray in last week's loss to the Cats, but his remorse didn't save Maric from a stint back in the SANFL.
The ruckman departs the side with Brad Symes as Jon Griffin comes in for his first game for the season and Scott Stevens, Jarrhan Jacky, Brad Moran and Myke Cook join an extended bench.
