WEST Coast captain Shannon Hurn has a stiff back, and missed Thursday morning's captains' breakfast with the AFL Commission.
A hamstring concern has kept Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak away and Richmond premiership skipper Trent Cotchin is attending a funeral.
The trio will be missing when club captains face journalists at the League's annual captains' media call at Etihad Stadium on Thursday afternoon, but the three clubs will still be represented.
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Port Adelaide has Boak listed 'as to be assessed' on his availability for the round one clash with Fremantle and the Power will be represented on Thursday by vice-captain Ollie Wines.
Still gleaming from singing 'Mr Brightside' with The Killers after the Tigers' flag win, Jack Riewoldt will be charming the media as he steps in for Cotchin.
Hurn has been replaced by vice-captain Andrew Gaff.
"We played on Sunday, he just pulled up a little sore, and we just didn't want to be getting him on a flight," Eagles coach Adam Simpson told AFL.com.au.
"It's actually a pretty big trip to come over just for half a day to do some press conferences, so we took the next best option with 'Gaffy'."
Gaff is expected to be peppered with questions about his contract talks, but Simpson says he'll be prepared.
"That's just the environment we're in at the moment," he said.
"Both parties have been really mature about it, and I'm sure Andrew will handle himself fine today."
Adelaide captain Taylor Walker is still attending, despite being in doubt for round one with a foot injury.
- with Lee Gaskin and Nat Edwards
