- Saints get back two veterans for clash with the Bulldogs
- Fremantle names Matthew Pavlich and Michael Walters
- Dale Thomas picked on Blues' extended bench
ST KILDA has been bolstered by the return of senior pair Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna for the clash with the Western Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.
Richmond's Brett Deledio and Carlton midfielder Dale Thomas are also among the big-name inclusions for round six, while Melbourne father-son pick Billy Stretch and Adelaide's first-round selection Jake Lever are set to debut.
After their two-point loss to Essendon last week, the Saints will welcome back Riewoldt to the forward line after missing three weeks with a calf injury. Montagna has overcome a knee concern he suffered in round one.
They replace Tim Membrey and Blake Acres, who have both been omitted.
The Bulldogs have also made two changes, losing veteran Matthew Boyd to general soreness.
In-form midfielder Lin Jong (hand) will also miss, but has been replaced by Lachie Hunter in his first game of the season.
Hunter had a tumultuous end to the pre-season when he was investigated for a betting scandal. Brett Goodes has also been recalled for the Bulldogs.
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After four weeks on the sidelines, Deledio is back for Richmond in one of four changes for the club's important clash with North Melbourne. Ty Vickery makes way for a returning Ben Griffiths, while Dylan Grimes and Nathan Gordon have also been picked.
First-gamer Corey Ellis will miss with a leg concern, while Ben Lennon and Sam Lloyd have been cut.
Defender Lachie Hansen will play his first game of the year for North, while Jarrad Waite and Luke McDonald have overcome injuries to be named.
Despite solid form, Ben Jacobs was one of three omissions for the Roos, alongside Aaron Black and Kayne Turner.
Forty-year-old Dustin Fletcher will sit out Essendon's trip to Perth to take on Fremantle, and has been replaced by James Gwilt. Jackson Merrett has also been selected at the expense of Kyle Langford.
A fellow veteran will make way for the Dockers, with Luke McPharlin sidelined with a calf injury. Alex Pearce, from Tasmania, will make his AFL debut.
Captain Matthew Pavlich and small forward Michael Walters have been selected despite being under injury clouds.
Geelong forward Mitch Clark is back for the Cats' Friday night clash with Collingwood as one of four inclusions. Rhys Stanley also returns, as does first-year midfielder Nakia Cockatoo and injury-plagued youngster Josh Cowan.
Dawson Simpson, Josh Walker and George Horlin-Smith have been dropped, while James Kelly will miss after having surgery on a ruptured testicle this week.
The Magpies lose Anzac Medallist Paul Seedsman (glute) and Jackson Ramsay (shin), and have dropped Corey Gault. Tim Broomhead, Jarrod Witts and Tony Armstrong will play.
The Sydney Swans have been boosted by three important inclusions ahead of their meeting with Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night, including impressive first-year forward Isaac Heeney.
Ben McGlynn and Sam Reid also return, at the expense of Dean Towers and Harry Cunningham. Premiership player Craig Bird has also been dropped.
The Demons have made four changes, including Stretch, Chris Dawes, Jake Spencer and Jimmy Toumpas.
Veteran ruckman Mark Jamar headlines the omissions, and is joined on the sidelines by former co-captain Jack Grimes, Jordie McKenzie and Viv Michie.
The Hawks lose suspended pair Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis but have recalled Jed Anderson and Paul Puopolo for Saturday's game against Greater Western Sydney.
The Giants have made three changes to the line-up that was thrashed by West Coast last week, dropping Josh Kelly, Nathan Wilson and Aidan Corr.
Adam Kennedy, Matt Buntine and Zac Williams have been rewarded for strong NEAFL form by winning selection.
The Suns have been forced to make seven changes to the team that beat the Brisbane Lions last week and registered the club's first win of the season.
Former Richmond and Brisbane Lions tagger Andrew Raines will play his first game as a Sun against Adelaide, while Clay Cameron, Rory Thompson, Aaron Hall, Zac Smith, Luke Russell and ex-Hawk Mitch Hallahan return.
Three Suns – Harley Bennell, Brandon Matera and Trent McKenzie – will miss with club-imposed suspensions, while Steven May has been banned for three weeks by the AFL Tribunal.
Jack Martin (ankle), Jarrod Garlett (ankle) and Seb Tape (knee) will miss with injury in a week of carnage for the club.
Lever comes into the Crows team to add depth to a weakened backline, alongside Mitch Grigg, Jarryd Lyons and Matt Crouch. Richard Douglas, Ricky Henderson, Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Josh Jenkins are all out with injury.
Troy Menzel and Thomas have been named for Carlton's clash with the Brisbane Lions on Sunday, while wayward-kicking forward Levi Casboult is also one of four inclusions.
Lachie Henderson (hamstring) is the only out so far with final teams to be selected on Sunday.
Matthew Leuenberger is among four inclusions for the Lions, with Brent Staker (hamstring) the only confirmed change.
Classy forward Karl Amon is a chance to make his debut for Port Adelaide as one of four inclusions in the Power's extended squad for Sunday's match with West Coast.
Despite rumours persisting about Josh Kennedy's fitness, the Eagles forward has been named. Mark Hutchings, Brant Colledge and Jackson Nelson are in the 25-man West Coast team.
All the ins and outs for round six
Friday, May 8
Collingwood v Geelong, MCG, 7.50pm AEST
Collingwood
In: T.Armstrong, J.Witts, T.Broomhead
Out: C.Gault, P.Seedsman (glute), J.Ramsay (shin)
Geelong
In: M.Clark, R.Stanley, N.Cockatoo, J.Cowan
Out: D.Simpson, J.Walker, G.Horlin-Smith, J.Kelly (testicle)
Saturday, May 9
North Melbourne v Richmond, Blundstone Arena (Hobart), 1.45pm AEST
North Melbourne
In: J.Waite, L.Hansen, L.McDonald
Out: B.Jacobs, A.Black, K.Turner
Richmond
In: D.Grimes, B.Deledio, N.Gordon, B.Griffiths
Out: C.Ellis (leg), S.Lloyd, T.Vickery, B.Lennon
Western Bulldogs v St Kilda, Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
Western Bulldogs
In: L.Hunter, B.Goodes
Out: M.Boyd (general soreness), L.Jong (hand)
St Kilda
In: N.Riewoldt, L.Montagna
Out: T.Membrey, B.Acres
Greater Western Sydney v Hawthorn, Spotless Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
Greater Western Sydney
In: A.Kennedy, M.Buntine, Z.Williams
Out: J.Kelly, N.Wilson, A.Corr
Hawthorn
In: P.Puopolo, J.Anderson
Out: L.Hodge (suspension), J.Lewis (suspension)
Gold Coast v Adelaide, Metricon Stadium, 5.10pm AEST
Gold Coast
In: C.Cameron, R.Thompson, A.Raines, A.Hall, Z.Smith, L.Russell, M.Hallahan
Out: H.Bennell (club suspension), B.Matera (club suspension), T.McKenzie (club suspension), J.Martin (ankle), J.Garlett (ankle), S.Tape (knee), S.May (suspension)
Adelaide
In: M.Grigg, J.Lyons, M.Crouch, J.Lever
Out: R.Douglas (foot), R.Henderson (pectoral), C.Ellis-Yolmen (hamstring), J.Jenkins (hip)
New: Jake Lever (Calder U18)
Melbourne v Sydney Swans, MCG, 7.20pm AEST
Melbourne
In: C.Dawes, J.Spencer, J.Toumpas, B.Stretch
Out: M.Jamar, J.Grimes, J.McKenzie, V.Michie
New: Billy Stretch (Glenelg)
Sydney Swans
In: I.Heeney, B.McGlynn, S.Reid
Out: D.Towers, C.Bird, H.Cunningham
Fremantle v Essendon, Domain Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
Fremantle
In: A.Pearce
Out: L.McPharlin (calf)
New: Alex Pearce (Devonport)
Essendon
In: J.Gwilt, J.Merrett
Out: K.Langford, D.Fletcher (groin)
Sunday May 10
Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
Carlton
In: D.Thomas, N.Graham, T.Menzel, L.Casboult
Out: L.Henderson (hamstring)
Brisbane Lions
In: M.Leuenberger, R.Lester, J.Aish, L.Dawson
Out: B.Staker (hamstring)
New: Liam Dawson (Aspley)
Port Adelaide v West Coast, Adelaide Oval, 4.10pm ACST
Port Adelaide
In: C.O'Shea, B.Ah Chee, J.Impey, K.Amon
Out: J.Polec (foot)
New: Karl Amon (Sandringham U18)
West Coast
In: M.Hutchings, B.Colledge, J.Nelson
Out: -
