Boyd Woodcock stepped up to earn the 10 votes in Southport's win over Port Melbourne at ETU Stadium on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos

SOUTHPORT has avoided a huge triple blow for its 2021 top of the table showdown with Footscray at Victoria University Whitten Oval after midfielder Boyd Woodcock beat a striking charge at the VFL Tribunal on Wednesday night.

Port Adelaide recruit Woodcock had been charged with striking Zach Guthrie during the third quarter of the Sharks’ 47-point win over Geelong at Fankhauser Reserve last Thursday night and offered a one-match suspension with an early guilty plea, but successfully fought the charge.

The right-hand man of star co-captain Jacob Dawson would have missed two matches had he failed in his appeal, which would have resulted in three key Sharks being rubbed out.

Dan Charlesworth. Pic: Southport Sharks

Full-forward and 2017 Liston medallist Jacob Townsend –the Frosty Miller Medal leader with 16 goals from four matches – was ruled out of winning a second league best-and-fairest medal after accepting a two-match ban for rough conduct on Cat Daniel Capiron in the third quarter, while No.1 ruckman Brayden Crossley is out for one match for rough conduct on Tom Panuccio in the first quarter.

It could have been four, with second ruckman Fraser Thurlow fined $250 for rough conduct on Mitch Knevitt in the second quarter.

Several other fines were dished out this week, with Footscray’s Ewan Macpherson fined $250 for striking, Carlton’s Zavier Maher $150 for forceful front-on contact and Sydney’s Barry O’Connor $300 and Northern Bullant Ben Hurley $150 for umpire contact.

View the Smithy’s VFL teams HERE

The Sharks have recalled Ryan Gilmore and Tom Miller to replace Townsend and Crossley for the clash with the Bulldogs, while Dan Charlesworth will play his 50th NEAFL/VFL match and Rhys Clark his 50th for Southport.

Footscray’s highest-profile VFL recruit, former Port Adelaide player Joel Garner, will make his VFL debut after serving a four-week suspension, with Ballarat’s Angus Bade to also play his first game, but the Bulldogs have lost Robbie McComb, Josh Schache and Stefan Martin to the AFL team, plus Roarke Smith and skipper Lachie Sullivan, with ruckman Jordon Sweet among the inclusions.

Werribee made just one change for its home clash with Carlton, including Lucas Rocci for Sam Paea, while the Blues have been boosted by Paddy Dow and Josh Cripps in place of Cody Hirst and Joel Trudgeon.

GWS has handed debuts to Bendigo Pioneer Ricky Monti and Giants Academy member Sam Robinson for Kieren Briggs' 50th NEAFL/VFL match against Sandringham at Blacktown, with Jake Riccardi and Xavier O’Halloran being keys ins, with four youngsters missing out on the team that beat Collingwood.

Sandringham has rested Sam Dunell and lost Zak Jones, Darragh Joyce, Mitch Owens and Oscar Lewis for the trip north, with former St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary, Tom Highmore, Ryan Byrnes, Mitch Riordan and NGA Academy recruit Joel Peris the inclusions.

Sunday teams will be released on Saturday morning, with Anzac Day teams out on Sunday night.

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

GWS ruckman Kieren Briggs plays his 50th NEAFL/VFL match on Saturday. Picture: AFL Photos

GWS v SANDRINGHAM

Saturday, April 23, 12.05pm @ Blacktown International Sports Park
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 12pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Never Met

GWS
IN: R Monti (debut, 18, Bendigo Pioneers), X O'Halloran, J Riccardi, S Robinson (debut, Giants Academy)
OUT: B Barnes, L Chisholm, C Edwards, K Veerhuis (all omit)

SANDRINGHAM
IN: R Byrnes, J Geary, T Highmore, J Peris, M Riordan
OUT: S Dunell (managed), Z Jones (COVID), O Lewis (omit), D Joyce, M Owens

Prediction: GWS by 22 

WERRIBEE v CARLTON

Saturday, April 23, 2.05pm @ Avalon Airport Oval
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 2pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Werribee 3-1. At Avalon Airport Oval: Werribee 1-0. Streak: Werribee 2 in a row. Last time: Werribee 13.12 90 def Carlton 6.17 53 (Ikon Park, August 24, 2002)

WERRIBEE
IN: L Rocci
OUT: S Paea

CARLTON
IN: J Cripps, P Dow
OUT: C Hirst, J Trudgeon (both omit)

Prediction: Werribee by 17

FOOTSCRAY v SOUTHPORT

Saturday, April 23, 3.05pm @ Victoria University Whitten Oval
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 3pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Never Met

FOOTSCRAY
IN: A Bade (debut, 19, Ballarat), J Garner (debut, 22, Port Adelaide), C Doultree, L Goater, J Sweet
OUT: C Craig-Peters (omit), S Martin, R McComb, J Schache (AFL), R Smith, L Sullivan

SOUTHPORT
IN: R Gilmore, T Miller
OUT: B Crossley, J Townsend (suspended)

Prediction: Southport by 7