- How the NAB Challenge works
- Club by club - full NAB Challenge preview
- LIVE: The Traders call the NAB Challenge opener

LANCE Franklin will return to football this weekend after being named in the Sydney Swans' NAB Challenge side to take on Port Adelaide. 

Franklin, who withdrew from the Swans' finals side last year to deal with a mental health issue, has been selected in the club's 29-man squad. 

The champion forward will be joined in Sydney colours by first-year midfielder Callum Mills and new recruits Callum Sinclair and Michael Talia. 

Power recruit Jimmy Toumpas will play his first game for the club since being traded there from Melbourne last year, while young stars Ollie Wines and Chad Wingard have also been picked.

Captain Travis Boak and star midfielder Robbie Gray will not play.

After dominating last week's intraclub match at North Melbourne, midfielder Daniel Wells hasn't been picked in the Roos' squad of 29 to face St Kilda on Saturday at Wangaratta. 

North's general manager of football operations Cameron Joyce said Wells is expected to play the final two pre-season games as part of his planned build-up to round one of the home and away season.

"He's had a seamless preparation and we're really happy with how he's progressing," Joyce told the Roos' website.

"We initially thought he'd play this week, but the fitness and conditioning staff would prefer to give him two games in a row for continuity purposes. That will allow him to put in more strength and conditioning work in the lead up to round one."

The Roos will welcome draftees Ryan Clarke, Corey Wagner and Declan Mountford for their first games for the club, while Shaun Higgins (knee) and Robbie Tarrant (back) return to the side after missing the internal hit-out last week. 

First-round draftee Jade Gresham has been named for the Saints, while rookie Nick Coughlan is also in the young squad. Captain Nick Riewoldt and veteran midfielder Leigh Montagna are among the absentees.

No.2 draft pick Josh Schache is set to line up for the Brisbane Lions for the first time in the club's clash with Gold Coast on Sunday.

Fellow draftees Rhys Mathieson, Ben Keays and Eric Hipwood have also been selected. 

The Suns are also going to unveil a prized early pick, with top-10 selection Callum Ah Chee set to debut against the Lions. Key forward Tom Lynch will captain the Suns as Gary Ablett nurses a foot injury. 

West Coast will welcome back defender Mitch Brown for the first time since his knee reconstruction last year, but fellow ACL victim Eric MacKenzie has not been selected to play Adelaide at Unley Oval on Sunday. 

Exciting draftee Wayne Milera, former Carlton forward Troy Menzel and ex-Magpie Paul Seedsman have all been picked to make their first appearances for the Crows.  

FULL NAB CHALLENGE SQUADS: ROUND ONE

Thursday, 18 February

Hawthorn v Carlton, Aurora Stadium (Launceston), 7.10pm AEDT

HAWTHORN
3. Jordan Lewis, 4. Billy Hartung, 5. Sam Mitchell, 6. Josh Gibson, 7. Ben McEvoy, 8. Taylor Duryea, 10. Bradley Hill, 11. Brendan Whitecross, 13. Jonathan O'Rourke, 14. Grant Birchall, 15. Luke Hodge, 16. Isaac Smith, 17. Angus Litherland, 20. Dallas Willsmore, 21. James Sicily, 22. Luke Breust, 23. Tim O'Brien, 24. Ben Stratton, 25. Ryan Schoenmakers, 28. Paul Puopolo, 30. Kaiden Brand, 31. Zac Webster, 32. Jack Fitzpatrick, 34. Kurt Heatherley, 41. Daniel Howe, 42. Teia Miles, 43. Marc Pittonet, 46. Lachlan Langford, 47. Shem-Kalvin Tatupu

CARLTON
3. Marc Murphy, 4. Bryce Gibbs, 6. Kade Simpson, 8. Matthew Kreuzer, 10. Harry McKay, 11. Sam Kerridge, 12. Blaine Boekhorst, 13. Jed Lamb, 14. Liam Jones, 15. Sam Docherty, 17. Sam Rowe, 22. Jason Tutt, 23. Jacob Weitering, 24. Mark Whiley, 30. Charlie Curnow, 31. Matthew Dick, 32. Nick Graham, 33. Andrejs Everitt, 34. Andrew Phillips, 35. Ed Curnow, 37. Daniel Gorringe, 38. Ciaran Byrne, 39. Dale Thomas, 40. Michael Jamison, 41. Levi Casboult, 42. Zach Tuohy, 43. Simon White, 45. Andrew Gallucci, 46. Matthew Wright

Friday, 19 February

Fremantle v Richmond, Rushton Park (Mandurah, WA) at 4.10pm AWST

FREMANTLE
1. Hayden Ballantyne, 3. Zac Dawson, 5. Garrick Ibbotson, 6. Danyle Pearce, 7. Nat Fyfe, 8. Nick Suban, 9. Matt de Boer, 10. Michael Walters, 11. Tommy Sheridan, 12. Jonathon Griffin, 13. Tendai Mzungu, 14. Lachie Weller, 16. David Mundy, 18. Darcy Tucker, 19. Connor Blakely, 20. Matt Taberner, 21. Michael Barlow, 23. Chris Mayne, 27. Lachie Neale, 28. Brady Grey, 29. Matthew Pavlich, 31. Aaron Sandilands, 32. Stephen Hill, 33. Cameron Sutcliffe, 34. Lee Spurr, 36. Alex Silvagni, 38. Jack Hannath, 40. Sam Collins, 46. Clancee Pearce

RICHMOND
1. Nick Vlastuin, 5. Brandon Ellis, 6. Shaun Grigg, 7. Ben Lennon, 11. Jack Batchelor, 12. David Astbury, 17. Daniel Rioli, 21. Jacob Townsend, 23. Kane Lambert, 24. Ben Griffiths, 25. Troy Chaplin, 27. Sam Lloyd, 29. Ty Vickery, 30. Reece Conca, 31. Oleg Markov, 32. Corey Ellis, 33. Kamdyn McIntosh, 34. Liam McBean, 35. Nathan Broad, 36. Callum Moore, 37. Connor Menadue, 38. Steven Morris, 40. Dan Butler, 41. Mobior Chol, 43. Todd Elton, 44. Adam Marcon, 45. Jayden Short, 46. Jason Castagna, 47. Ivan Soldo

Saturday, 20 February

St Kilda v North Melbourne at Norm Minns Oval (Wangaratta, VIC), 2.05pm AEDT

ST KILDA
1. Tom Hickey, 3. Jack Steven, 4. Eli Templeton, 5. Shane Savage, 6. Sebastian Ross, 7. Luke Dunstan, 8. Blake Acres, 9. Tom Lee, 13. Jack Lonie, 15. Jack Billings, 16. Jack Newnes, 19. Sam Gilbert, 21. Luke Delaney, 22. Jade Gresham, 23. Hugh Goddard, 24. Sean Dempster, 26. Tom Curren, 27. Josh Bruce, 29. Jimmy Webster, 32. Paddy McCartin, 35. Josh Saunders, 36. Daniel McKenzie, 38. Nick Coughlan, 39. Cameron Shenton, 40. Jack Sinclair, 42. Lewis Pierce, 43. Brenton Payne, 44. Maverick Weller, 45. Jason Holmes

NORTH MELBOURNE
3. Jed Anderson, 4. Shaun Higgins, 7. Jack Ziebell, 9. Andrew Swallow, 10. Ben Cunnington, 11. Michael Firrito, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 13. Ryan Clarke, 14. Trent Dumont, 16. Scott D. Thompson, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 20. Drew Petrie, 21. Luke McDonald, 25. Robbie Tarrant, 27. Taylor Garner, 29. Brent Harvey, 30. Jarrad Waite, 31. Braydon Preuss, 32. Mason Wood, 34. Jamie Macmillan, 35. Aaron Black, 36. Joel Tippett, 37. Will Fordham, 38. Majak Daw, 40. Kayne Turner, 41. Corey Wagner, 42. Declan Mountford, 44. Farren Ray

Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide at Blacktown International Sportspark (Sydney), 4.40pm AEDT

SYDNEY SWANS
1. James Rose, 4. Dan Hannebery, 5. Isaac Heeney, 6. Tom Mitchell, 7. Harry Cunningham, 8. Kurt Tippett, 11. Jeremy Laidler, 12. Josh P. Kennedy, 13. Toby Nankervis, 14. Callum Mills, 17. Jack Hiscox, 18. Callum Sinclair, 22. Dean Towers, 23. Lance Franklin, 24. Dane Rampe 26. Luke Parker, 27. Daniel Robinson, 29. George Hewett, 30. Tyrone Leonardis, 31. Harry Marsh, 32. Michael Talia, 33. Brandon Jack, 34. Jordan Dawson, 36. Aliir Aliir, 39. Heath Grundy, 40. Nick Smith, 41. Tom Papley, 42. Xavier Richards, 44. Jake Lloyd.

PORT ADELAIDE
2. Kane Mitchell, 3.Jake Neade, 5. Matthew Broadbent, 11. John Butcher, 12. Jackson Trengove, 13. Cam O'Shea, 14. Paul Stewart, 15. Karl Amon, 16. Ollie Wines, 17. Tom Clurey, 18. Jimmy Toumpas, 19. Matt White, 20. Chad Wingard, 21. Jared Polec, 26. Riley Bonner, 27. Alipate Carlile, 29. Jasper Pittard, 30. Sam Colquhoun, 31. Aidyn Johnson, 32. Dougal Howard, 33. Darcy Byrne-Jones, 34. Will Snelling, 36. Jack Hombsch, 37. Jesse Palmer, 40. Aaron Young, 41. Brendon Ah Chee, 42. Tom Jonas, 44. Cameron Hewett, 46. Sam Gray

Sunday, 21 February

Adelaide v West Coast at Unley Oval (Adelaide), 2.05pm ACDT

ADELAIDE
4. Josh Jenkins, 5. Scott Thompson, 6.  Jake Lever, 7. Nathan van Berlo,  8. Mitch Grigg,  9. Rory Sloane, 11. Paul Seedsman, 12. Daniel Talia, 13. Taylor Walker, 14. David Mackay, 15. Kyle Hartigan, 16. Luke Brown, 18. Eddie Betts, 21. Rory Atkins, 24. Sam Jacobs, 25. Kyle Cheney,  26. Richard Douglas, 27. Tom Lynch, 28. Cam Ellis-Yolmen, 29. Rory Laird, 30. Wayne Milera, 31. Jarryd Lyons, 32. Troy Menzel, 33. Brodie Smith, 34. Sam Shaw, 36. Dean Gore, 38. Harry Dear, 41. Mitch McGovern, 44. Matt  Crouch

WEST COAST
1. Mitch Brown, 3. Andrew Gaff, 5. Brad Sheppard, 6. Elliot Yeo, 10. Tom Lamb, 12. Sharrod Wellingham, 14. Liam Duggan, 15. Jamie Cripps, 18. Xavier Ellis, 21. Brant Colledge, 22. Jonathan Giles, 23. Lewis Jetta, 24. Luke Partington, 26. Sam Butler, 28. Tom Cole, 30. Jackson Nelson, 31. Will Schofield, 33. Josh Hill, 34. Mark Hutchings, 35. Patrick McGinnity, 36. Fraser McInnes, 37. Tom Barrass, 39. Malcolm Karpany, 41. Jordan Snadden, 43. Matthew Allen, 44. Jamie Bennell, 45. Corey Adamson, 46. Paddy Brophy, 47. Kane Lucas

Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast at Moreton Bay Sports Complex (Burpengary, QLD), 3.40pm AEST

BRISBANE LIONS
1. Ben Keays, 2. Ryan Harwood, 3. Allen Christensen, 5. Mitch Robinson, 7. Tom Bell, 8. Rohan Bewick, 14. Josh Walker, 16. Jarrad Jansen, 18. Nick Robertson, 19. Josh Clayton, 22. Marco Paparone, 23. Josh Schache, 24. Liam Dawson, 26. Tom Cutler, 27. Darcy Gardiner, 28. Lewis Taylor, 29. Jaden McGrath, 30. Eric Hipwood, 31. Harris Andrews, 32. Sam Mayes, 34. Jonathan Freeman, 35. Ryan Lester, 36. Rhys Mathieson, 39. Jackson Paine, 40. Matt Hammelmann, 44. Archie Smith, 45. Hugh Beasley, 46. Billy Evans, 47. William Reuben

GOLD COAST
3. Matt Rosa, 4. Jack Martin, 6. Alex Sexton, 7. Nick Malceski, 8. Luke Russell, 11. Touk Miller, 12. Sam Day, 13. Callum Ah Chee, 14. Mitch Hallahan, 15. Daniel Currie, 16. Rory Thompson, 17. Steven May, 19. Tom Lynch, 22. Tom Nicholls, 23. Sean Lemmens, 26. Matt Shaw, 27. Clay Cameron, 28. Kade Kolodjashnij, 30. Peter Wright, 32. Brandon Matera, 33. Aaron Hall, 35. Michael Rischitelli, 37. Jesse Lonergan, 39. Ryan Davis, 40. Tom Keough, 41. Jarrod Garlett, 44. Darcy MacPherson, 48. Seb Tape