Also coming into the side for the Cats is goal-sneak Shannon Byrnes.
Ablett has missed the last three weeks with an ankle injury sustained in the Round 15 match with Fremantle. Despite the extended lay-off, Ablett is still currently the favourite with bookmakers for this year’s Brownlow Medal.
Making way for Ablett and Byrnes are All-Australian backman, Darren Milburn, who faces a week on the sidelines after pleading guilty to a rough conduct charge arising from last week’s win over Richmond, and small forward Travis Varcoe.
The Friday match between the Cats and Demons will begin at 7.05pm, meaning it will be shown live on Channel 7 immediately before the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony. Preceding the Cats vs Demons match will be the annual Cordner-Eggleston Cup match between rivals Melbourne Grammar and Scotch Grammar. The game will begin at 3.50pm.
Cats line-up
B: Harley, Scarlett, Mackie
HB: Taylor, Hunt, Enright
C: Kelly, Rooke, Bartel
HF: Ablett, Mooney, S Johnson
F: Stokes, Lonergan, Selwood
R: Ottens, Ling, Corey
Int: Blake, Byrnes, Gamble, Prismall
Eme: Varcoe, Hogan, Tenace
In: Ablett, Byrnes
Out: Milburn (susp), Varcoe
