Western Bulldogs utility Caleb Daniel has been dropped for tomorrow night’s clash with Essendon, making way for James O’Donnell.
The move was hinted at by coach Luke Beveridge this morning during a press conference, stating that the 27-year-old would play off half-back “if he plays state league”.
Zak Jones and Aaron Hastie have both been omitted for St Kilda ahead of their big clash with top-of-the-table Greater Western Sydney.
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
The duo have had severely limited game time as either a starting or sub player this season, with midfielder-forward Hugo Garcia the beneficiary, set to make his debut for the Saints on Saturday.
Sam Walsh will officially make his season debut for Carlton on Saturday, having finally recovered from a lingering back injury to assist his Blues midfield against a winless Adelaide Crows.
Port Adelaide will welcome back two key players into their side against an in-form Fremantle, with Ollie Wines and Sam Powell-Pepper returning from a hamstring niggle and suspension respectively.
But the Dockers will be without Sean Darcy, despite the ruckman’s return being expected for Saturday night’s clash, needing another week of training.
Key defender Connor O’Sullivan will make his much-anticipated debut for Geelong on Sunday against a struggling Kangaroos outfit.
The 11th pick in last year’s national draft – who stands at 198cm – has been solid in the Cats’ VFL side so far this season.
But the Cats will be super careful with Patrick Dangerfield with the superstar skipper again left out of the side as he recovers from his hamstring injury.
At North Melbourne, Jaidyn Stephenson has been dropped while Cam Zurhaar misses due to a low-grade calf injury.
Luke Jackson to overPower Port | 01:21
Remarkably at West Coast, key forward Ryan Maric has been named this weekend, despite fractured ribs and initial fears of a punctured lung.
The 193cm was on the receiving end of some heavy friendly fire in Gather Round, with the knee of teammate Jack Darling hitting him heavily during a third quarter marking contest against Sydney.
Maric was taken to hospital via ambulance, however was later cleared to fly home safely after fears of a punctured lung were dispelled.
The forward has played 13 games for the Eagles, after being selected at Pick #1 in the 2023 mid-season Rookie Draft.
Meanwhile Melbourne will hand a debut to their second 2023 first-round pick, Koltyn Tholstrup, in Thursday night’s blockbuster against Brisbane.
The West Aussie takes the place of suspended small forward Kozzie Pickett, after impressing through the draft process as one of the biggest characters, eventually taken with the No.13 selection.
He joins Caleb Windsor, who has quickly become a feature of the Demons’ best 23, as 2023 draftees to debut for the club.
The Lions have named an unchanged side, meaning Zac Bailey holds his place despite concerns around an ankle injury suffered in last week’s win over North Melbourne.
ROUND 5 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)
MELBOURNE v BRISBANE LIONS
Thursday April 11, 7:30pm at the MCG
DEMONS
B: T.Rivers, S.May, T.McDonald
HB: B.Howes, J.Lever, J.McVee
C: E.Langdon, C.Petracca, A.Neal-Bullen
HF: J.Billings, H.Petty, K.Tholstrup
F: J.van Rooyen, B.Fritsch, T.Sparrow
FOLL: M.Gawn – C, J.Viney, C.Oliver
I/C: C.Salem, C.Windsor, K.Chandler, T.Woewodin, B.Brown
EMG: B.Laurie, J.Schache, A.Tomlinson
IN: K.Tholstup
OUT: K.Pickett (suspended)
LIONS
B: B.Starcevich, J.Payne, R.Lester
HB: D.Wilmot, H.Andrews – C, D.Gardiner
C: J.Fletcher, Z.Bailey, J.Berry
HF: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, H.McCluggage
F: C.Rayner, J.Daniher, D.Zorko
FOLL: O.McInerney, J.Dunkley, L.Neale
I/C: K.Lohmann, C.Ah Chee, L.McCarthy, J.Tunstill, N.Answerth
EMG: L.Morris, J.Lyons, D.Fort
No changes
WESTERN BULLDOGS v ESSENDON
Friday April 12, 7:40pm at Marvel Stadium
BULLDOGS
B: E.Richards, L.Jones, B.Williams
HB: T.Duryea, B.Khamis, J.Johannisen
C: O.Baker, A.Treloar, H.Gallagher
HF: L.Vandermeer, A.Naughton, R.West
F: S.Darcy, J.Ugle-Hagan, C.Weightman
FOLL: T.English, M.Bontempelli – C, T.Liberatore
I/C: L.Bramble, B.Dale, J.Macrae, J.O’Donnell, R.Sanders
EMG: C.Daniel, R.Lobb, R.Garcia
IN: J.O’Donnell
OUT: C.Daniel (omitted)
BOMBERS
B: D.Heppell, B.McKay, N.Hind
HB: N.Martin, M.Redman, A.McGrath
C: X.Duursma, D.Parish, J.Kelly
HF: S.Durham, K.Langford, A.Davey Jnr
F: J.Gresham, J.Stringer, B.Hobbs
FOLL: T.Goldstein, J.Caldwell, Z.Merrett – C
I/C: S.Draper, N.Cox, J.Laverde, H.Jones, J.Menzie
EMG: E.Tsatas, S.Weideman, N.Caddy
IN: S.Durham, A.Davey Jnr
OUT: W.Setterfield (Injured), A.Perkins (Injured)
GWS GIANTS v ST KILDA
Saturday April 13, 1:45pm at Manuka Oval
GIANTS
B: H.Perryman, S.Taylor, C.Idun
HB: L.Whitfield, J.Buckley, L.Ash
C: J.Wehr, J.Kelly, F.Callaghan
HF: B.Daniels, J.Riccardi, T.Bedford
F: T.Greene – C, J.Hogan, C.Brown
FOLL: K.Briggs, S.Coniglio, T.Green
I/C: X.O’Halloran, H.Thomas, H.Himmelberg, A.Cadman, J.Peatling
EMG: N.Haynes, R.Angwin, M.Gruzewski
No changes
SAINTS
B: J.Battle, Z.Cordy, C.Wilkie
HB: R.Bonner, J.Sinclair, N.Wanganeen-Milera
C: R.Byrnes, S.Ross, B.Hill
HF: J.Higgins, C.Sharman, M.Owens
F: A.Caminiti, M.King, T.Membrey
FOLL: R.Marshall, J.Steele – C, M.Phillipou
I/C: M.Windhager, L.Stocker, D.Butler, D.Wilson, H.Garcia
EMG: L.Collard, A.Hastie, T.Campbell
IN: M.Windhager, H.Garcia
OUT: A.Hastie (Omitted), Z.Jones (Omitted)
CARLTON v ADELAIDE CROWS
Saturday April 13, 4:35pm at Marvel Stadium
BLUES
B: B.Kemp, J.Weitering, N.Newman
HB: A.Saad, M.McGovern, Z.Williams
C: O.Hollands, P.Cripps – C, B.Acres
HF: E.Hollands, H.McKay, M.Kennedy
F: O.Fantasia, C.Curnow, M.Owies
FOLL: T.De Koning, A.Cerra, G.Hewett
I/C: J.Boyd, J.Carroll, M.Cottrell, S.Walsh, C.Durdin
EMG: J.Binns, L.Cowan, M.Pittonet
IN: S.Walsh
OUT: L.Fogarty (suspended)
CROWS
B: L.Nankervis, J.Butts, B.Smith
HB: W.Hamill, M.Keane, M.Michalanney
C: M.Hinge, J.Dawson – C, C.Jones
HF: J.Soligo, I.Rankine, J.Rachele
F: N.McHenry, D.Fogarty, T.Walker
FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays
I/C: J.Worrell, S.Berry, M.Crouch, B.Cook, L.Gollant
EMG: B.Dowling, J.Borlase, C.Burgess
IN: W.Hamill, L.Gollant
OUT: P.Parnell (Injured), C.Burgess (Omitted)
GOLD COAST SUNS v HAWTHORN
Saturday April 13, 7:30pm at People First Stadium
SUNS
B: J.Lukosius, C.Ballard, S.Collins
HB: W.Powell, S.Flanders, M.Andrew
C: B.Fiorini, T.Miller – C, S.Clohesy
HF: B.Ainsworth, J.Walter, T.Berry
F: M.Rowell, B.King, M.Rosas
FOLL: J.Witts, N.Anderson, B.Humphrey
I/C: N.Holman, E.Read, D.Swallow, W.Graham, B.Uwland
EMG: R.Atkins, A.Sexton, D.Macpherson
No changes
HAWKS
B: M.D’Ambrosio, S.Frost, J.Sicily – C
HB: J.Weddle, J.Impey, B.Hardwick
C: K.Amon, J.Newcombe, C.Nash
HF: C.Macdonald, C.Mackenzie, H.Hustwaite
F: J.Ginnivan, M.Chol, F.Maginness
FOLL: L.Meek, J.Worpel, D.Moore
I/C: J.Scrimshaw, J.Ward, S.Butler, M.Ramsden, S.Mitchell
EMG: N.Reeves, H.Morrison, J.Serong
No changes
PORT ADELAIDE v FREMANTLE
Saturday April 13, 7:30pm at Adelaide Oval
POWER
B: R.Burton, E.Ratugolea, B.Zerk-Thatcher
HB: L.Jones, A.Aliir, D.Houston
C: M.Bergman, O.Wines, W.Drew
HF: D.Byrne-Jones, T.Marshall, C.Rozee – C
F: S.Powell-Pepper, C.Dixon, W.Rioli
FOLL: I.Soldo, J.Horne-Francis, Z.Butters
I/C: K.Farrell, J.Burgoyne, J.McEntee, M.Georgiades, J.Mead
EMG: J.Sinn, J.Sweet, T.McKenzie
IN: O.Wines, S.Powell-Pepper
OUT: T.Boak (Injured), J.Finlayson (Suspension)
DOCKERS
B: J.Aish, A.Pearce – C, J.Draper
HB: B.Walker, L.Ryan, J.Clark
C: A.Brayshaw, N.Fyfe, J.Sharp
HF: M.Walters, T.Emmett, S.Switkowski
F: J.Treacy, J.Amiss, M.Taberner
FOLL: L.Jackson, C.Serong, H.Young
I/C: J.O’Meara, N.Erasmus, E.Hughes, B.Banfield, M.Johnson
EMG: W.Brodie, H.Davies, L.Reidy
IN: N.Erasmus
OUT: M.Frederick (injured)
GEELONG v NORTH MELBOURNE
Sunday April 14, 1pm at GMHBA Stadium
CATS
B: T.Stewart – C, S.De Koning, C.O’Sullivan
HB: M.Duncan, J.Henry, M.Holmes
C: Z.Tuohy, T.Bruhn, O.Dempsey
HF: B.Close, T.Stengle, G.Miers
F: J.Cameron, T.Hawkins, O.Henry
FOLL: R.Stanley, B.Parfitt, M.Blicavs
I/C (FROM): T.Atkins, J.Bowes, J.Clark, Z.Guthrie, M.O’Connor, S.Mannagh, S.Neale
IN: C..O’Sullivan, S.Mannagh, S.Neale
OUT: Nil
KANGAROOS
B: C.Comben, A.Corr, K.Dawson
HB: H.Sheezel, C.McKercher, L.McDonald
C: D.Tucker, L.Davies-Uniacke, B.Scott
HF: Z.Duursma, T.Powell, E.Ford
F: P.Curtis, N.Larkey, Z.Fisher
FOLL: T.Xerri, H.Greenwood, J.Simpkin – C
I/C (FROM): D.Stephens, G.Wardlaw, T.Sellers, R.Hansen Jr, W.Phillips, B.Drury, L.Shiels
IN: T.Sellers, R.Hansen Jr, W.Phillips, J.Archer, B.Drury
OUT: C.Zurhaar (Injured), J.Stephenson (Omitted)
WEST COAST EAGLES v RICHMOND
Sunday April 14, 4pm at Optus Stadium
EAGLES
B: T.Cole, T.Barrass, J.Rotham
HB: B.Hough, J.McGovern, L.Duggan – C
C: J.Hunt, T.Kelly, R.Ginbey
HF: J.Cripps, J.Waterman, N.Long
F: J.Williams, J.Darling, J.Petruccelle
FOLL: B.Williams, E.Yeo, H.Reid
I/C (FROM): A.Gaff, T.Brockman, L.Edwards, C.Chesser, A.Witherden, C.Jamieson, R.Maric
IN: A.Gaff, T.Brockman, A.Witherden
OUT: Nil
TIGERS
B: T.Young, N.Broad, N.Vlastuin
HB: J.Short, T.Brown, D.Rioli
C: K.McIntosh, T.Taranto, M.Pickett
HF: S.Campbell, R.Mansell, M.Rioli
F: J.Koschitzke, S.Bolton, D.Martin
FOLL: T.Nankervis – C, L.Baker, T.Dow
I/C (FROM): T.Sonsie, J.Graham, M.Lefau, S.Naismith, K.McAuliffe, H.Ralphsmith, S.Banks
IN: L.Baker, S.Naismith, H.Ralphsmith, S.Banks
OUT: J.Ross (Injured)
Byes: Collingwood, Sydney Swans
Source Agencies
