AFL Teams Round 8 2024 – MASHAHER

The Western Bulldogs will unleash a debutant on Sunday against Hawthorn, with 2022 draftee Charlie Clarke to play his first AFL game.

The Dogs on Thursday confirmed Clarke, a hard-working small forward with great goal sense, would become their third debutant this season after Ryley Sanders and Harvey Gallagher.

The Port Melbourne Colts product has kicked six goals in the four VFL wins this year, while he booted three majors in Saturday’s exhibition match against the AFL U18 Academy.

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“I’m very excited – I’ve been dreaming of this my whole life,” Clarke said.

“I love this club and love the people that are part of it. I’m just so excited to get my opportunity.

“Especially from where I’ve come from, 12 months ago I was probably a long way off. To be here now – I’m just very grateful.”

The Bulldogs expect to get gun forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and midfielder Tom Liberatore back for Sunday’s clash with Hawthorn having lost leading goalkicker Cody Weightman to an elbow injury.

Meanwhile, both St Kilda and Brisbane expect Rowan Marshall and Joe Daniher to play this weekend, despite both players missing training on Thursday due to illness.

Carlton will regain star midfielder Adam Cerra for its Friday night blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG.

Cerra has recovered from a hamstring strain and will take on a rejigged Collingwood midfield missing premiership duo Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell in front of an expected crowd of more than 90,000.

Carlton coach Michael Voss said Cerra, who suffered a hamstring strain in the lead up to Round 5 and has missed three matches, could have faced the Cats last weekend but had been held back after a recent history of hamstring issues.

“He’s come up quite well – could’ve been right on the edge last week, we were a bit more conservative, so he’s been able to train really well so he’ll be ready to go,” Voss said.

Injury-riddled forward David Cuningham, who has missed the last five weeks with a calf injury, is in the frame for selection against the Magpies after he trained fully at Ikon Park on Thursday.

Voss said Mitch McGovern was “not ready” for the Friday night clash as he recovered from his own hamstring injury, but was “more likely” to return against Melbourne next Thursday.

Defensive reinforcements have arrived just in time for Adelaide, with a full new backline named for Thursday night’s Showdown LV.

The Crows will hand a debut to top draft pick Dan Curtin while Jordon Butts and Brodie Smith also return.

Coach Matthew Nicks has dropped two players to make way for them, with Will Hamill and James Borlase missing out, while Luke Pedlar loses his spot through injury.

Port Adelaide will be without Aliir Aliir (concussion) and Sam Powell-Pepper (ACL) as expected.

Ryan Burton and Jed McEntee come into the side as replacements, with Power captain Connor Rozee holding his spot despite suffering a hamstring injury last week against St Kilda.

The rest of the teams for Round 8 will be announced on Thursday at 6:20pm AEST.

ROUND 8 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)

ADELAIDE CROWS v PORT ADELAIDE

Thursday May 2, 7:30pm at Adelaide Oval

CROWS

B: D.Curtin, J.Butts, B.Smith

HB: J.Worrell, M.Keane, M.Michalanney

C: M.Hinge, J.Soligo, J.Dawson – C

HF: L.Sholl, T.Walker, J.Rachele

F: E.Himmelberg, D.Fogarty, I.Rankine

FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays

I/C: L.Nankervis, B.Cook, C.Jones, M.Crouch, N.McHenry

EMG: S.Berry, L.Gollant, L.Murphy

IN: D.Curtin, J.Butts, B.Smith

OUT: W.Hamill (Omitted), J.Borlase (Omitted), L.Pedlar (Injured)

POWER

B: K.Farrell, B.Zerk-Thatcher, D.Williams

HB: La.Jones, E.Ratugolea, D.Houston

C: M.Bergman, O.Wines, W.Drew

HF: D.Byrne-Jones, T.Marshall, C.Rozee – C

F: T.Boak, C.Dixon, W.Rioli

FOLL: J.Sweet, J.Horne-Francis, Z.Butters

I/C: J.Mead, J.Burgoyne, R.Burton, M.Georgiades, J.McEntee

EMG: D.Visentini, F.Evans, J.Finlayson

IN: R.Burton, J.McEntee

OUT: A.Aliir (Injured), S.Powell-Pepper (Injured)

CARLTON v COLLINGWOOD

Friday May 3, 7:40pm at the MCG

BLUES

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

MAGPIES

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

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SYDNEY SWANS v GWS GIANTS

Saturday May 4, 1:45pm at the SCG

SWANS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

GIANTS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

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ST KILDA v NORTH MELBOURNE

Saturday May 4, 4:35pm at Marvel Stadium

SAINTS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

KANGAROOS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

MELBOURNE v GEELONG

Saturday May 4, 7:30pm at the MCG

DEMONS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

CATS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

WEST COAST EAGLES v ESSENDON

Saturday May 4, 8:10pm at Optus Stadium

EAGLES

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

BOMBERS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

RICHMOND v FREMANTLE

Sunday May 5, 1pm at the MCG

TIGERS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

DOCKERS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN

Sunday May 5, 4pm at Marvel Stadium

BULLDOGS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

HAWKS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

BRISBANE LIONS v GOLD COAST SUNS

Sunday May 5, 7:10pm at the Gabba

LIONS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

SUNS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm