AFL round 7 line-ups: See all the team news as it drops

Reigning Hawthorn best-and-fairest Will Day is set for his first game of the season as one of two inclusions as the Hawks look to shock Sydney. SEE THE FULL ROUND 7 TEAMS

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. April 12, 2024. AFL. Round 5. Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon at Marvel Stadium. Bulldog Ryley Sanders at 3 qtr time after being subbed out during the 3rd term. Pic: Michael Klein

Hawthorn full-forward Mitchell Lewis has been named to return against Sydney but the Hawks have left out recruit Massimo D’Ambrosio out of the Sunday afternoon clash.

D’Ambrosio, who left the track early at Waverley Park on Friday, has been listed as “managed” as the Hawks also dropped second-year midfielder Henry Hustwaite to accommodate a returning Will Day.

Sydney will enter the MCG clash unchanged, after opting on Thursday to give one more week to injured former captains Luke Parker (arm) and Dane Rampe (hamstring).

Fans at People First Stadium for the Gold Coast-West Coast clash will be robbed of seeing a second extraordinary talent from the 2023 draft class with the Suns opting to rest Ethan Read after three games.

Inaugural Gold Coast player Sam Day will play his first game for the season - the 151st of his career - while Rory Atkins will return at the expense of Bodhi Uwland.

West Coast has recalled Luke and Harry Edwards along with star forward Liam Ryan, with half-forward Noah Long ruled out due to injury and joining Tom Barrass (suspended) and Harley Reid (managed) on the sidelines.

Will Day is back for Hawthorn. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

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BEVO’S BRUTAL MESSAGE TO YOUNG BULLDOG

Luke Beveridge has made a brutal call on youngster Ryley Sanders, dropping the No. 6 draft pick after starting him as the sub last week, while No. 1 draft pick Harley Reid has also been rested.

Tom Liberatore has returned after missing last week through concussion protocols after a dizzy spell against Essendon in Round 5.

Fremantle will blood two debutants in Patrick Voss and Cooper Simpson, with former Essendon-listed Voss will come in for young gun Jye Amiss, while Neil Erasmus, Sam Sturt and Ethan Hughes were all dropped, with Simpson, Heath Chapman and Michael Frederick also coming into the side.

Carlton will go in unchanged for its clash with ladder-leading Geelong, who have dropped youngsters Toby Conway and Jhye Clark, with Tom Stewart missing with concussion.

Riley Hardeman will debut for North Melbourne, with George Wadlaw also coming in for the injured Eddie Ford and omitted Tyler Sellers.

Will Day will play his first game for the season for the Hawks, with spearhead Mitch Lewis also named in the extended squad for Sunday’s clash with the Swans.

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PARKER SET FOR SWANS RETURN

Swans veteran Luke Parker could make his return to footy through the VFL as John Longmire begins to work out a plan for fitting multiple stars back into his side.

Parker underwent surgery for a broken arm following the Swans’ pre-season match against the Giants and is still awaiting the all-clear from the surgeon to return. Longmire confirmed that they will ramp up his contact training this week in an eye to him being available to take on Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

However, because he has missed so much game time there is a chance he could play in the reserves clash against Box Hill.

“We haven’t made the decision whether he actually plays or not this week,” Longmire said. “He’s got to get through training and do some contested work.

“He did some of that last week and he needs to ramp that up this week, then it’s a matter of getting the all clear.

“Whether he plays at VFL or AFL level because he’s missed a lot of footy. We know he’s a quality senior player, but the first step is how he goes at training and how he feels himself.”

Parker has only ever played two games in the reserves, both in the NEAFL in 2012, including a 42 disposal game against Belconnen.

Luke Parker is likely to make his return through the VFL. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The 31-year-old has been a mainstay of Sydney’s midfield and has played 22 or more games in all but two of the past 11 seasons. However, the Swans have barely missed a beat in the midfield without him, as well as captain Callum Mills, notching up a 5-1 record including wins over Collingwood and Melbourne.

Taylor Adams made his return for the Swans through managed minutes in the VFL before being handed a half-forward role in his first two games for the club. Parker could be given a similar role in the forward line and add to the 199 goals he has already kicked in his career.

Longmire suggested that they hadn’t decided what Parker’s best position would be in the new system, but that all cards were on the table. The key concern was ensuring they didn’t rush him back too quickly.

“We haven’t got to that point yet,” he said. “We’ll weigh that up, how he feels and what the medical staff say.

“It’s important for him to be there for the season, not just one game.”

It’s unlikely the Swans will make any other changes for their clash against the Hawks. Despite coming from the field at various points against Gold Coast, Tom McCartin (knee) and Nick Blakey (ankle) all pulled up well from the game and have been managed through training.

Lewis Melican was also subbed out of that match, but it was purely tactical with the key defender beginning to cramp up.

Parker’s former co-captain Dane Rampe has increased his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury and the Swans are confident he will be available for next week’s derby against the Giants.

The Sydney Derby could be a big week of inclusions with Parker and Rampe set to be joined by Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio and Sam Taylor at the Giants.

Originally published as AFL round 7 line-ups: See all the team news as it drops