AFL Now: Latest injury updates, team news and Gather Round preview on Thursday

Collingwood has recalled Ed Allan and Lachie Sullivan to its line-up for Gather Round, while Tristan Xerri has been named despite being under an injury cloud. See the full teams news.

Young midfielder Ed Allan will return for Collingwood on Friday night after a strong stint in the VFL.

Allan was a strange omission following the Magpies’ Opening Round loss to the Giants, but has responded well in the reserves with 31 disposals against Sydney and then 16 touches in less than three quarters of footy against Coburg.

Lachie Sullivan will also come into the side, as will Will Hoskin-Elliott, with Collingwood missing Jordan De Goey and Lachie Shultz through injury and Dan Houston to suspension.

Sydney has remained unchanged after a convincing win over North Melbourne.

North Melbourne has named Tristan Xerri despite ongoing concerns surrounding his hamstring, having experienced soreness the past two weeks and on managed training loads.

But the Roos won’t risk midfielder George Wardlaw, who will continue to build up his match fitness through the VFL.

Finn O’Sullivan, Zane Duursma and Zac Fisher have been recalled, while last week’s debutant Matt Whitlock, mainstay winger Bailey Scott and small forward Robert Hansen Jr have been dropped.

Nick Holman comes in for Connor Budarick as the only change for the Suns’ side.

Carlton forward Harry McKay has been confirmed to play in Saturday’s clash against the Eagles, with both sides looking for their first win of the season.

Tim Kelly was omitted by Andrew McQualter in his first major selection statement of his West Coast coaching career.

The Eagles swung the axe, dropping Tyler Brockman, Noah Long and Tom Cole alongside Kelly, with Harry Edwards, Jake Waterman, Liam Ryan and Jack Hutchinson confirmed inclusions.

Corey Durdin will play his first game of the season, while Matt Cottrell will return and Matt Carroll will debut.

The Blues have dropped Ashton Moir, Cooper Lord and Lachie Young, while Lachie Cowan is missing through injury.

Luke Beveridge has named Cooper Hynes to debut for the Western Bulldogs against Brisbane.

The young midfielder was drafted in the first round and comes in for Harvey Gallagher, who was dropped.

Jason Johannisen will play his first game of the season, while Luke Cleary comes in after his sickening collision against North Melbourne.

Oskar Baker and Laitham Vandermeer will miss the clash against Brisbane, with the Lions unchanged for the match at Norwood.

Archie Perkins and Will Setterfield will come in for Essendon’s clash against Melbourne, replacing the injured duo Jye Caldwell and Tom Edwards.

Elijah Tsatas has been left out of the side.

The Demons have made one change for a must-win game, bringing in Xavier Lindsay for Daniel Turner.

There were initial fears of a torn ACL for the first rounder, but Lindsay missed just one game after training strongly this week.

SUNDAY SQUADS

Hawthorn has named James Worpel to return to action, but Connor Macdonald is at least another week away.

Will Day will miss the clash against Port Adelaide as well as a large portion of the season after a navicular injury.

Jai Serong, Ned Reeves and Henry Hustwaite have all been brought into the extended squad.

Port Adelaide has added Travis Boak, Ivan Soldo, Will Lorenz and Tom Cochrane to the extended squad, with just one change flagged so far with Darcy Byrne-Jones missing through suspension.

Hayden Young and Sean Darcy have both been added to Fremantle’s squad for Sunday’s game against Richmond, and both are named on the field.

Sam Switkowski is also flagged as a potential in, having been named at centre half forward, while James Aish, Oscar Macdonald and Liam Reidy are all on the extended bench.

Corey Wagner, Nathan O’Driscoll and Luke Jackson will all miss through injury.

Noah Balta has not been recalled after serving his suspension, with an impending court date for assault charges.

First-round draftees Sam Lalor and Harry Armstrong are both out through injury, but Jonty Faull will make his debut.

Maurice Rioli has been named in the forward pocket, while Samson Ryan, Hugo Ralphsmith and Campbell Gray were added to the extended bench.

Brent Daniels will miss GWS’s clash against St Kilda, with Stephen Coniglio, James Leake, Harvey Thomas and Toby McMullin all brought into the squad.

The Saints have not flagged any changes, but Jack Steele, Liam Henry and Hugh Boxshall were all brought into the extended squad.

Originally published as AFL Now: Latest injury updates, team news and Gather Round preview on Thursday