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AFL teams: All the ins and outs for Round 20
IT’S good news week in the AFL with Nathan Freeman, Alex Johnson and Brodie Smith back while Gold Coast and Fremantle have swung the axe for Round 20. SEE ALL THE INS AND OUTS
GOLD Coast and Fremantle have swung the axe after disappointing losses last weekend.
Both clubs have made five changes for their respective Sunday games. Gold Coast has lost a wealth of talent for its clash against Melbourne at the MCG with Rory Thompson and David Swallow injury, captain Steven May suspended and Jarryd Lyons dropped. Jesse Joyce is also out. ROUND 20: SEE WHO THE EXPERTS ARE TIPPING THIS WEEK LLOYD: SYDNEY STINKS AND IT’S NOT BUDDY’S FAULT Suns coach Stuart Dew has recalled Callum Ah Chee, Max Spencer, Pearce Hanley, Jack Leslie and Jacob Dawson. The Demons have made one change with Aaron vandenBerg making his return from a long-term injury in place of the injured Jake Melksham. Fremantle has regained Matt Taberner, Hayden Ballantyne, Mitch Crowden, Brady Grey and Cam McCarthy for the western derby at Perth Stadium. Cam Sutcliffe, Scott Jones, Stef Giro, Tom Sheridan and Taylin Duman are all out. The Eagles have been strengthened by Lewis Jetta, Luke Shuey and Liam Ryan with Dom Sheed, Jake Waterman and Jack Petrucelle making way. In Sunday’s other game, GWS will welcome Jeremy Cameron back from his five-game ban but have lost Tim Taranto and Dylan Shiel for its clash with Carlton. The Blues have replaced the injured Jacob Weitering with Cam O’Shea. Thursday night was good news night with a host of long-awaited returns. Nathan Freeman will make his AFL debut on Saturday some 1718 days after he was drafted ... by Collingwood. The 23-year-old will step out for St Kilda for the first time against the Western Bulldogs after suffering more than his fair share of hamstring complaints, including tears that required surgery on numerous occasions. Since Freeman was drafted at the end of 2013, 423 players have made their debut. Freeman comes in along with Jimmy Webster, Hunter Clark and David Armitage for the clash at Etihad Stadium with Sam Gilbert, Rowan Marshall, Shane Savage and Maverick Weller all out. The Bulldogs have recalled Roarke Smith, Tory Dickson, Lin Jong with Fletcher Roberts, Mitch Honeychurch and Marcus Adams out. The good news started earlier in the week with Sydney confirming five-time knee reconstruction victim Alex Johnson set to make his return to AFL action against Collingwood. AFL DAILY: ALL THE LATEST FOOTY NEWS IN ONE PLACE PREMIERSHIP RACE: WHY YOUR TEAM CAN WIN IT Johnson is one of four changes for the Swans as Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh and Daniel Robinson return in place of Robbie Fox, Colin O’Riordan, Zak Jones and Heath Grundy. Johnson said he was ready to make up for lost time. “I had my eyes firmly set on coming back to the AFL,” he said. “That’s why I’ve stuck at it and had five knee reconstructions, 12 operations on the knee and been through a lot over the journey but I have always had my sights on getting back in the AFL. “You speak to anyone that is close to me and they know I wouldn’t give up until that happens, but there were times lying in a hospital bed, having two surgeries in a week that I was more concerned about my health rather than getting back and playing footy, you start to question whether it will actually happen so I am over the moon that it’s come.” At the Magpies, coach Nathan Buckley confirmed former US college basketballer Jack Madgen will make his AFL debut in place of the injured Matt Scharenberg. Brayden Sier is also back with Jeremy Howe to miss with concussion. Adelaide kept the good news coming with Brodie Smith to return for his first game since last year’s qualifying final when he ruptured his ACL. Smith takes over from Paul Seedsman, who is out with a hamstring injury, in the Showdown against Port Adelaide. The Crows have also recalled Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, David Mackay and Tom Doedee while Jake Kelly, Mitch McGovern and Kyle Cheney are out. The Power remain unchanged after their wintry visit to Ballarat. Geelong has handed out another debut with big man Ryan Abbott named to take on Richmond on Friday night. Jamaine Jones is also back for the MCG blockbuster with Tom Stewart and Quinton Narkle out. The Tigers have lost Dion Prestia to injury and Nathan Broad as Connor Menadue and Sam Lloyd return. Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as AFL teams: All the ins and outs for Round 20