AFL Now: Latest injury updates, teams news and round 8 preview on Thursday

One of Melbourne’s biggest stars will miss the trip west this weekend. Get the latest team news ahead of a massive round of footy.

Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver will miss Saturday night’s clash with West Coast on mental health grounds after what the club has described as a “difficult week”.

Oliver was absent from the Demons’ main training session at Gosch’s Paddock on Thursday morning and subsequently missed the plane to Perth.

The Demons are hopeful Oliver will return to the fold next week but will continue to assess the situation.

“Clayton has had a difficult week personally and as such, both he and the club have agreed that it would be best for him not to play,” Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson said.

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“We expect Clayton to return to the program next week, but as always his mental and physical health will be the priority.

“As an industry, it’s pleasing to see the progress we’ve made in normalising players putting their hand up when they need support.

“The club’s focus is on surrounding Clayton with the care he needs and we ask that his privacy is respected.”

The 27-year-old had trained at Casey Fields on Tuesday, after playing a key role in a second-half surge from the Demons during their 20-point win over Richmond in the Anzac Eve match last week.

Oliver was granted indefinite leave from Melbourne in January 2024 due to personal reasons, but returned to play 21 games last season and had featured in the first seven matches this season.

Oliver joined key forward Tom Fullarton on the list of outs for the Demons, while fellow forward Daniel Turner returns from concussion and veteran Jake Melksham is back after missing a week due to a deep cut to his leg.

West Coast will debut Bo Allan – the club’s first pick at No. 16 in last year’s national draft – after three solid performances across halfback in the WAFL.

Eagles midfielder Tim Kelly returns from a toe injury to play his 150th AFL match, while Tyler Brockman also gets an opportunity against his former side.

Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz has been cleared to return for a blockbuster clash with Geelong on Saturday night as the Magpies prepare to rest one of their veterans.

Schultz had missed the past three weeks with a hamstring injury, which he sustained at training after a best-on-ground performance against Carlton in round 4.

However, he joins captain Darcy Moore (ear) and ruckman-forward Mason Cox in returning to the line-up this week.

Cox comes in to replace Dan McStay (knee), while veteran defender Jeremy Howe has been managed as Moore returns.

Howe, 34, had played the first seven matches this season and featured in 19 games last year.

Midfielder Lachie Sullivan has been omitted from the squad after serving as a starting substitute on Anzac Day.

Geelong has made only one change for the match, with veteran defender Mitch Duncan getting a call-up for his first game of the year to replace Tom Stewart (knee soreness).

It will be Duncan’s 297th AFL appearance as he edges closer to his 300 game milestone.

St Kilda young gun Mattaes Phillipou will play his first game of the season on against Fremantle on Friday night, after overcoming a stress fracture in his leg during pre-season.

Phillipou is one of three inclusions for the Saints, with first-year midfielder Hugh Boxshall to make his debut and Liam O’Connell coming in for his first game since round 3.

The trio replace Mason Wood (concussion), Zak Jones and Isaac Keeler (both omitted).

The Dockers have been boosted by the return of ruckman-forward Luke Jackson, who will play his first game since round 4 after overcoming a hamstring injury.

Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Treloar passed a final fitness test on Thursday to be named to play his first game of the year against Port Adelaide in Ballarat on Saturday.

The 32-year-old had battled a series of calf strains since pre-season.

Carlton has made three forced changes ahead of its match against Adelaide on Saturday, with Jack Silvagni (hand), Zac Williams (calf) and Matthew Cottrell (ankle) making way for Lewis Young, Lachie Cowan and Sam Docherty.

Forward Darcy Fogarty returns for the Crows, along with midfielder Sam Berry and defensive pair Jordon Butts and Brodie Smith who will play their first games for the year.

Richmond defender Noah Balta has been named in the on the field in an extended squad up ahead of Sunday’s match against Hawthorn.

Originally published as AFL Now: Latest injury updates, teams news and round 8 preview on Thursday