AFL round 1 line-ups: See all the team news as it drops
Melbourne have brought back two key forwards for their clash with the Western Bulldogs, while Caleb Daniel learned his fate ahead of round 1. SEE ALL THE SUNDAY TEAMS HERE.
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Melbourne has pulled a selection surprise with both Tom McDonald and Ben Brown recalled to its side in a bid to stretch the Western Bulldogs’ defence on Sunday.
The premiership key forwards could both play alongside Jacob van Rooyen and Bayley Fritsch in attack after being named among five inclusions.
Marty Hore will play his first game for the Demons since his delisting at the end of 2021, while Taj Woewodin also comes into the side after being named on the extended bench on Thursday.
All-Australian defender Caleb Daniel has been named in the Bulldogs’ 23 after pre-season speculation he could be squeezed out to accommodate new recruits Lachie Bramble and James Harmes, with young talls Sam Darcy and James O’Donnell missing out.
Brisbane surprisingly dropped key defender Jack Payne as Noah Answerth was brought into a different looking backline also without Keidean Coleman.
Deven Robertson will replace the injured Lachie Neale in the middle, winning selection over young on-baller James Tunstill.
Fremantle has handed Luke Jackson the sole ruck duties for the Lions clash by opting not to blood Liam Reidy, but could potentially throw one of Oscar McDonald and Brennan Cox forward after the latter was cleared to play following a pre-season wrist injury.
Port Adelaide opted against picking Jordon Sweet to ruck in tandem with Ivan Soldo, with Jeremy Finlayson backed as a forward-ruck as Jase Burgoyne and Dylan Williams also missed selection.
West Coast named former Hawk Tyler Brockman for his club debut as the Eagles pulled a surprise by leaving out Jamaine Jones.
Luke Edwards and Campbell Chesser will both face the Power at the Adelaide Oval, with Ryan Maric and NGA forward Tyrell Dewar joining Jones in the emergencies.
MANAGED MITCHELL, MACRAE RETURNS
Collingwood premiership hero Tom Mitchell has been sensationally “managed” out of the Magpies’ Friday night showdown against Sydney as coach Craig McRae stuck to his promise to select a young on-baller.
Mitchell was subbed out of the 32-point loss to the Giants early in the third quarter with just nine disposals to his name.
Finlay Macrae will come into the Collingwood side after a strong pre-season, with Mitchell named as an emergency alongside Billy Frampton and last week’s sub John Noble.
Noble lost his spot in the 23 to returning veteran Jeremy Howe, who was passed fit to play after a strong training session on Wednesday.
The Swans will be unchanged, while fellow opening round victors GWS will bring in a fit Finn Callaghan and Harry Perryman for Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne after the pair missed the big Magpies win through pre-season injuries.
The Kangaroos have rolled the dice on Aidan Corr coming off an ankle injury, with the defender to play alongside debutant Toby Pink and Kallan Dawson against a star-studded Giants forward line.
The Western Bulldogs have named Caleb Daniel on the extended bench as intrigue surrounds who will make way for the five club debutants confirmed to face Melbourne on Sunday.
The Demons have swung the axe after an underwhelming loss to Sydney, with Adam Tomlinson, Charlie Spargo and Josh Schache making way alongside the injured Jake Bowey for seven possible inclusions including star forward Kysaiah Pickett (suspension) and second-chance defender Marty Hore.
Essendon pulled a selection surprise on Thursday evening, leaving out young gun Ben Hobbs, despite fellow midfielder Darcy Parish missing with a hamstring injury.
Hobbs, 20, has played 35 games in two seasons since he was drafted at No. 13 in 2021 and made his debut on Anzac Day the following season.
The boy from Horsham made an instant impression at the Bombers, with former captain Dyson Heppell quickly praising his character and professionalism.
Hobbs is widely regarded as a critical cog in Essendon’s future midfield.
But the ball magnet will instead line up in a VFL practice match against Box Hill in Tullamarine on Saturday when the AFL season begins for the Bombers against Hawthorn at the MCG.
Hobbs has missed a recent block of pre-season due to an injury to his AC joint.
He returned on March 8 and dominated in a VFL practice match against Northern Bullants.
Ruckman Sam Draper also played in that VFL practice match, but will miss round 1.
Will Setterfield has leapfrogged Hobbs in the midfield pecking order over summer.
Like Hobbs, Jayden Laverde has missed out despite the backline also missing Jordan Ridley.
Utilities Nik Cox and Nic Martin have emerged as halfback options to complement Mason Redman and Andy McGrath.
The defence is also set to feature Ben McKay and 205cm full-back Zach Reid for the first time.
The Hawks have picked a relatively small forward line with Mitchell Lewis and Mabior Chol their key targets.
The Bombers are poised to select all four of their big-name recruits — Jade Gresham, Xavier Duursma, McKay and Goldstein.
Those players would receive their Essendon guernsey from some of the club’s 1984 premiership stars, who will be honoured before the match with a 1.05pm motorcade.
2023 Brownlow winner Lachie Neale has been ruled out of Brisbane’s clash with Fremantle, as the Lions look to bounce back from a shock defeat last week.
SINCLAIR RULED OUT IN SAINTS BLOW
St Kilda will be without star defender Jack Sinclair to start the season as clubs unveil fresh faces for round 1.
The Saints will hand club debuts to Liam Henry and Riley Bonner – who made the move to the club in the off-season – after ruling out the All Australian defender.
Sinclair has been battling a lingering calf injury in the pre-season, with the dashing gun limited in training and track work, and while there was optimism he would be fit the club confirmed he would miss the contest.
Henry was traded from Fremantle while Bonner landed at St Kilda after a stint at Port Adelaide.
Meanwhile, Geelong will be without forward Gary Rohan, with Shannon Neale in line to play alongside Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron up front for Saturday night’s clash at GMHBA Stadium.
Port Adelaide will hand a debut to Ivan Soldo, with the former Tiger to take the mantle of the number-one ruck role in the clash against West Coast.
Soldo made the move from Richmond in the off-season after failing to feature consistently at senior level, perpetually behind captain Toby Nankervis, with Port Adelaide securing the 57-game Tiger.
However it remains unclear whether Soldo will take sole responsibility in the ruck long-term or if he will share duties with fellow recruit Jordan Sweet throughout the season.
Sweet, who arrived at Alberton after the 2023 season as well, joined in anticipation of earning consistent AFL games after being stuck behind All Australian ruck Tim English at the Western Bulldogs.
Jeremy Finlayson shouldered some ruck duties last season, while Scott Lycett retired and Brynn Teakle was delisted.
First-round draftees Ryley Sanders, Colby McKercher and Nick Watson will play their first AFL games this weekend, while mature-age North Melbourne recruit Toby Pink will also debut against the Giants.
Tigers cull four, Blues name Docherty replacement
Sam Naismith’s dream AFL comeback has stalled with the ruckman one of three Tigers talls to make way as a smaller side is named to face Carlton on Thursday night.
Naismith, fellow new recruit Jacob Koschitzke and Samson Ryan have all been axed along with wingman Sam Banks as Richmond welcomed back star trio Tom Lynch, Dustin Martin and Toby Nankervis along with small forward Rhyan Mansell.
The Tigers are confident enough in Nankervis’ recovery from a foot injury to name the captain as their sole specialist ruck, with Noah Balta to carry out the back-up duties as flagged by coach Adem Yze on Wednesday.
It comes as Carlton small forward Corey Durdin won the battle ahead of No. 29 pick Ashton Moir to replace Sam Docherty in the Blues’ 23 for the MCG blockbuster.
Durdin, who had off-season shoulder surgery after only managing 11 games and 11 goals last season, could start as the substitute, with assistant coach Ash Hansen backing last week’s game-changer Jack Carroll to have an impact in the starting side.
Hansen said Carroll’s outstanding second half, which included 10 disposals, four clearances and a goal, had been the silver lining to the devastating season-ending knee injury for Docherty.
“Certainly Jack Carroll was the beneficiary of that at halftime last week, and he’s been working really hard, Jack, and putting the time and effort into his game,” Hansen said on Wednesday.
“It came at a really important time for us, so that’s the silver lining I guess of someone’s misfortune providing something for someone else.
“We certainly want to back Jack in – he really inspired his teammates, it was a fantastic performance.”
Koschitzke’s omission leaves the Tigers with only Lynch and Balta as their marking targets up forward, after the former Hawk was goalless from four possessions in the 39-point loss to the Suns.
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