AFL round 9 teams: Full line-ups, Injury-hit Collingwood rings changes for West Coast clash
Collingwood is set to debut more fresh faces as Craig McRae juggles his team due to a spate of recent injuries. LATEST ROUND 9 TEAM NEWS.
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Former Saint Jack Bytel will play his first game for Collingwood as Craig McRae deals with a mounting injury list.
Bytel, who played 22 games during four seasons on St Kilda’s list, has been named alongside fellow debutant Joe Richards for Sunday’s clash with West Coast.
The 24-year-old midfielder was one of the supplementary selection period signings for the Magpies after being delisted by the Saints.
Fellow SSP addition Lachie Sullivan, who debuted as sub last round against Carlton, has retained his spot in the Collingwood side.
Richards, the No.48 pick in the 2022 draft, will replace suspended star Lachie Schultz in the Magpies’ forward line.
Brody Mihocek, Beau McCreery and Jamie Elliott have been ruled out through injury in a triple blow to Collingwood’s forward stocks.
Finlay Macrae and Reef McInnes also return.
The Eagles will be without star duo Elliot Yeo and Jake Waterman, with Noah Long also injured.
Jayden Hunt, Ryan Maric and first-gamer Tyrell Dewar will replace the trio.
Adelaide is unchanged for its match against injury-ravaged Brisbane, which has called on Callum Ah Chee, Jaxon Prior and Shadeau Brain.
LYON MAKES SELECTION STATEMENT, SENDS YOUNG STAR TO VFL
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has made a selection statement by dropping gun No. 10 pick Mattaes Phillipou after an underwhelming start to the season.
Phillipou, who has averaged 11.6 disposals per game and only kicked three goals this season, will make way for returning recruit Liam Henry as Ryan Byrnes was also omitted.
Small defender Ben Paton is also back from a pectoral injury for the Saturday afternoon clash against Hawthorn in Launceston, with the Hawks regaining veteran forward Luke Breust and dropping duo Josh Ward and Harry Morrison.
SSP recruit Ethan Phillips was again overlooked for a debut, with Jai Serong recalled in place of injured captain James Sicily.
Caleb Daniel continues to be out of favour at the Bulldogs and was not among four changes with Rhylee West, Alex Keath and Luke Cleary joining debutant Joel Freijah in the side to face Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Tigers regained all three of the senior trio hoping to return in Noah Balta, Dion Prestia and Jack Graham, while coach Adem Yze axed Kamdyn McIntosh and Sam Naismith and former captain Dylan Grimes was rested.
Buku Khamis, Oskar Baker and last week’s first-gamer Charlie Clarke were all dropped.
Geelong recalled Brandan Parfitt and Irish pair Mark O’Connor and Oisin Mullin to face Port Adelaide at GHMBA Stadium on Friday night, with Tanner Bruhn ruled out due to a shoulder injury and Jack Bowes and Zach Tuohy both listed as “managed”.
The Power made five changes with Aliir Aliir returning from concussion and Dante Visentini replacing Jordon Sweet (illness) in the ruck.
Sydney recalled Aaron Francis for Friday’s second night game against Fremantle in Perth, with the tall defender replacing Tom McCartin (concussion) as Luke Parker was given a third week in the VFL.
Essendon will replace injured wingman Xavier Duursma (quad) with Nick Hind, while Callum Brown’s suspension has opened the door for GWS forward Conor Stone to play his first AFL game since round 4 last season.
Stephen Coniglio and Nick Haynes will also return for the Giants in the Saturday afternoon clash.
Fremantle regained Sam Switkowski after an extended absence due to concussion and replaced Sean Darcy (calf) with Patrick Voss, leaving Luke Jackson as the sole ruckman against Brodie Grundy.
Gold Coast swung six changes for Saturday night’s clash against North Melbourne in Darwin, with Alex Davies, Joel Jeffrey and Lloyd Johnston all named to play their first games for the season.
The Kangaroos dropped top five pick Zane Duursma along with Toby Pink, while co-captain Jy Simpkin was ruled out due to injury.
Collingwood could blood Ed Allan, Joe Richards, or former St Kilda on-baller Jack Bytel against West Coast on Sunday after the trio was named on an extended bench.
Jamie Elliott has been named in the Magpies’ squad despite battling back soreness.
Andrew Gaff is in the frame to return for the Eagles in the Marvel Stadium clash, while Shadeau Brain could make his debut for Brisbane against Adelaide on Sunday.
PARKER STUCK ON OUTER AS SWANS HEAD WEST
Luke Parker will spend another week in the VFL as the Swans stick to a winning formula for their trip west to take on Fremantle.
John Longmire’s side are comfortably sitting on top of the ladder with a healthy percentage and have opted not to bring in their former co-captain for Friday night’s clash.
Parker did not travel to Perth with the rest of the team, and will instead head to Melbourne as part of the Swans’ reserves side to take on the Kangaroos at Arden Street on Saturday.
Longmire has been conscious of not rushing Parker back too quickly following his broken arm in pre-season. However, this will be the 31-year-old’s third consecutive week playing in the VFL.
Before the season, there were already question marks about where Parker would fit in the side, particularly with the arrival of James Jordon and Taylor Adams around the midfield.
The team’s positive start to the season means that Longmire is in no hurry to make a tough call at the selection table, with Parker set to provide valuable depth as the season progresses.
Parker is currently averaging 35.5 disposals and added nine clearances and a goal against the Giants last weekend in the VFL.
Tom McCartin has been replaced in the Swans’ squad by Aaron Francis who had a strong pre-season in defence. Francis played 15 games last season for Sydney after being brought in from Essendon and his strong aerial ability is set to help the Swans keep their defensive structure against a mobile Fremantle forward line.
Francis is averaging nine intercept possessions and 3.2 intercept marks a game across five games in the VFL this season.
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