AFL teams: All the ins and outs for Round 17

Hawthorn veteran Grant Birchall has been named for his first AFL game in more than two years but the Hawks have lost a key forward, and several big names return. ALL THE TEAMS

Hugh Goddard (no.45) with last year’s Blues recruits, from left, Ben Silvagni, Liam Stocker, Sam Walsh and Finbar O'Dwyer. Pic: Getty Images

Four-time Hawthorn premiership player Grant Birchall says he is ready to put a “tough two years” behind him as he prepares to play his first AFL game in 741 days against Fremantle on Saturday.

Birchall, 31, last played at AFL level in Round 15, 2017 before rupturing his PCL and has had a series of knee setbacks since as well as calf problems this year.

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The defender, who is out of contract at season’s end, has played the past three weeks in the VFL for Box Hill and gathered 16 disposals and 10 marks against Geelong last week to earn his AFL recall.

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“I’m just really excited to get back out there again,” Birchall said.

“It’s been a tough two years, but I get my opportunity this week so I’m rapt.

“My body is the best it’s been for a long time.

“I’ve ticked all the boxes, I’m fit, I’m ready to go, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Grant Birchall will play his first game in 741 days. Picture: Michael Klein

Hawthorn also regains forward Chad Wingard, who had missed the past four matches with a hamstring injury.

However, swingman Jack Gunston will miss with a “minor leg injury”.

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps and forward Harry McKay will both return against Sydney on Saturday having missed the past two games with foot and groin issues respectively.

Former Saint and highly-rated draftee Hugh Goddard will make his Blues debut.

Rookie Goddard managed just 10 matches across four seasons with St Kilda after he was taken with pick 21 in the 2014 draft, enduring an injury-interrupted run during his time at the Saints.

However, the Blues lose defenders Caleb Marchbank and Jacob Weitering to injury, while key forward Mitch McGovern has been “managed”.

Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn will return from an ankle injury against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, while defender Neville Jetta will play his first game since Round 5 having overcome a knee injury.

The Blues welcome back Patrick Cripps. Picture: Michael Klein

Fellow backman Jake Lever also returns for the Demons, while veteran Dale Morris has been named on an extended interchange bench for the Bulldogs.

Essendon will head into its crunch clash with North Melbourne unchanged, captain Dyson Heppell (foot) having failed to prove his fitness.

GWS midfielder Lachie Whitfield will return from a broken collarbone that has sidelined him since Round 11 against Richmond on Sunday, while Jack Riewoldt returns for his first game since Round 6 for the Tigers.

Josh Caddy has been named on an extended interchange bench for Richmond.

High-priced St Kilda recruit Daniel Hannebery will miss a second-straight game with hamstring soreness.

As reported on Wednesday, the former premiership Swan was in doubt for the clash against Geelong with his latest soft-tissue drama.

Hannebery missed last weekend’s loss to North Melbourne and he will remain sidelined for the crunch clash against the Cats at GMHBA Stadium.

It is a blow for coach Alan Richardson who desperately needs wins in the final seven games of the season to save his job for next year.

Hannebery, who has played only two games this season, is line to make his return against Western Bulldogs next week.

Dan Hannebery won’t face the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

LIONS LOSE HODGE, HIPWOOD

Banged-up warhorse Luke Hodge will not make the trip to take on the Power in Adelaide on Sunday.

However Brisbane say Giants forward Jeremy Cameron has not claimed another Lions’ scalp.

Cameron copped a five-week suspension last year for a high shot that left Harris Andrews with severe concussion that sidelined him for a month and possibly cost him his first All Australian blazer.

Hodge wore the brunt of the 196cm, 96kg Cameron cannoning into his exposed ribs in full flight during Sunday’s gutsy 20-pointvictory over the Giants in Sydney.

Although he took a while to regain his feet and stood doubled over for some time, he refused to leave the ground.

His toughness was on display as he battled his way through the game to produce one of his best performances for the club.

Jeremy Cameron of the Giants crashes in to Lions veteran Luke Hodge. Picture: Getty Images

He was pivotal as the Lions produced the biggest win of the Chris Fagan era when they knocked over a top four side for thefirst time to leapfrog the Giants into fourth spot.

Hodge has been listed as managed on the official team sheet and Lions football manager

Hodge and key forward Eric Hipwood are the big-name omissions from the extended 26-man squad.

Hipwood earned Fagan’s praise after the game for playing through the discomfort of a knee injury to help the Lions claim theirfirst win at Giants Stadium.

Hodge was also sporting a lump over his eye from another clash with Cameron late in the game but Noble said the four-time premiership winner was not injured in either incident.

Queenslander Jack Payne has been named on the bench and will make his debut if he survives the cut today.

Ruck pair Oscar McInerney and Archie Smith, key position utility Josh Walker and midfielders Ben Keays and Rhys Mathiesonare the other inclusions.

AFL — ROUND 17 TEAMS (all times local)

WEST COAST v COLLINGWOOD

Friday 12 July, 8.10pm at Perth Stadium

EAGLES

B: Hurn, Barrass, Cole

HB: Sheppard, McGovern, Jetta

C: Sheed, Redden, Gaff

HF: Cameron, Darling, Cripps

F: Ryan, Kennedy, Rioli

FOLL: Naitanui, Yeo, Shuey

I/C: Masten, O. Allen, Hickey, Nelson

EMG: Petruccelle, Schofield, M. Allen, Smith

IN: Cole, Kennedy

OUT: Ah Chee (injured), Duggan (injured)

MAGPIES

B: Maynard, Roughead, Greenwood

HB: Crisp, Moore, Quaynor

C: Phillips, Pendlebury, Mayne

HF: Brown, Cox, Hoskin-Elliott

F: De Goey, Mihocek, Elliott

Foll: Grundy, Treloar, Sidebottom

I/C: Aish, Noble, Sier, Crocker

EMG: Brown, Thomas, Scharenberg, Daicos

IN: Greenwood, Noble, Crocker

OUT: Scharenberg, Daicos, Thomas

SYDNEY v CARLTON

Saturday 13 July, 1.45pm at the SCG

SWANS

B: O’Riordan, Rampe, Melican

HB: Lloyd, McCartin, Mills

C: Jack, Kennedy, Heeney

HF: Hayward, Reid, Dawson

F: Papley, Blakey, Parker

FOLL: Aliir, Rowbottom, Jones

I/C: Hewett, Cunningham, Florent, Ronke

EMG: Rose, Fox, Stoddart, Amartey

IN: Jack

OUT: Rose

BLUES

B: Thomas, Jones, Simpson

HB: Plowman, Casboult, Goddard

C: O’Brien, Petrevski-Seton, Setterfield

HF: Fisher, McKay, Silvagni

F: Gibbons, Kennedy, Lang

FOLL: Kreuzer, Cripps, Walsh

I/C: Curnow, Murhpy, Newman, Dow

EMG: Owies, Lobbe, Fasolo, Deluca

IN: Goddard, McKay, Cripps

OUT: Marchbank (injured), Weitering (injured), McGovern (managed)

HAWTHORN v FREMANTLE

Saturday 13 July, 2.10pm at UT Stadium

HAWKS

B: O’Brien, Frawley, Burgoyne

HB: Stratton, Sicily, Hardwick

C: Henderson, Howe, Shiels

HF: Breust, Wingard, Puopolo

F: Nash, Lewis, Impey

FOLL: McEvoy, O’Meara, Smith

I/C: Birchall, Scully, Worpel, Hanrahan

EMG: Jones, Glass, Cousins, Ceglar

IN: Wingard, Birchall

OUT: Gunston (injured), Glass

DOCKERS

B: Wilson, Hamling, Ryan

HB: Blakely, Hughes, Conca

C: Hill, Fyfe, Langdon

HF: Tucker, Walters, Colyer

F: McCarthy, Lobb, Matera

FOLL: Darcy, Cerra, Mundy

I/C: Nyhuis, Switkowski, Hill, Brayshaw

Emg: Duman, Logue, Crowden, Bewley

IN: Darcy, Nyhuis, Hill

OUT: Logue, Sandilands (managed), Crowden (managed)

ESSENDON v NORTH MELBOURNE

Saturday 13 July, 4.35pm at Marvel Stadium

BOMBERS

B: Redman, Hooker, Gleeson

HB: Guelfi, Hurley, Saad

C: McKenna, Merrett, Zaharakis

HF: McGrath, Laverde, McDonald-Tipungwuti

F: Fantasia, Brown, Clarke

FOLL: McKernan, Shiel, Parish

I/C: Clarke, Stringer, Francis, Langford

EMG: Snelling, Zerk-Thatcher, Hartley, Ham

NO CHANGES

KANGAROOS

B: Williams, Thompson, Macmillan

HB: Pittard, Tarrant, Atley

C: Dumont, Anderson, Polec

HF: Thomas, Larkey, Ziebell

F: Zurhaar, Brown, Turner

FOLL: Goldstein, Cunnington, Simpkin

I/C: McDonald, Ahern, Wood, Taylor

EMG: Davies-Uniacke, Durdin, Campbell, Hrovat

IN: Macmillan, Taylor

OUT: Davies-Uniacke, Durdin

GOLD COAST v ADELAIDE

Saturday 13 July, 7.25pm at Metricon Stadium

SUNS

B: Lukosius, Hombsch, Harbrow

HB: Joyce, Hanley, Heron

C: Weller, Brodie, Fiorini

HF: Sexton, Corbett, Miller

F: Lemmens, Day, King

FOLL: Witts, Swallow, MacPherson

I/C: Ballard, Miles, Rischitelli, Scheer

EMG: Dawson, Horlin-Smith, Murdoch, Wright

IN: Lemmens, Rischitelli

OUT: Martin (injured), Powell (injured)

CROWS

B: Smith, Talia, Keath

HB: Kelly, Luke Brown, Laird

C: Atkins, B.Crouch, Mackay

HF: Greenwood, Walker, Knight

F: Jenkins, Betts, Murphy

FOLL: O’Brien, M.Crouch, Sloane

Interchange: Seedsman, Hartigan, Stengle, Milera

Emergencies: Otten, Jacobs, Douglas, Davis

IN: Riley Knight, Tyson Stengle

OUT: Jordan Gallucci, Douglas

GEELONG v ST KILDA

Saturday 13 July, 7.25pm at GMHBA Stadium

CATS

B: Tuohy, Kolodjashnij, Taylor

HB: Dangerfield, Blicavs, Stewart

C: Guthrie, Kelly, Duncan

HF: Dahlhaus, Ratugolea, Rohan

F: Ablett, Hawkins, Atkins

FOLL: Stanley, Clark, J. Selwood

Interchange: Bews, Parfitt, Miers, O’Connor

Emergencies: Henry, Abbott, S. Selwood, Guthrie

IN: Ratugolea, Parfitt

OUT: Henry (managed), Fogarty

SAINTS

B: Coffield, Brown, Savage

HB: Wilkie, Carlisle, Clark

C: Billings, Ross, Newnes

HF: Hind, Bruce, Sinclair

F: McKenzie, Membrey Long

FOLL: Marshall, Gresham, Steele

I/C: Dunstan, Acres, Lonie, Paton

EMG: Parker, Rice, Langlands, Rowe

IN: Brown, Lonie

OUT: Battle (injured), Parker

RICHMOND v GWS

Sunday 14 July, 1.10pm at the MCG

TIGERS

B: Astbury, Broad, Grimes

HB: Houli, Vlastuin, Short

C: McIntosh, Prestia, Bolton

HF: Rioli, Castagna, Lambert

F: Riewoldt, Edwards, Lynch

FOLL: Soldo, Cotchi, Martin

I/C from: Eggmolesse-Smith, Graham, Ellis, Chol, Higgins, Stack, Caddy, Baker

IN: Riewoldt, Higgins, Caddy, Baker

OUT: None

GIANTS

B: Davis, Taylor, Williams

HB: Reid, Haynes, Deledio

C: Kennedy, Coniglio, Greene

HF: Taranto, Cameron, Daniels

F: Tomlinson, Himmelberg, Hill

FOLL: Simpson, Perryman, Hopper

I/C from: Shaw, Lloyd, Buntine, Hately, Flynn, Finlayson, Stein, Whitfield

IN: Hill, Lloyd, Buntine, Flynn, Stein, Whitfield

OUT: Langdon (injured), Kelly (injured)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v MELBOURNE

Sunday 14 July, 3.20pm at Marvel Stadium

BULLDOGS

B: Johannisen, Trengove, Crozier

HB: Duryea, Cordy, Wood

C: Hunter, Smith, Lipinski

HF: Suckling, Schache, Lloyd

F: Naughton, Bontempelli, Dickson

FOLL: English, Dunkley, Macrae

I/C from: Williams, Smith, Morris, Young, West, McLean, Richards, Dale

IN: West, Dale, Morris, Young

OUT: None

DEMONS

B: Lever, May, Jetta

HB: Hibberd, Frost, Salem

C: Hunt, Lewis, Jones

HF: Harmes, Weideman, Fritsch

F: Hannan, Preuss, Brayshaw

FOLL: Gawn, Viney, Oliver

I/C from: Petracca, O. McDonald, Neal-Bullen, Petty, C. Wagner, Lockhart, J. Wagner, Dunkley

IN: Lever, Jetta, Gawn, O. McDonald, C. Wagner, J. Wagner

OUT: Hore (injured), T. McDonald (injured)

PORT ADELAIDE v BRISBANE

Sunday 14 July, 4.40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: Burton, Clurey, Houston

HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones

C: Ebert, Rockliff, Amon

HF: Gray, Howard, Motlop

F: Westhoff, Dixon, Rozee

FOLL: Lycett, Wines, Boak

I/C from: Bonner, Duursma, Gray, Butters, McKenzie, Ryder, Sutcliffe, Powell-Pepper

IN: Boak, McKenzie, Ryder, Sutcliffe

OUT: None

LIONS

B: Lester, Andrews, Answerth

HB: Witherden, Gardiner, Rich

C: Zorko, Neale, Robinson

HF: Rayner, Adams, McCluggage

F: Cameron, McStay, McCarthy

FOLL: Martin, Berry, Lyons

I/C from: Keays, Christensen, Walker, Bailey, Mathieson, Payne, Smith, McInerney

IN: Keays, Walker, Mathieson, Payne, Smith, McInerney

OUT: Hodge (managed), Hipwood (injured)