See all the teams for the first week of the pre-season JLT Series

Geelong has left out Gary Ablett but still named a powerful squad to take on premiers West Coast, while Jamie Elliott will make his long-awaited return at Collingwood and Richmond also bring out the big guns.

Carlton’s No.1 draft pick Sam Walsh.

Geelong has left out Gary Ablett for its opening JLT Series game on Friday night against a formidable West Coast team that includes 17 premiership players.

With the exception of Ablett, the Cats have also named a strong squad featuring Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins and Tim Kelly.

The Eagles have selected Andrew Gaff and Brad Sheppard, who both missed last year’s Grand Final but will be without flag heros Josh Kennedy (leg/shoulder), Jamie Cripps (toe), Will Schofield and Scott Lycett (Port Adelaide).

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BIBLE: BUCKENARA’S SUPERCOACH CASH COWS

PHANTOM: MIDFIELDERS TO WATCH IN JLT

Melbourne forward Tom McDonald has shaken off his knee concerns and will take on Richmond in the JLT Series in Shepparton on Sunday.

The key Demon, who kicked 53 goals from his 25 games last year, was a late withdrawal from AFLX last week after knee soreness forced him to seek a cortisone injection.

He got through almost 9km at training and says he feels ready to go.

“I’m good to play ... assuming I feel tomorrow,” McDonald said.

“I just had a light week last week, had a bit of a sore knee, had a cortisone injection behind the patella tendon ...

“I had a bit of fluid in the knee (and) cleared it up and felt really good today.”

Tom McDonald is tackled during Melbourne training.

Recruit Braydon Preuss will play in the ruck with Max Gawn named as an emergency.

The Demons will be without injured co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney as well as ex-Sun Steven May.

Richmond’s squad contains Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance but is missing Tom Lynch, Shaun Grigg and Josh Caddy.

Jamie Elliott will make his long-awaited return for Collingwood along with Darcy Moore for Monday’s clash against Fremantle.

Mason Cox and Adam Treloar were listed as emergencies.

Meanwhile, the AFL will go ahead with this weekend’s JLT Series games despite sweltering conditions but has approved special conditions to protect players.

The league confirmed at most of the weekend’s games across the country there would be additional water carriers between quarters

Three games will feature a half-time break of 22 minutes and quarter-time breaks of eight minutes; North Melbourne v St Kilda, Adelaide v Port Adelaide and Richmond v Melbourne.

All games except the West Coast-Geelong clash will be affected by the heat policy.

Every game except that clash will have two additional water carriers and trainers allowed to enter the field to deliver water.

The JLT Series will kick off at 6.40pm (EDT) in Melbourne with a clash between Essendon and Carlton at Ikon Park.

NAB Challenge match between the Gold Coast Suns v Geelong Cats from Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville. Suns Michael Rischitelli feels the heat. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The current temperature of 31.9 degrees is expected to rise to 36 degrees later in the afternoon.

The league is attempting to crack down on water carriers and runners standing on the ground during home-and-away games but the extreme heat has forced them to relent for this weekend’s games.

The league can cancel games with anticipated extreme conditions but that has only happened in recent history due to lightning risks.

The league’s excessive heat policy uses a wet bulb reading of 28 degrees or higher, which factors in humidity rather than only dry temperatures.

ESSENDON v CARLTON

Thursday, February 28 at Ikon Park, 6.40pm (EDT)

BLUES

B: Kade Simpson, Lachie Plowman, Paddy Dow

HB: Nic Newman, Cam Polson, Liam Jones

C: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Patrick Cripps, Zac Fisher

HF: Charlie Curnow, Matthew Lobbe, Angus Schumacher

F: Will Setterfield, Mitch McGovern, Harry McKay

Foll: Andrew Phillips, Michael Gibbons, Ed Curnow

I/C: Marc Murphy, Jacob Weitering, Jarrod Garlett, Sam Walsh, Jack Silvagni, David Cuningham, Dale Thomas, Lachie O’Brien

Emerg: Tom De Koning, Levi Casboult, Hugh Goddard, Matt Kennedy

BOMBERS

B: Patrick Ambrose, Michael Hartley, Jake Long

HB: Aaron Francis, Michael Hurley, Adam Saad

C: Dyson Heppell, Kyle Langford, Zach Merrett

HF: Dylan Shiel, Mitch Brown, David Zaharakis

F: Jake Stringer, Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

Foll: Zac Clarke, Andrew McGrath, Darcy Parish

I/C: Conor McKenna, Tom Jok, Shaun McKernan, Jordan Ridley, Matt Guelfi, Jayden Laverde, Devon Smith, Mark Baguley

Emerg: James Stewart, Sam Draper, Trent Mynott, Dylan Clarke

WEST COAST V GEELONG

Friday, March 1 at Leederville Oval, 4.10pm AWST

EAGLES

B: B.Sheppard 5, T.Barrass 37, S.Hurn 25

HB: T.Cole 28, J.McGovern 20, L.Jetta 23

C: J.Redden 8, D.Sheed 4, A.Gaff 3

HF: C.Masten 7, J.Waterman 2, W.Rioli 44

F: O.Allen 12, J.Darling 27, J.Petruccelle 21

Foll: N.Vardy 19, E.Yeo 6, L.Shuey 13

I/C: L.Ryan 1, J.Brander 10, L.Duggan 14, T.Hickey 16, D.Venables 18, F.Watson 26, M.Hutchings 34, J.Cameron 39

Emerg: J.Nelson 30, J.Rotham 35, M.Allen 43, J.Smith 45

Notable absentees: Josh Kennedy, Nic Naitanui, Jamie Cripps

CATS

B: J.Kolodjashnij 8, M.Blicavs 46, L.Henderson 25

HB: M.Duncan 22, H.Taylor 7, T.Stewart 44

C: G.Rohan 23, P.Dangerfield 35, J.Henry 38

HF: S.Menegola 27, E.Ratugolea 17, C.Guthrie 29

F: B.Parfitt 3, T.Hawkins 26, L.Dahlhaus 40

Foll: R.Stanley 1, J.Selwood 14, T.Kelly 11

I/C: G.Miers 32, Q.Narkle 19, M.O’Connor 42, T.Atkins 30, J.Clark 6, D.Fort 28, Z.Guthrie 39, C.Constable 18

Emerg: G.Ablett 4, R.Abbott 45, J.Parsons 34, J.Jones 41

Notable absentees: Zach Tuohy, Nakia Cockatoo, Zac Smith, Scott Selwood, Jed Bews

NORTH MELBOURNE V ST KILDA

Saturday, March 2 at Chimside Park, 1.10pm AEDT

KANGAROOS

B: M.Williams 2, J.Macmillan 34, J.Pittard 17

HB: A.Hall 43, B.McKay 23, L.McDonald 11

C: J.Polec 13, D.Tyson 21, T.Dumont 14

HF: S.Atley 18, B.Brown 50, S.Higgins 4

F: J.Simpkin 12, M.Wood 32, K.Turner 28

Foll: T.Goldstein 22, J.Ziebell 7, P.Ahern 15

I/C: L.Davies-Uniacke 9, N.Larkey 20, T.Thomas 26, B.Scott 30, E.Vickers-Willis 33, T.Murphy 40, T.Campbell 42, C.Zurhaar 44

Emerg: N.Hrovat 8, C.Taylor 31, D.Watson 35, K.Hayden 37

Notable absentees: Majak Daw, Robbie Tarrant, Jed Anderson, Ben Cunnington, Ben Jacobs, Taylor Garner, Scott Thompson, Sam Wright, Will Walker

SAINTS

B: J.Geary 14, N.Brown 22, S.Savage 5

HB: J.Battle 26, D.Roberton 17, J.Webster 29

C: J.Billings 15, H.Clark 11, J.Sinclair 35

HF: J.Gresham 4, J.Bruce 27, D.Kent 25

F: T.Membrey 28, P.McCartin 32, J.Lonie 13

Foll: L.Pierce 42, S.Ross 6, J.Steele 9

I/C: L.Dunstan 7, J.Newnes 16, E.Phillips 30, B.Paton 33, M.Parker 34, D.Joyce 39, N.Hind 40, C.Wilkie 44

Emerg: N.Coffield 1, R.Marshall 19, D.Armitage 20, R.Young 41

Notable absentees: Jake Carlisle, Jack Steven, Dan Hannebery, Blake Acres, Max King, Billy Longer

ADELAIDE V PORT ADELAIDE

Saturday, March 2 at Memorial Oval, 3.40pm ACDT

CROWS

B: A.Keath 42, A.Otten 22, J.Kelly 8

HB: P.Seedsman 11, R.Laird 29, W.Milera 30,

C: B.Smith 33, M.Crouch 5, R.Knight 3

HF: E.Betts 18, T.Lynch 27, R.Douglas 26

F: D.Fogarty 32, J.Jenkins 4, T.Walker 13

Foll: S.Jacobs 24, R.Sloane 9, C.Ellis-Yolmen 28

I/C: K.Hartigan 15, T.Doedee 39, R.Atkins 21, R.O’Brien 43, M.Poholke 10, B.Crouch 2, L.Murphy 44, C.Jones 20

Emerg: P.Wilson 31, J.Gallucci 7, T.Stengle 17, N.McHenry 25

Notable absentees: Hugh Greenwood, Bryce Gibbs, Daniel Talia

POWER

B: D.Howard 32, T.Clurey 17, D.Houston 43

HB: R.Burton 3, T.Jonas 42, D.Byrne-Jones 33

C: S.Motlop 6, T.Rockliff 11, J.Westhoff 39

HF: T.Boak 10, J.Watts 23, B.Ebert 7

F: R.Gray 9, P.Ryder 4, S.Gray 46

Foll: S.Lycett 29, S.Powell-Pepper 2, W.Drew 28

I/C: Z.Butters 18, X.Duursma 21, J.Lienert 40, R.Bonner 26, S.Mayes 34, T.Marshall 13, C.Rozee 20, K.Amon 15

Emerg: K.Farrell 24, J.Trengove 19, B.Frampton 14, A.Johnson 31

Notable absentees: Charlie Dixon, Ollie Wines, Matthew Broadbent, Hamish Hartlett

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY V SYDNEY

Saturday, March 2 at Blacktown, 7.10pm AEDT

GIANTS

B: M.Buntine 21, S.Taylor 15, H.Perryman 36

HB: H.Shaw 23, J.Finlayson 31, L.Keeffe 25

C: S.Reid 50, C.Ward 8, M.de Boer 24

HF: H.Himmelberg 27, J.Cameron 18, A.Bonar 10

F: J.Caldwell 5, M.Flynn 30, D.Lloyd 38

Foll: D.Simpson 26, S.Coniglio 3, L.Whitfield 6

I/C: P.Davis 1, J.Hately 9, I.Cumming 13, B.Deledio 7, Z.Williams 29, A.Kennedy 40, B.Daniels 16, T.Taranto 14,

Emerg: J.Stein 42, Z.Sproule 28, N.Shipley 34, C.Idun 39

Notable absentees: Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper, Toby Greene, Jonathon Patton, Adam Tomlinson, Nick Haynes

SWANS

B: D.Rampe 24, L.Melican 43, A.Aliir 36

HB: J.Thurlow 6, H.Grundy 39, J.Lloyd 44

C: H.Cunningham 7, J.Kennedy 12, J.Dawson 34

HF: L.Parker 26, S.Reid 20, G.Hewett 29

F: B.Ronke 25, W.Hayward 9, T.Papley 11

Foll: C.Sinclair 18, I.Heeney 5, C.Mills 14

I/C: C.O’Riordan 38, R.Fox 42, T.Pink 47, R.Clarke 4, J.Rowbottom 8, N.Blakey 22, O.Florent 13, J.McInerney 27

Emerg: J.Rose 1, R.Stoddart 33, J.Bell 32, S.Wicks 45

Notable absentees: Nick Smith, Lance Franklin, Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack, Zak Jones, Tom McCartin

BRISBANE V HAWTHORN

Sunday, March 3 at Moreton Bay, 12.40pm AEST

LIONS

B: L.Hodge 2 , J.Walker 14, D.Rich 10

HB: N.Robertson 18, H.Andrews 31, A.Witherden 29

C: D.Zorko (c) 15, L.Neale 9, H.McCluggage 6

HF: C.Rayner 16, E.Hipwood 30, L.McCarthy 11

F: C.Cameron 23, D.McStay 25, O.McInerney 46

Foll: A.Smith 44, J.Berry 7, J.Lyons 17

I/C from: R.Bastinac 4, M.Robinson 5, E.Smith 8, C.Cox 20, M.Hinge 22, T.Cutler 26, L.Taylor 28, Z.Bailey 33, R.Lester 35, R.Mathieson 36, B.Starcevich 37, C.Ballenden 38

Notable absentees: Allen Christensen, Stefan Martin, Marcus Adams

HAWKS

B: J.Impey 4, T.Mohr 39, K.Brand 30

HB: J.Scrimshaw 35, T.O’Brien 23, D.Mirra 32

C: H.Morrison 1, J.Cousins 46, C.Glass 13

HF: D.Moore 36, C.Nash 11, O.Hanrahan 41

F: J.Ceglar 18, M.Lewis 8, J.Sicily 6

Foll: M.Pittonet 27, H.Jones 40, J.Worpel 5

I/C: T.Miles 42, C.Jiath 29, D.Greaves 44, W.Golds 45, J.Ross 37, M.Walker 33, J.Koschitzke 34, J.Frawley 12

Emerg: P.Puopolo 28, B.Hardwick 15, J.Roughead 2, R.Schoenmakers 25

Notable absentees: Grant Birchall, Tom Scully, Tom Mitchell, Chad Wingard, Jack Gunston, Isaac Smith, Ben Stratton, Ben McEvoy, Luke Breust, Jaeger O’Meara, Shaun Burgoyne, Liam Shiels, Daniel Howe, Ricky Henderson

RICHMOND V MELBOURNE

Sunday, March 3 at Deakin Reserve, 4.40pm AEDT

TIGERS

B: A.Rance 18, D.Astbury 12, D.Grimes 2

HB: N.Vlastuin 1, B.Houli 14, J.Short 15

C: D.Prestia 3, S.Edwards 10, T.Cotchin (c) 9

HF: D.Rioli 17, R.Collier-Dawkins 26, J.Higgins 13

F: J.Riewoldt 8, D.Martin 4, D.Butler 7

Foll: T.Nankervis 25, K.Lambert 23, I.Soldo 47

I/C: O.Markov 31, N.Broad 35, J.Ross 27, L.Baker 48, J.Graham 34, B.Ellis 5, M.Weller 16, N.Balta 38

Emerg: C.Moore 36, C.Menadue 37, F.Turner 28, C.Coleman-Jones 40

Notable absentees: Shaun Grigg, Jason Castagna, Tom Lynch, Josh Caddy, Kamdyn McIntosh

DEMONS

B: J.Wagner 42, S.Frost 17, J.Hunt 29

HB: B.Fritsch 31, O.McDonald 28, J.Smith 44

C: M.Hore 34, J.Harmes 4, J.Kennedy Harris 24

HF: A.Brayshaw 10, S.Weideman 26, H.Petty 35

F: C.Spargo 9, T.McDonald 25, J.Garlett 36

Foll: B.Preuss 21, A.Neal-Bullen 30, C.Oliver 13

I/C: C.Salem 3, C.Petracca 5, B.Stretch 15, C.Maynard 20, J.Jordon 23, T.Sparrow 32, C.Wagner 40, D.Keilty 45,

Emerg: M.Gawn 11, M.Hibberd 14, A.vandenBerg 22, N.Jetta 39

Notable absentees: Jack Viney, Jordan Lewis, Nathan Jones, Steven May, Jake Lever, Jake Melksham

GOLD COAST V WESTERN BULLDOGS

Sunday, March 3 at Mackay, 6.40pm AEST

SUNS

B: J.Joyce 38, R.Thompson 16, J.Harbrow 5

HB: J.Murdoch 31, S.Collins 25, C.Ballard 10

C: L.Weller 14, T.Miller 11, G.Horlin-Smith 33

HF: A.Sexton 6, P.Wright 30, J.Lukosius 41

F: I.Rankine 37, S.Lemmens 23, B.Ainsworth 9

Foll: J.Witts 28, D.Swallow 24, J.Martin 4

I/C W.Powell 27, J.Bowes 3, A.Miles, 2, B.Fiorini 8, C.Burgess 29, B.King 34, C.Ah Chee 13, D.MacPherson 44

Emerg: S.Day 12, J.Dawson 45, A.Young 15, J.Heron 40

Notable absentees: Pearce Hanley, Corey Ellis, Will Brodie, Jack Hombsch, Brayden Crossley

BULLDOGS

B: E.Wood 10, A.Naughton 33, D.Morris 38

HB: H.Crozier 9, Z.Cordy 12, C.Daniel 35

C: L.Hunter 7, J.Macrae 11, E.Richards 20

HF: B.Gowers 26, T.English 44, S.Lloyd 22

F: T.McLean 16, M.Bontempelli 4, T.Liberatore 21

Foll: J.Trengove 8, J.Dunkley 5, M.Wallis 3

I/C: M.Suckling 1, B.Smith 6, J.Schache 13, R.West 14, T.Duryea 15, B.Cavarra 25, P.Lipinski 27, T.Dickson 29

Emerg: F.Greene 30, W.Hayes 32, B.Williams 34, L.Young 40

Notable absentees: Liam Picken, Lin Jong, Roarke Smith

FREMANTLE V COLLINGWOOD

Monday, March 4 at Joondalup, 3.40pm AWST

DOCKERS

B: L.Ryan 38, J.Hamling 21, G.Logue 2

HB: S.Giro 42, A.Pearce 25, D.Mundy 16

C: N.Wilson 14, D.Tucker 18, B.Hill 9

HF: B.Matera 3, M.Taberner 20, B.Cox 36

F: R.Lobb 37, J.Hogan 11, A.Brayshaw 8

Foll: S.Darcy 4, M.Walters 10, E.Langdon 26

I/C: T.Duman 44, C.McCarthy 23, B.Banfield 41, A.Cerra 5, H.Ballantyne 1, S.Switkowski 39, E.Hughes 15, T.Colyer 33

Emerg: B.Bewley 34, S.Jones 40, M.Crowden 12, L.Schultz 28

Notable absentees: Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands, Stephen Hill, Reece Conca, Harley Bennell, Connor Blakely

MAGPIES

B: J.Aish 14, J.Roughead 23, T.Langdon 8

HB: N.Murphy 28, D.Moore 30, J.Crisp 25

C: T.Phillips 21, R.Wills 33, S.Sidebottom 22

HF: J.Stephenson 1, J.Elliott 5, C.Brown 17

F: T.Varcoe 18, B.Mihocek 41, J.Daicos 26

Foll: B.Grundy 4, S.Pendlebury 10, D.Beams 11

I/C: I.Quaynor 35, L.Greenwood 19, J.Thomas 24, B.Reid 20, T.Brown 34, B.Crocker 39, F.Appleby 31, C.Mayne 16

Emerg: M.Cox 46, M.Lynch 45, A.Treloar 7, J.Madgen 44