AFL round 21 teams: Jordan De Goey and Bobby Hill return after weeks on sidelines

Saturday night might be the biggest game we’ve seen yet in 2025, and the Pies are pulling out all the stops for the showdown with Brisbane, welcoming back three premiership heroes.

Collingwood has welcomed back premiership stars Scott Pendlebury, Jordan De Goey and Bobby Hill for a rematch of the 2023 decider against Brisbane.

Pendlebury returns after being a late out last week, but De Goey and Hill will both make their first appearances after respective extended absences.

The pair returned through the VFL last week, but will come in for Ed Allan, Tom Mitchell and Lachie Sullivan.

Brisbane has brought in Henry Smith to replace the managed Oscar McInerney, while Bruce Reville comes in for Conor McKenna.

Hawthorn has brought in Mabior Chol to face Adelaide on Friday night, replacing the substitute Bailey Macdonald.

It is the only change for the Hawks, who will enter the clash with four key forwards in Jack Gunston, Mitch Lewis, Calsher Dear and Chol.

Adelaide has rested Rory Laird for the game, while Max Michalanney misses through injury and Luke Pedlar has been dropped.

Brodie Smith, Isaac Cumming and Hugh Bond come into the side.

Richmond has recalled Harry Armstrong after his successful return from injury in the VFL last week, while Seth Campbell also makes a return.

Nathan Broad will miss through illness and Jasper Alger is injured.

Touk Miller will come in for Leo Lombard to take on the Tigers.

Essendon will blood debutant No.14 in Jayden Nguyen and have recalled Archie May, Ben Hobbs and Xavier Duursma to face Sydney.

Jordan Ridley and Nate Caddy will miss through injury, while Saad El-Hawli and Zak Johnson have been dropped.

Tom McCartin, Ollie Florent, Peter Ladhams, Caiden Cleary and Jesse Dattoli have come into the Swans’ senior side for the game.

It is a debut for Dattoli, who was drafted with the No.22 pick in last year’s draft.

Joel Hamling, Hayden McLean and Will Hayward will miss with injury, while Matt Roberts and Aaron Francis have been dropped.

Melbourne will hand a club debut to Jai Culley against his old side in West Coast, while Harry Sharp has been recalled.

Xavier Lindsay has been managed, and Charlie Spargo has been dropped.

Harley Reid will miss through injury, but West Coast has axed Matt Flynn, Sandy Brock and Jack Hutchinson for the clash.

Harry Edwards, Campbell Chesser, Tom Gross and Hamish Davis have been recalled.

SUNDAY SQUADS

Carlton have made three changes to its extended squad, missing the retired Sam Docherty and injured duo Charlie Curnow and Adam Cerra.

Curnow will miss the rest of the season but Cerra is expected to miss just one game with soreness.

Flynn Young, Francis Evans, Jaxon Binns, Jordan Boyd, Hudson O’Keefe and Lewis Young have been added to the squad.

Fremantle haven’t made a call on its final 23 for the clash, adding Will Brodie, Brandon Walker and Josh Draper to the squad.

Port Adelaide will be without Miles Bergman and Jack Lukosius as the pair miss through injury.

The Power will also miss Logan Evans for the clash against Geelong, with Ivan Soldo, Rory Atkins, Dylan Williams, Mani Liddy and Will Lorenz added to the extended squad.

Jack Whitlock has been locked in for his debut.

Geelong is yet to make a change for the clash, but have added Jhye Clark, Jed Bews and Mitch Knevitt into the squad.

North Melbourne has welcomed back a suite of talent, with Nick Larkey and George Wardlaw locked in to play against the unchanged Saints.

Jy Simpkin misses through injury and Finnbar Maley was dropped.

Originally published as AFL round 21 teams: Jordan De Goey and Bobby Hill return after weeks on sidelines