AFL round 1 teams: How every club could line up revealed

The footy season is so close now, so who will your side roll out in their season opener? See all the potential debutants and who’s racing the clock to be fit.

Herald Sun has predicted the round 1 AFL teams.

We’re so close now.

Footy returns on Thursday night and we’ve got you covered with all the selections news.

Who looks set to debut, who’s missing with injury, who’s changing position?

Find out here in our predicted teams.

Wayne Milera is touch-and-go for Adelaide’s round 1 match.

ADELAIDE

B: B. Smith, J. Butts, T. Doedee

HB: W. Milera, N. Murray, J. Dawson

C: M. Hinge, J. Rachele, R. Sloane

HF: B. Keays, E. Himmelberg, D. Fogarty

F: I. Rankine, T. Walker, S. McAdam

FOLL: R. O’Brien, S. Berry, R. Laird

I/C: P. Parnell, H. Schoenberg, J. Soligo, L. Pedlar

Sub: M. Michalanney

The watch: The watch is on Wayne Milera who hasn’t trained with the group for the past two weeks. The Crows are confident he’ll be right for round 1.

BRISBANE

B: B. Starcevich, H. Andrews, D. Rich

HB: K. Coleman, J. Payne, C. Rayner

C: Z. Bailey, J. Berry, H. McCluggage

HF: W. Ashcroft, E. Hipwood, J. Gunston

F: C. Cameron, J. Daniher, L. McCarthy

FOLL: O. McInerney, J. Dunkley, L. Neale

I/C: D. Robertson, C. McKenna, D. Wilmot, J. Prior

Sub: J. Tunstill

The watch: Conor McKenna is all but certain to feature in his return to the AFL while fellow popular SuperCoach selection Darcy Wilmot is also a lock to play. Dayne Zorko will miss round 1 as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Carlton is sweating on Jesse Motlop’s fitness.

CARLTON

B: S. Docherty, J. Weitering, M. McGovern

HB: A. Saad, L. Young, N. Newman

C: B. Acres, P. Cripps, A. Cerra

HF: Z. Fisher, C. Curnow, J. Silvagni

F: J. Motlop, H. McKay, C. Durdin

FOLL: M. Pittonet, M. Kennedy, G. Hewett

I/C: T. De Koning, O. Hollands, L. Cowan, E. Curnow

Sub: A. Cincotta

The watch: The Blues have confirmed Hollands and Cowan as debutants but will rookie Alex Cincotta also get the nod? Carlton expects Jesse Motlop to face Richmond on Thursday night despite the small forward being placed on a modified training program.

COLLINGWOOD

B: B. Maynard, D. Moore, I. Quaynor

HB: N. Daicos, J. Howe, S. Pendlebury

C: J. Daicos, J. Crisp, S. Sidebottom

HF: J. Elliott, D. McStay, W. Hoskin-Elliott

F: B. Hill, B. Mihocek, B. McCreery

FOLL: D. Cameron, J. De Goey, T. Mitchell

I/C: T. Adams, M. Cox, B. Frampton, J. Noble

Sub: J. Carmichael

The watch: The Pies will have strong line up against the Cats with a suite of new faces set to feature including Bill Frampton, Bobby Hill and Tom Mitchell.

Alwyn Davey is poised to debut for Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

ESSENDON

B: M. Redman, J. Laverde, J. Ridley

HB: J. Kelly, B. Zerk-Thatcher, A. McGrath

C: S. Durham, Z. Merrett, W. Setterfield

HF: N. Martin, S. Weideman, A. Perkins

F: A. Davey Jr, P. Wright, H. Jones

FOLL: S. Draper, D. Parish, D. Shiel

I/C: J. Caldwell, M. D’Ambrosio, M. Guelfi, J. Menzie

Sub: W. Snelling

The watch: Jake Stringer is a confirmed out but the watch will be on midfielder Jye Caldwell (ankle) and second-year Bomber Ben Hobbs (calf) who face fitness tests this week. Small forward Matt Guelfi and midfielder Kyle Langford pushed their case for round one selection after strong performances in the club’s VFL practice match against Frankston on Saturday.

FREMANTLE

B: L. Ryan, A. Pearce, H. Chapman

HB: J. Clark, B. Cox, H. Young

C: J. Aish, A. Brayshaw, L. Henry

HF: L. Schultz, L. Jackson, N. Fyfe

F: S. Switkowski, M. Taberner, M. Walters

FOLL: S. Darcy, C. Serong, J. O’Meara

I/C: B. Banfield, W. Brodie, B. Walker, J. Treacy

Sub: M. Johnson

The watch: New recruit Jaegar O’Meara is fine after an ankle injury scare and should be all set to make his club debut. Michael Walters (achilles) needs to prove his fitness. A decision on Brennan Cox (hip) and Luke Ryan (back) will be made closer to game day.

Geelong has a big call to make on Tom Hawkins. Picture: Mark Stewart

GEELONG

B: J. Bews, M. Blicavs, Z. Guthrie

HB: T. Stewart, S. De Koning, M. O’Connor

C: M. Holmes, T. Atkins, I. Smith

HF: G. Miers, J. Cameron, B. Parfitt

F: T. Stengle, O. Henry, B. Close

FOLL: R. Stanley, C. Guthrie, P. Dangerfield

I/C: J. Bowes, T. Bruhn, G. Rohan, E. Ratugolea

Sub: Z. Tuohy

The watch: Will Tom Hawkins be fast-tracked for Friday’s blockbuster or will Chris Scott take the long road with his star spearhead? Mitch Duncan is still a few weeks away after getting treatment in SA.

GOLD COAST

B: C Constable, S. Collins, B. Long

HB: C. Ballard, C. Graham, J. Farrar

C: B. Ellis, T. Miller, E. Hollands

HF: J. Jeffrey, M. Chol, B. Ainsworth

F: J. Lukosius, B. King, N Holman

FOLL: J. Witts, M. Rowell, N. Anderson

I/C: D. Swallow, A. Davies, S. Flanders, L. Weller

Sub: M. Rosas Jnr

The watch: Touk Miller is good to go after the Suns reassured he’d overcome his hamstring injury.

Finn Callaghan is set for a big role at the Giants.

GWS

B: I. Cumming, S. Taylor, C. Idun

HB: L. Ash, N. Haynes, L. Whitfield

C: F. Callaghan, J. Kelly, J. Wehr

HF: J. Peatling, J. Hogan, J. Riccardi

F: T. Greene, H. Himmelberg, D Lloyd

FOLL: B. Preuss, T. Green, S. Coniglio

I/C: H. Perryman, C. Ward, L. Aleer, A. Kennedy

SUB: C. Stone

The watch: Finn Callaghan is a lock and is set to play a mix of inside mid and wing. The Giants favour Leek Aleer so he looks a genuine chance to feature again at AFL level.

HAWTHORN

B: B. Hardwick, J. Sicily, S. Frost

HB: L. Bramble, J. Blanck, C. Jiath

C: K. Amon, J. Newcombe, W. Day

HF: D. Moore, J. Koschitzke, C. Macdonald

F: C. Wingard, F. Greene, L. Breust

FOLL: N. Reeves, J. Worpel, J. Ward

I/C: J. Impey, C. Mackenzie, F. Maginness, L. Meek

Sub: J. Scrimshaw

The watch: Will Cam Mackenzie make his debut after a scintillating practice match? Sam Mitchell gave nothing away at his mid-week press conference but surely the first-round draft pick will feature.

Bayley Fritsch is one of the key Demons racing the clock for round 1. Picture: Michael Klein.

MELBOURNE

B: H. Petty, S. May, J. Bowey

HB: A. Brayshaw, J. Lever, T. Rivers

C: E. Langdon, J. Harmes, L. Hunter

HF: A. Neal-Bullen, T. McDonald, K. Pickett

F: M. Gawn, B. Brown, K. Chandler

FOLL: B. Grundy, C. Oliver, C. Petracca

I/C: J. McVee C. Spargo, T. Sparrow, J. Jordon

Sub: B. Laurie

The watch: Bayley Fritsch (foot) and Jack Viney (knee) have been ruled out for Saturday’s clash against the Dogs. James Jordon hasn’t featured too heavily in the Dees’ practice matches but is he a ready made round 1 replacement for Viney? The watch is on whether the Dees blood youngster Judd McVee as sub or in the starting 22.

NORTH MELBOURNE

B: J. Ziebell, A. Corr, F. Perez

HB: L. McDonald, G. Logue, J. Goater

C: B. Scott, B. Cunnington, K. Turner

HF: T. Powell, T. Goldstein, P. Curtis

F: C. Zurhaar, N. Larkey, H. Sheezel

FOLL: T. Xerri, L. Davies-Uniacke, J. Simpkin

I/C: C. Taylor, L. Shiels, A. Bonar, W. Phillips

Sub: A. Hall

The watch: Tarryn Thomas is back after playing at VFL on the weekend but whether he’s ready for AFL level is yet to be determined. Aaron Hall has had interrupted pre-season but could feature at sub.

Jeremy Finlayson is making a late bid for round 1.

PORT ADELAIDE

B: D. Byrne-Jones, T. Jonas, R.Burton

HB: D. Houston, A. Aliir, K. Farrell

C: X. Duursma, O. Wines, M. Bergman

HF: O. Fantasia, T. Marshall, T. Boak

F: J. Rioli, C. Dixon, S. Powell-Pepper

FOLL: S. Lycett, C. Rozee, J. Horne-Francis

I/C: Z. Butters, M. Georgiades, W. Drew, L. Jones

Sub: J. Burgoyne

The watch: Jeremy Finlayson trained on Tuesday after dealing with a syndesmosis issue over the summer and could come into selection consideration while Josh Sinn will play a half a SANFL trial match as he recovers from an interrupted pre-season.

RICHMOND

FB: R. Tarrant, N. Balta, N. Broad

HB: N. Vlastuin, D. Grimes, D. Rioli

C: J. Short, T. Taranto, K. McIntosh

HF: S. Bolton, J. Riewoldt, M. Rioli

F: D. Martin, T. Lynch, N. Cumberland

FOLL: T. Nankervis, D. Prestia, J. Hopper

I/C: L. Baker, B. Miller, M. Pickett, T. Cotchin

Sub: T. Dow

The watch: Dion Prestia is locked into Richmond’s clash against Carlton while Jayden Short is one of a number of Richmond premiership heroes who need to prove their fitness at Tuesday’s main training session. The club has said he is “unlikely” to play in round 1 but will monitor his progress on Tuesday as Jack Graham (toe) and Marlion Pickett (groin) also push to be in that side.

Marcus Windhager will have to prove his fitness for round 1.

ST KILDA

B: C. Wilkie, D. Howard, J. Webster

HB: J. Sinclair, J. Battle, N. Wanganeen-Milera

C: M. Wood, J. Steele, B. Hill

HF: J. Gresham, Z. Cordy, J. Higgins

F: M. Owens, A. Caminiti, D. Butler

FOLL: R. Marshall, B. Crouch, M. Windhager

I/C: H. Clark, M. Phillipou, L. Stocker, B. Paton

Sub: J. Bytel

The watch: Young gun Marcus Windhager (hand) will have to prove his fitness at training this week while Tim Membrey was ruled out of the season-opener.

SYDNEY

B: D. Rampe, T. McCartin, B. Campbell

HB: N. Blakey, P. McCartin, J. Lloyd

C: D. Stephens, C. Mills, J. McInerney

HF: I. Heeney, L. McDonald, W. Hayward

F: T. Papley, L. Franklin, E. Gulden

FOLL: P. Ladhams, C. Warner, L. Parker

I/C: O. Florent, J. Rowbottom, H. McLean, H. Cunningham

Sub: S. Reid

The watch: How the Swans fit their talls in is hard to gauge but Sydney coach John Longmire said yesterday Lance Franklin remained a “week-to-week” proposition as they manage his match load.

Nic Naitanui is likely to miss the opening round.

WEST COAST

B: S. Hurn, T. Barrass, T. Cole.

HB: L. Duggan, J. McGovern, J. Hunt.

C: A. Gaff, R. Ginbey, C. Chesser

HF: J. Cripps, J. Waterman, J. Jones.

F: L. Ryan, O. Allen, T. Kelly.

FOLL: B. Williams, D. Sheed, L. Shuey

I/C: N. Long, C. Jamieson, X. O’Neill, G. Clark

Sub: J. Petruccelle

The watch: Elliot Yeo has been ruled out with a calf injury, while veteran ruck Nic Naitanui is unlikely to be rushed in for the season opener. Fellow big man Bailey Williams (hamstring) should be OK and the Eagles confirmed on Tuesday Reuben Ginbey, Campbell Chesser and Noah Long will all debut against North Melbourne.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: L. Jones, A. Keath, T. Duryea

HB: B. Dale, S. Darcy, E. Richards

C: A. Treloar, C. Daniel, B. Smith

HF: B. Williams, A. Naughton, J. Macrae

F: J. Ugle-Hagan, R. Lobb, R. West

FOLL: T. English, M. Bontempelli, T. Liberatore

I/C: O. Baker, A Scott, T. McLean, J. Bruce

Sub: H. Crozier

The watch: Arthur Jones (adductor strain) has been ruled out while Cody Weightman will miss the start of the season. Whether they pick Mitch Hannan or Rhylee West for the forward pressure spot is up in the air.