AFL round 9 teams: Toby Bedford out, Carlton adamant Charlie Curnow will face St Kilda
The Giants will take Toby Bedford out of their squad to face Geelong on Sunday, with a debutant to take his place. See more teams news here.
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Tom Sims will be Richmond’s seventh debutant this season, with the key forward named to face West Coast.
While Kane McAuliffe has also earned a reprieve, and his first senior game of the season, after strong VFL form.
The 18 year old landed at the Tigers in the mammoth haul of 2024, drafted with the No.28 pick.
Sims has booted five goals in five VFL games this season, as well as pinch-hitting in the ruck.
At 199cm, Sims will provide Tom Lynch some assistance up forward as well as Toby Nankervis a chop out in the ruck.
Sims is the seventh debutant for the Tigers in 2025, following from fellow 2024 draftees Sam Lalor, Luke Trainor, Harry Armstrong and Jonty Faull, as well as Liam Fawcett and Campbell Gray.
Only Josh Smillie (No.7), Taj Hotton (No.12) and Jasper Alger (No.58) were drafted last year and are yet to earn their senior debuts.
Alger is still in line to play against the Eagles this weekend, having been named in the extended squad, while Smillie is building fitness in the VFL after a hamstring setback in the preseason.
West Coast has made three changes for the clash, with Sandy Brock, Tom Gross and Bailey Williams all returning.
Williams will chop out in the ruck, but play mainly forward while Matt Flynn will have the No.1 ruck duties.
Jack Williams has been dropped, while Jeremy McGovern misses through injury and Bo Allan is suspended.
Cody Angove has been locked in for a senior debut, coming in for the injured Toby Bedford.
The first-round bolter, who was taken as the No.24 selection in the 2024 draft, has been named to replace the tagger for the game against Geelong.
He will come into the side alongside Jake Riccardi, who is replacing the injured Daniel Jones.
Jake Stringer is also primed for a bigger role following his three-goal cameo as the sub against the Swans.
Stringer was struggling with illness over the past fortnight, but Kingsley suggested he had made strong progress this week and, in particular, was “sleeping well” which he had difficulty with recently.
Stringer has been named on the field and will avoid the substitute vest.
Geelong has dropped local recruit Oli Wiltshire after two games, bringing in Jed Bews for his first game of the season.
Gryan Miers also returns from his concussion, while Ted Closehy has been named.
Lawson Humphries will miss the clash through concussion protocols, and Sam De Koning is set to shoulder ruck duties while Rhys Stanley misses.
Brisbane has dropped Connor McKenna, bringing in premiership ruck Darcy Fort for the game against North Melbourne.
The Lions have also recalled Logan Morris and Kai Lohmann after their respective injury layoffs, replacing Sam Day and Will McLachlan.
George Wardlaw will make his return for the Kangaroos, while Toby Pink and Aidan Corr have also been recalled to take on Brisbane’s tall forward line.
GIANTS DEBUTANT GIVEN LICENCE TO THRILL
- Lachlan McKirdy
Cody Angove has been handed a licence to thrill in his AFL debut as he becomes the second GWS youngster in a fortnight to make his first senior appearance.
Following in the footsteps of Joey Delana last week against the Swans, Angove will become the Giants’ third debutant for the season this Sunday afternoon in Geelong.
And with the omission of both Toby Bedford (eye) and Darcy Jones (knee) through injury, Angove knows a big part of the reason why he’s been called upon is his pace across the ground.
“Obviously two of our quickest players going out isn’t great,” Angove said. “But we’ve got (Joe) Fonti in there who’s come in, and a lot of other speedy players.
“Definitely (I’ll) try to bring that to our game because that’s part of our blueprint to be a quick team with movement and defence.
“We haven’t had many wins in the past few weeks, but just bringing speed on and off the ball, chase-down tackles and pressure. Then when I get the ball, try and take it on, get a few bounces, get some space and get us kicking some goals, hopefully.”
Angove was a surprise first-round draft selection out of Claremont in Western Australia last year when the Giants took him with the 24th pick. After a strong pre-season, he emerged as a bolter to debut in Opening Round against Collingwood before eventually spending more time in the VFL to get his game up to scratch.
The teenager credits the five weeks playing in the Giants’ VFL side, who are the only undefeated team in the secondary competition, for giving him a better understanding of the system Kingsley wants him to play.
“It can be hard when you’re so close, but just not there,” Angove said. “But I think playing VFL every week was just getting me better and better.
“And now that my opportunity has come, I’ll be even more prepared than I was six weeks ago.
“Callum Ward’s a great (mentor). Such an experienced player, playing the same position as me. Being able to pick his brain, watch his reviews, he’s also been a great role model and has helped me progress really fast.”
Angove will be looking to make the most of his opportunity given that both Bedford and Jones are expected to be available for selection again next week against Fremantle.
Bedford was initially named for the trip to Geelong after he was left with severe swelling around his eye following a collision with Sydney’s Lewis Melican. The incident saw the Swans defender hit with a three-week suspension.
However, following doctor’s advice, Bedford will be given an extra week to recover. He participated in almost the full session on Friday morning with sunglasses covering the bruise around his right eye.
“Toby’s no good, actually,” Kingsley said. “He saw an ophthalmologist yesterday afternoon, and the decision this morning was that he won’t play.
“There’s a little bit too much concern over his eye. It was something around the pressure differential between both eyes and it was deemed a little bit unsafe for him to play. There’s no risk with the eye, but it’s better off not to play than to play.
“He’s been a terrific player for us. Obviously tagging the best inside mid, so we’ll need to work through exactly what that’s going to look like against the Cats.”
Jake Stringer is also primed for a bigger role following his three-goal cameo as the sub against the Swans. Stringer was struggling with illness over the past fortnight, but Kingsley suggested he had made strong progress this week and, in particular, was “sleeping well,” which he had had difficulty with recently.
TEAMS: PHILLIPOU RETURNS, TRELOAR OUT AGAIN
St Kilda gun Mattaes Phillipou will play his first game of the season against Carlton on Friday night.
The No.10 draftee was set for a breakout campaign in 2025, starring in the pre-season, before a stress fracture sidelined him for the first two months of the season.
But the midfielder will return for the clash against Carlton, coming in for Tobie Travaglia, who has been omitted after being the unused substitute last week.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL ROUND 9 TEAMS
Carlton has recalled Jack Silvagni and Francis Evans, and will hand Jaxon Binns his first game of the season after impressive form in the VFL.
Binns collected 33 touches and kicked a goal in the reserves last week, and comes in for Sam Docherty, Matt Carroll and Lachie Fogarty.
Hawthorn has opted to rest Tom Barrass for the game against Melbourne on Saturday, bringing in Karl Amon after clearing concussion protocols.
It is the sole change for the Hawks, who have opted to go smaller in defence rather than bringing in veteran Sam Frost or youngster Jai Serong, who are both emergencies for the game.
Melbourne has named Clayton Oliver to return after his managed game last week, while the Demons have also recalled two key forwards in Jacob van Rooyen and Matt Jefferson.
Jack Viney is out with injury, as is Harrison Petty, while Jake Melksham has been managed.
Essendon has handed out debuts to Lewis Hayes and Archer Day-Wicks as part of five changes to its senior side.
Jye Caldwell makes his return from injury, having missed a chunk of football with a hamstring strain.
Dylan Shiel and Saad El-Hawli will also play, with Jordan Ridley, Jade Gresham and Harrison Jones all missing through injury, while Jye Menzie and Elijah Tsatas have been dropped.
Sydney has made one change for the clash with the Bombers, replacing the suspended Lewis Melican with Ben Paton.
Gold Coast has also swung changes for the trip to Darwin, with Brayden Fiorini finally getting the nod for senior football.
The midfielder has dominated at reserves level in recent weeks, including a 47-disposal, three goal performance against Brisbane, 34 touches and five goals against Sydney, 47 touches against Southport, and 43 touches against Northern Bullants.
Ben Long, Sam Clohesy and Malcolm Rosas all return for the Suns, with Ethan Read and David Swallow managed, while Lachie Weller misses through injury and Connor Budarick is omitted.
The Western Bulldogs have dropped Jedd Busslinger after the young key defender played as the substitute last week, while Adam Treloar will miss with injury.
Harvey Gallagher and Caleb Poulter will both come into the Bulldogs’ side for the trip to Darwin.
Port Adelaide has swung the axe for the Showdown on Saturday night, with Dante Visentini replacing Jordon Sweet in the ruck.
Will Lorenz, Logan Evans and Joe Berry have also been dropped, while Willie Rioli will miss through an AFL-imposed suspension.
Josh Sinn, Christian Moraes, Jed McEntee and Ryan Burton will all come into the Power’s senior side.
Mitch Hinge is the only change for Adelaide, coming in for Brodie Smith, who has been omitted.
SUNDAY SQUADS
West Coast has flagged at least two changes for its trip to the MCG, missing Jeremy McGovern and Bo Allan.
Sandy Brock has been named on field and will be an inclusion for McGovern, while Noah Long, Tom Gross, Bailey Williams and Harry Edwards have all been named on the extended bench.
Richmond is set to hand a debut to Jasper Alger, naming the draftee in the extended squad to replace the omitted Maurice Rioli.
Kane McAuliffe, Tom Sims and Tyler Sonsie have also been added to the squad, but all are on the extended bench.
GWS Giants will have to make at least one change for the trip to GMHBA Stadium, with Darcy Jones missing through injury.
It could pave the way for a Cody Angove debut, who has been named on the extended bench.
Jake Riccardi, Harry Rowston and Ryan Angwin have all been added to the squad.
Geelong will be without defender Lawson Humphries or Rhys Stanley through injury, with Mark Blicavs to shoulder the ruck load with Sam De Koning.
Mitch Duncan has been named to play his first game of the season in the senior side, positioned in the back pocket to replace Humphries.
Gryan Miers will return from concussion, while Ted Clohesy, Jed Bews, George Stevens and Jay Polkinghorne have all been added to the extended bench.
If named, it would be a debut for Stevens or Polkinghorne.
Brisbane will be without Sam Day or Will McLachlan for the clash against North Melbourne, with Logan Morris set to return to the senior side.
Kai Lohmann has also been named to return, but is on the extended bench.
Ty Gallop, James Tunstill and Darcy Fort have all been added to the squad.
The Kangaroos are flagging several changes, with Kallan Dawson and Will Phillips dropped, while George Wardlaw and Toby Pink will return.
Jackson Archer will miss through injury, which could see Geordie Payne earn a debut after impressing in the VFL to start the season.
Aidan Corr, Zac Fisher and Griffin Logue have also been added to the squad.
VOSS BRISTLES AT CURNOW QUESTIONS
A cagey Michael Voss says Carlton star Charlie Curnow will be fine to face St Kilda on Friday night after he was hurt in a heavy collision with a teammate on Wednesday.
The Blues coach said Curnow collided with fellow tall Tom De Koning late in the training session behind closed doors at Princes Park, but would not say where the dual Coleman medallist had taken the blow as he was adamant he would be fit to play.
Voss also firmly denied Curnow, who has been battling an ongoing knee issue, was receiving injections to his knee before he trained.
“The last 30 seconds of the drill, (Curnow) and Tom (De Koning) had a nice little collision,” Voss said on Thursday.
“So it’s not exactly what you want to see in the last 30 seconds, but he’ll be fine.
“I tried to have a bit of a laugh to fob it off, but (an initial report he was) holding his knee is incorrect … he’s fine.”
Voss bristled at further questions over the 28-year-old’s fitness, including whether the impact in the collision had been to his troublesome knee.
“You don’t need to know specifics — let’s just say he’s playing. That’s what I said … I think I’ve been pretty emphatic at this point that he’s playing,” he said.
Voss said Jack Silvagni would be an important inclusion against the Saints after he trained on Wednesday following a break to his hand in the first quarter of the round 7 win over Geelong.
The Blues had shifted Lewis Young to defence in the heavy loss to Adelaide, but were likely to throw him into a forward-ruck role again with the return of Silvagni, who has enjoyed a strong start to the year in his new role behind the ball.
MORE TO COME
PIES HOLD BACK YOUNG GUN AFTER INJURY CONCERN
— Matthew Forrest
Collingwood has held back draftee Charlie West from a round 9 debut after opting to take a cautious approach to his recovery from a foot concern.
The No.50 pick looked set for a debut on Thursday night against Fremantle when coach Craig McRae flagged wholesale changes this week, but he is instead a travelling emergency.
Instead, Collingwood has brought back Jeremy Howe, Ed Allan, Lachie Sullivan and Oleg Markov for the clash against the Dockers.
The Magpies chose to manage a host of premiership stars, with Brayden Maynard, Jordan De Goey, Brody Mihocek and Scott Pendlebury all remaining in Melbourne after the short turnaround from the heartbreaking loss to Geelong.
Fremantle has recalled former first and second round picks Neil Erasmus and Cooper Simpson, replacing the injured Hayden Young and the omitted Quinton Narkle.
Simpson has not played senior football since round 8 last year, but is averaging 20.8 disposals for Peel this year.
Josh Draper has also been dropped, with Pat Voss returning from suspension.
Voss copped a three-match ban for striking Nick Vlastuin, with the Dockers failing to overturn the hefty suspension at the tribunal.
The remaining teams will be named on Thursday night, however Essendon has confirmed it will hand a debut to Will Hayes in the clash against Sydney.
Taken at No.25 in the 2022 draft, Hayes has been in strong form in the VFL this season, and will come in after Jordan Ridley was sidelined for eight weeks with a high-grade hamstring strain.
DARCY PARISH’S RETURN UNCLEAR
- Tyler Lewis
The wretched injury history of gun midfielder Darcy Parish will force Essendon to ease the All-Australian back conservatively over the coming weeks.
Parish, 27, is yet to play a game this year due to ongoing soft-tissue setbacks but is scheduled to be medically fit to play football next week.
But Essendon coach Brad Scott is “leaning towards a more conservative approach” with Parish given he has played just 36 of a possible 75 matches since his career-best 2021 season.
“Whether (Parish) is medically cleared to play, he may be, he may not be, but my view on this is I just want Darcy back injury free and not concerned,” Scott said.
“I am leaning towards a more conservative approach with Darcy, but I will need to collaborate on our medical team with that one, we just won’t be risking him.
“He’s had too many setbacks to bring him back before he’s had a really good block of work.
“He’s going well, he’s training well, but it’s a long season and once we get him back we want to make sure he stays back.”
Essendon lost Jade Gresham, Jordan Ridley and Harrison Jones through injury in a costly win over North Melbourne last Thursday.
But the Bombers are set to welcome back tough inside midfielder Jye Caldwell this week as a welcome boost alongside in-form captain Zach Merrett.
Scott is rapt to have Caldwell back for what he brings on the field but says he offers so much more as a cog in the club’s culture.
“He’s an important player for us, he’s one of those of type of guys who is clearly a really capable player but a heart and soul player,” he said.
“He brings more to us than kicks, marks, handballs, tackles, contested possessions, etc – he brings a fair bit of heart and soul to our team.”
Scott was wary of North Melbourne stars Nick Larkey, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jy Simpkin last week and admits he has his hands full with Sydney on Saturday.
He says the Bombers must contain Sydney’s array of “off Broadway” types that cause just as much damage as its big-name superstars.
“Teams go through ebbs and flows at different stages but what is a constant with Sydney is that they’ve got absolute stars of the competition,” he said.
“I know (Errol) Gulden and (Callum) Mills are a couple of stars missing but (Isaac) Heeney and (Chad) Warner are as influential as any other midfielders in the competition at the moment.
“Sydney, particularly in Melbourne, some of their I suppose off-Broadway type of players are very, very capable and don’t get the recognition in Melbourne they deserve.
“At AFL clubs we give them the recognition, I think there’s a lot of players, (James) Rowbottom is a good example, I think he does a power of work for them as a really important player.
“People quite rightly talk about Heeney and Warner for how good they’ve been this year.”
PIES LEAVE 948 GAMES AT HOME FOR TRIP WEST
Collingwood will strategically manage three of its best players for its Thursday night clash with Fremantle while another will be briefly sidelined through injury.
The Magpies, coming off a five-day break with the longest trip in football, will be without Scott Pendlebury, Brody Mihocek, Brayden Maynard and Jordan De Goey.
Mihocek is the only player to be out through injury this week after succumbing to abdominal pain he has played through for weeks.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae said leaving 948 games worth of experience on the sidelines was a “somewhat deliberate” plan conjured ahead of the season.
“’Checkers’ (Mihocek) has got a bit of an abdominal strain which will keep him out, hopefully only for one week, we’ll wait and see,” he said.
“The other three will be managed; we planned this to be honest a long time ago. We saw the draw come out and we thought ‘let’s be strategic in this’.
“(Maynard) has had something (foot) ongoing all season and we’ve managed him through that. We saw this opportunity a long way out.
“He could arguably play but we’re going to set himself back further and further if we keep pushing this.”
Collingwood hopes De Goey will return after just one week, but the dynamic Magpie spent just five minutes at training on Tuesday.
McRae urged patience with De Goey, insisting the premiership star would come good in coming weeks.
“We’re sort of one step forward, one step back with Jordy at the moment, we’d like to be going a bit faster than what we are with him,” he said.
“We’ve got to have patience, we’re asking our Collingwood faithful to have patience because the plan is to get him going in coming weeks.
“His groins are fine, it’s sort of managing loads and how much can he do around training and playing.
“He’s literally only just started getting consistency with training and playing in the same week, which is hard to do in this league.”
"They play a big role in my development."
— Collingwood FC VFL (@CollingwoodVFL) April 27, 2025
We chat to young forward Charlie West following his three goal haul in last night's win over the Bombers: https://t.co/PK7ptGHXRopic.twitter.com/Uz621GC65d
The Magpies withdrew Jeremy Howe, Oleg Markov, Lachie Sullivan, Ed Allan and Charlie West from the VFL last week in preparation for their quick turnaround.
McRae said Collingwood fans had plenty to look forward to if West was to make his AFL debut against the Dockers.
“(West) is definitely in the mix, we’ll take him to Perth. For as long as I have been a coach, setting people up to be successful has always been my philosophy,” he said.
“He hasn’t trained over the weekend, we managed him for this game potentially and he hasn’t trained. He trained today (and did) well, so it’ll just be ‘is he going to be at 100 per cent to show what he’s got as an 18-year-old in AFL footy for the first time?’
“Charlie is an 18-year-old, a big lad, I reckon he’s the old-fashioned full forward, like an Allen Jakovich, big barrel chested coming out and taking contested marks.
“He’s been averaging four goals a game at VFL for most weeks, he’s got sticky hands. We’re excited for what he can be, again he’s 18, most key forwards don’t come good until mid-20s, but we’re excited by what he can do.”
STEWART MAKES CASE TO RETURN FROM INJURY
Dan Batten, Geelong Advertiser
Geelong star Tom Stewart ran laps and completed sprint run throughs away from the main group at the Cats’ light Tuesday session as he pushes to return for his side’s clash with GWS on Sunday,
Stewart has been dealing with a posterior cruciate ligament concern since round two and the Cats opted to rest him for their epic win over Collingwood.
The five-time All-Australian had strapping around his knee and didn’t take part in drills at GMHBA Stadium, while Gryan Miers trained with the main group after missing the last two matches with concussion.
Tom Stewart ran laps and completed sprint run throughs away from the main group at Geelong's light session on Tuesday. Rhys Stanley also did some light running in a positive sign after his hamstring injury.
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) May 6, 2025
Story: https://t.co/7D3T5POPbl@geelongaddy@superfootypic.twitter.com/XxYqXnUgCD
Miers also completed Geelong’s main session last Thursday with ease in a non-contact cap.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said post-match that Jack Henry was a “chance” to return against GWS on Sunday but he was part of the rehab group early in the session.
Henry also made up some of the numbers for the ‘B’ side in a light match simulation drill.
Ruckman Rhys Stanley was subbed out at quarter time on Saturday night with a hamstring injury but the 34-year-old completed light running off to the side.
Geelong tall Sam De Koning said Stewart and Henry were “tracking well” but he was unsure of timelines for the defensive pair or Stanley.
“It’s been good to see them out there running and working on their bodies and trying to get fit and ready to put their hand up for selection,” De Koning said.
“So they look like they’re moving well and I’m not too sure on the timeframes of either of them, but they’ve been looking good and been happy around the club and supporting the boys.”
In-form captain Patrick Dangerfield was off to the side for some of the session but the Cats often manage his training load.
The Cats revealed on Sunday that Lawson Humphries entered concussion protocols post-game after receiving a further head injury assessment.
In a positive sign of progress, injury-riddled trio Cam Guthrie (Achilles), Toby Conway (back) and Jack Martin (management) also took part in match simulation.
Geelong will release it’s official injury update at 5pm on Tuesday.
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