Fremantle defenders Luke McPharlin and Zac Dawson have been ruled out through injury for Saturday’s clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
Defender Alex Silvagni and midfielder Stephen Hill have been recalled, while forward Chris Mayne is set to play in defence to help cover for the double injury blow.
Port Adelaide promoted Hamish Hartlett, Alipate Carlile and Kane Mitchell.
Sydney will finally field all four of its highly valued forwards for tomorrow’s AFL clash at the SCG against Hawthorn.
As expected, former Hawk Lance Franklin and last season’s leading Sydney goalkicker, Kurt Tippett, have been recalled to the Swans’ side after recovering from injury.
It will be the first time the two have played together and the initial chance Sydney coach John Longmire gets to use them alongside Adam Goodes and Sam Reid.
Adelaide, North Melbourne, Gold Coast, Richmond, Collingwood and Geelong have byes.
FRIDAY
Sydney v Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium 7.20pm
Head to Head: Swans 67 Hawks 86 drawn 2
Last clash: Finals Week 1 2013 – Hawks 15.15 (105) bt Swans 7.9 (51) at the MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Swans $2.75 Hawks $1.45
Sportingbet: Swans $2.80 Hawks $1.44
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Lance Franklin is over the worst of his knee injury and will take on his former club in one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the season. Table-topping Hawthorn are flying despite the exit of Franklin and shape as the perfect test for a resurgent Sydney. The Swans have posted three wins on the trot and will only getter better with Franklin and Kurt Tippett in the same forward line.
Key: The injury-enforced omissions of Sam Mitchell and Brian Lake will hurt the Hawks, especially big-bodied defender Lake. Do they have enough defensive depth and physical strength to curb the influence of not only Franklin, but Tippett, Sam Reid and Adam Goodes?
Tip: Hawks by 11 points
SATURDAY
Port Adelaide v Fremantle at Adelaide Oval 1.10pm
Head to Head: Power 14 Dockers 12
Last clash: Round 22 2013 – Dockers 21.8 (134) bt Power 9.6 (60) at Patersons Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Power $1.58 Dockers $2.40
Sportingbet: Power $1.52 Dockers $2.55
Port Adelaide’s premiership credentials will undergo a different sort of examination when the league’s irresistible force meets an immovable object in the Dockers. The Power’s freewheeling approach has won plenty of plaudits and cut through the likes of Geelong, but the Dockers’ pressure could be its undoing.
Key: The Dockers are without Luke McPharlin due to a quad injury, while fellow key defender Zac Dawson (ankle) is also out. Port full forward Jay Schulz is the early front runner in the Coleman Medal race and kicked six goals against GWS last week. Can the rejigged Dockers defence stop him celebrating his 150th AFL match with another bag?
Tip: Power by 17 points
Brisbane v Essendon at Gabba 4.10pm
Head to Head: Lions 16 Bombers 22 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 8 2013 – Lions 14.12 (96) bt Bombers 12.14 (86) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $4.35 Bombers $1.22
Sportingbet: Lions $4.25 Bombers $1.23
Brisbane’s mantle as the competition’s most troubled club was confirmed this week after the exit of chief executive Malcolm Holmes. In the space of nine months, the Lions have changed coach, chairman and now CEO. On the field, it has been equally glum and the Bombers will fancy their chances of squaring their win-loss ledger at 4-4.
Key: The Lions showed patches of impressive football in recent home losses to Richmond and Sydney, but need to replicate it throughout a whole game to be a chance of knocking over Essendon. Jonathan Brown and Pearce Hanley headline four inclusions that will help in that regard, but they’ll need to put the recent off-field dramas to the back of their minds to be any chance.
Tip: Bombers by 27 points
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Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at MCG 7.10pm
Head to Head: Demons 84 Bulldogs 72 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 23 2013 – Bulldogs 16.11 (107) bt Demons 13.9 (87) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Demons $3.00 Bulldogs $1.40
Sportingbet: Demons $2.95 Bulldogs $1.40
The Jack Viney saga has taken the focus off Melbourne’s most impressive performance under Paul Roos – a shock win over Adelaide. The new-look Demons are conceding an average of 78 points a game this season and are anything but pushovers. The Bulldogs are coming off three competitive losses and simply can’t afford another.
Key: Key forward Stewart Crameri has managed one goal from his past two starts and shapes as a key figure in the Bulldogs’ attempt to stop the Demons posting two wins in a row for the first time since rounds 13 and 14 of 2011.
Tip: Bulldogs by 9 points
SUNDAY
West Coast v Greater Western Sydney at Patersons Stadium 4.10pm
Head to Head: Eagles 2 Giants 0
Last clash: Round 9 2013 – Eagles 23.17 (155) bt Giants 8.7 (55) at Spotless Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Eagles $1.05 Giants $10.00
Sportingbet: Eagles $1.07 Giants $8.50
It’s been an up-then-down season for the Eagles, who started with three wins only to drop the next four games. They regain defender Xavier Ellis and forward Mark LeCras from injury for this match and will be expected to topple the Giants.
Key: Inaccurate goal-kicking has plagued the Eagles in their past three starts. Has coach Adam Simpson found a way to rid his charges of the yips?
Tip: Eagles by 34 points
MONDAY
St Kilda v Carlton at Etihad Stadium 6.50pm
Head to Head: Saints 51 Blues 159 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 16 2013 – Blues 16.14 (110) bt Saints 10.14 (74) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Saints $3.35 Blues $1.33
Sportingbet: Saints $3.25 Blues $1.33
Neither side looks in good shape. St Kilda were embarrassed in a 145-point defeat to Hawthorn that was further soured by another addition to their injury list, Jarryn Geary (elbow). Carlton were outclassed by Collingwood in a 34-point loss.
Key: The midfield battle will be crucial, but the result could come down to the mental state of the respective players after a terrible performance.
Tip: Blues by 8 points
