- North loses patience with Andrew Swallow and Lindsay Thomas
- Hip injury forces out Cyril Rioli from clash with St Kilda
- Eagle Sam Mitchell returns for his first Western Derby
NORTH Melbourne has made a statement at selection as it seeks to turn its winless start to the season around, with stalwarts Andrew Swallow and Lindsay Thomas dropped for Saturday night's clash against Gold Coast.
Swallow, a former captain and three-time club champion, and Thomas make way for midfielder Shaun Higgins and half-forward Jed Anderson in a bombshell selection.
The omitted pair has played a combined 414 games for the Kangaroos, but both have been desperately out of form this season, with Swallow averaging 16 possessions and Thomas booting just two goals from five games.
"Both are outstanding professionals and they will respond in the way we’ve come to expect of them," coach Brad Scott told the club's website.
Check out the full round six teams here
"Lindsay in particular has been in this position before and he knows what he has to do.
"In Andrew’s case, it’s just about regaining some confidence and overcoming some minor injury niggles."
The Suns have made one change, replacing rested midfielder David Swallow with Jesse Lonergan for the clash at Etihad Stadium.
In other selection news, Hawthorn has lost Cyril Rioli to a hip injury but regains Jaeger O'Meara, Eagle Sam Mitchell returns, Cat Daniel Menzel and Magpie Ben Reid have been 'managed', and the Bombers have rested three players on a five-day break.
O'Meara's return after two matches sidelined with a knee knock is a relief for the Hawks in their only change, but Rioli's absence will hurt against St Kilda after a strong return to form in round five.
The Saints have made two changes for the trip to Tasmania, with Koby Stevens and Jack Sinclair replacing omitted pair Luke Dunstan and Ben Long.
The Western Bulldogs will be without Matthew Boyd for Friday night's blockbuster against Greater Western Sydney in Canberra, with the veteran carrying a back injury.
Fellow premiership player Shane Biggs has been omitted, with midfielder Caleb Daniel recalled and half-back Bailey Williams named to play his first game this season.
GWS has made one forced change, with injured co-captain Phil Davis (hamstring) replaced by first-year midfielder Tim Taranto, who was rested last week.
Carlton has made four unforced changes for Saturday's clash against Sydney at the MCG, with former Docker Alex Silvagni named for his first game in navy Blue.
Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer returns after one match sidelined with soreness, with midfielder Nathan Graham and recruit Billie Smedts also named.
First-year defender Harrison Macreadie has been 'managed', with speedsters Cameron Polson and Jarrod Pickett omitted. Ruckman Andrew Phillips makes way for the returning Kreuzer.
Veteran Dale Thomas has not been recalled after missing last week's clash against Port Adelaide with 'soreness'.
The Swans have lost Kieren Jack (hip) and Harry Marsh (hamstring) to injuries, with Jordan Foote omitted.
Brandon Jack, Nic Newman and Jeremy Laidler come into the team, which is fighting for its first win this season.
Port Adelaide half-back Hamish Hartlett has passed a fitness test and returns from a quad injury to replace injured captain Travis Boak (hamstring) against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.
The Power have omitted impressive youngster Aidyn Johnson after just one match, recalling defender Jack Hombsch for the trip to the Gabba.
The Lions have made three changes, with talls Darcy Gardiner and Michael Close, and rebounding defender Tom Cutler returning, and Ryan Bastinac, Cedric Cox and Liam Dawson omitted.
West Coast recruit Mitchell will return from an ankle injury to play in his first Western Derby as one of three inclusions for the under-pressure Eagles.
Ruckman Jonathan Giles returns after being a late omission for team balance against the Hawks in round five, while Kurt Mutimer has been named to make his debut.
Defender Will Schofield has been omitted, with Jamie Cripps (ankle) and Jackson Nelson (wrist) injured.
Fremantle has made one change, sticking with youth by recalling midfielder Harley Balic to replace injured wingman Stephen Hill (hamstring).
Essendon has rested James Kelly, Matthew Leuenberger and Aaron Francis, with the club facing a five-day break before Sunday's clash against Melbourne.
Ruckman Tom Bellchambers has been named for his first game as a replacement for Leuenberger, with Martin Gleeson and Ben Howlett both included in the starting 18.
James Stewart, Kyle Langford and Conor McKenna have been named on the extended bench.
The Demons have opted for utility Cam Pederson as their starting ruckman as they battle a big-man crisis, with omissions Jake Spencer (shoulder) and Tim Smith (ribs) now unavailable.
Gun recruit Jordan Lewis comes straight back into the team after serving a three-match suspension, with Mitch Hannan named in the starting 18 and Tomas Bugg, Oscar McDonald and Sam Weideman added to the extended squad.
Jesse Hogan will not play after being given leave from the club following the death of his father, Tony Hogan.
Geelong and Collingwood have each made one change at this stage for Sunday's clash at the MCG, with Cats forward Menzel and Magpie defender Reid both 'managed'.
The Cats have added Rhys Stanley, Tom Ruggles, Jed Bews and Sam Menegola, with all named on the extended bench.
The Magpies have named inclusions Josh Smith and Lynden Dunn in their starting 18, with Matthew Scharenberg named on the seven-man bench alongside Chris Mayne.
Adelaide is set to regain tall forward Josh Jenkins for Sunday's clash against Richmond at Adelaide Oval following three matches sidelined with rib injuries.
He has been named on the extended bench alongside fellow inclusions Jake Kelly, Reilly O'Brien and Myles Poholke.
The Tigers have named small defender Steve Morris on their extended bench after his recovery from a knee reconstruction, with other inclusions Jacob Townsend and Nick Vlastuin also on the seven-man bench.
Friday, April 28
Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs at UNSW Canberra Oval, 7.50pm AEST
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
In: T.Taranto
Out: P.Davis (hamstring)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: C.Daniel, B.Williams
Out: M.Boyd (back), S.Biggs
Saturday, April 29
Hawthorn v St Kilda at UTAS Stadium (Launceston), 1.45pm AEST
HAWTHORN
In: J.O'Meara
Out: C.Rioli (hip)
ST KILDA
In: K.Stevens, J.Sinclair
Out: L.Dunstan, B.Long
New: Koby Stevens (Western Bulldogs)
Carlton v Sydney at the MCG, 2.10pm AEST
CARLTON
In: A.Silvagni, B.Smedts, N.Graham, M.Kreuzer
Out: C.Polson, H.Macreadie (managed), A.Phillips, J.Pickett
New: Alex Silvagni (Fremantle)
SYDNEY
In: B.Jack, N.Newman, J.Laidler
Out: K.Jack (hip), J.Foote, H.Marsh (hamstring)
Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide at the Gabba, 4.35pm AEST
BRISBANE LIONS
In: D.Gardiner, T.Cutler, M.Close
Out: R.Bastinac, C.Cox, L.Dawson
PORT ADELAIDE
In: H.Hartlett, J.Hombsch
Out: T.Boak (hamstring), A.Johnson
North Melbourne v Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
NORTH MELBOURNE
In: S.Higgins, J.Anderson
Out: A.Swallow, L.Thomas
GOLD COAST
In: J.Lonergan
Out: D.Swallow (rested)
West Coast v Fremantle at Domain Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
WEST COAST
In: S.Mitchell, J.Giles, K.Mutimer
Out: W.Schofield, J.Cripps (ankle), J.Nelson (wrist)
New: Kurt Mutimer (Dandenong U18)
FREMANTLE
In: H.Balic
Out: S.Hill (hamstring)
Sunday, April 30
Essendon v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
ESSENDON
In: T.Bellchambers, B.Howlett, J.Stewart, M.Gleeson, K.Langford, C.McKenna
Out: J.Kelly (rested), M.Leuenberger (rested), A.Francis (rested)
New: James Stewart (Greater Western Sydney)
MELBOURNE
In: J.Lewis, T.Bugg, C.Pedersen, O.McDonald, S.Weideman, M.Hannan
Out: J.Spencer (shoulder), T.Smith (rib), J.Hogan (family)
Geelong v Collingwood at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST
GEELONG
In: R.Stanley, T.Ruggles, J.Bews, S.Menegola
Out: D.Menzel (managed)
COLLINGWOOD
In: L.Dunn, C.Mayne, J.Smith, M.Scharenberg
Out: B.Reid (managed)
New: Lynden Dunn (Melbourne)
Adelaide v Richmond at Adelaide Oval, 4.10pm ACST
ADELAIDE
In: J.Jenkins, J.Kelly, R.O'Brien, M.Poholke
Out: R.Knight (hamstring)
New: Myles Poholke (Dandenong U18)
RICHMOND
In: S.Morris, J.Townsend, N.Vlastuin
Out: -
