Adelaide Crows

Get them in: All Australian midfielder Matt Crouch, defender Luke Brown and half-back flanker Wayne Milera could all return for Sunday's clash with Melbourne at Alice Springs. Patrick Wilson keeps pressing his claims in the SANFL, while Curtly Hampton was solid in his first game back from injury.

Under the pump: Hard to change a winning side. Andy Otten could be squeezed out if Brown is fit.

Medical room: No new injuries for the Crows last week. Brown, Matt Crouch (hamstring) and Milera (hamstring) are all chances of playing.

Verdict: Brown in for Otten. Give Crouch another week on the track, while Milera might need a run in the SANFL to build his fitness. - Lee Gaskin

Brisbane Lions

Get them in: A number of players keep excelling at NEAFL level to pressure the senior team, including Ryan Lester and Cedric Cox, but they might need to wait another week or two.

Under the pump: A couple of quieter performances against the Hawks, but everyone did their job. Allen Christensen bounced back nicely.

Medical room: Again, no dramas for the team with the shortest injury list in the competition.

Verdict: No point changing a winning line-up, and the Lions won't. - Michael Whiting

Carlton

Get them in: In his first game for the season after recovering from a back injury, Tom Williamson impressed in a half in the VFL last Saturday, gathering 15 disposals. David Cuningham (24 disposals and a goal) should return to the seniors soon.  

Under the pump: Few would escape scrutiny after a dismal display against the Demons.

Medical room: Skipper Marc Murphy finished last Sunday's game despite having trouble with a recurrence of a foot injury. Charlie Curnow (quad) faces a test and is likely to return.

Verdict: Up to six changes expected after such a pitiful performance last Sunday. Cameron O'Shea, Aaron Mullett, Lochie O’Brien and Patrick Kerr would seem the most at risk. - Howard Kotton

Collingwood

Get them in: Prospective debutant Brayden Sier has been in terrific VFL form, while small men Callum Brown and Josh Daicos are also in the frame and Levi Greenwood isn't far away. Ben Crocker is another option to replace the injured Alex Fasolo.

Under the pump: Travis Varcoe provides great energy, defensive pressure, experience and class, but we'd love for the veteran to get more than the nine touches he's averaged over the past fortnight.

Medical room: Fasolo (ankle) will be out for some time but Ben Reid (achilles) and Brayden Maynard (ankle) face fitness tests.

Verdict: Both Reid and Maynard to return if fit. If not, Sier to debut. - Ben Collins

Ben Reid should be in if he proves his fitness. Picture: AFL Photos

Essendon

Get them in: Darcy Parish went back to the VFL and dominated in the midfield – where he plays his best footy – with 29 disposals. Mason Redman showed good form across half-back in the VFL, while Mitch Brown kicked three goals in attack. 

Under the pump: Jayden Laverde looks good when he has the ball but had only eight disposals last week – his third straight game of fewer than 10 touches. 

Medical room: Andrew McGrath may be ready to return from a calf strain, but it seems more likely Michael Hurley won't get up this week after a minor hamstring injury. 

Verdict: Essendon made it all click last week, so it would seem unlikely another raft of changes is coming for Saturday's clash with GWS. - Callum Twomey

Fremantle

Get them in: Not many put their hand up at Peel but speedy rookie Stefan Giro pushed his case with 27 touches, nine tackles and a goal. After three games back from a knee issue he's ready to debut.

Under the pump: Mitch Crowden only had five touches against the Swans and Ross Lyon has flagged a spell back at WAFL level to regain some confidence after a strong start to his career.

Medical room: If Stephen Hill is fit after a quad problem the classy half-back will be a welcome addition against North Melbourne.

Verdict: Could Shane Kersten earn a recall as a backman with Joel Hamling under a concussion cloud? Hill should be back and Giro deserves a call-up. - Travis King

Geelong Cats

Get them in: Esava Ratugolea will return from a corkie and if fit, Scott Selwood is straight into the centre bounce. Brandan Parfitt will be pushing for a return and Lachie Fogarty's forward pressure was missed. Emergency the past fortnight, Jamaine Jones is in calculations for a debut. Rhys Stanley looked damaging in the VFL with four goals and Lincoln McCarthy has now played two matches, Chris Scott saying he needed two to four to be in the frame.  

Under the pump: Jordan Murdoch will be lucky to play game 100 after 17 touches in the past two weeks. Cory Gregson (nine disposals), George Horlin-Smith (17 disposals) and James Parsons (11 disposals) were quiet. Jack Henry may need a rest after eight straight matches.

Medical room: No significant injuries from the AFL side but Dan Menzel's groin continues to cause headaches.   

Verdict: Ratugolea is a lock while there's question marks on the fitness of Scott Selwood, Parfitt and Fogarty. Depending on how many return, Murdoch, Parsons, Horlin-Smith, Gregson (in that order) will be on the chopping block. Jones has bolted into the selection frame while McCarthy is a smokey. - Mitch Cleary

Gold Coast Suns

Bye

GWS Giants

Get them in: Defender Matt Buntine has played four quality games in the NEAFL on his way back from a knee reconstruction, while discarded forward Jon Patton kicked three goals and took eight marks last week.

Under the pump: Key defender Tim Mohr came in for Phil Davis last week but will make way for the co-captain should he be cleared of his concussion issues.

Medical room: Josh Kelly (groin) will train on Wednesday in a bid to face Essendon, while Davis (concussion) could return but is still not training with the main group. Brett Deledio (hamstring) and Matt de Boer (hamstring) are another week away.

Verdict: Kelly should be right to go, in place of Reid, while if fit, Davis will replace Mohr. - Adam Curley

Hawthorn

Get them in: The kick and hope into the Hawthorn forward line isn’t working, so the Hawks will have a good look at ruck/forward Jonathon Ceglar, who has now played three games at VFL level since recovering from an ACL injury and back soreness. Otherwise Ryan Schoenmakers could also add some extra height after three goals in the VFL on the weekend.

Under the pump: Ryan Burton continues to play well below the level of last year's breakout campaign. Taylor Duryea had a poor outing against the Lions, while Kaiden Brand could be better for the run.

Medical room: Young midfielder James Cousins suffered a concussion in the third quarter on Sunday and didn't return.

Verdict: Don't look for massive changes for two weeks straight weeks. Jaeger O'Meara and James Frawley will play if they've overcome their injuries and one of Ceglar and Schoenmakers for extra offensive height. - Ashley Browne

Jaeger O'Meara is a certain inclusion if he's overcome his injury. Picture: AFL Photos

Melbourne

Get them in: The Demons are unlikely to make any changes to a lineup that just accounted for Carlton by 109 points. However, Dom Tyson, Cameron Pedersen, Jayden Hunt and Jeff Garlett are all on the cusp of a recall.

Under the pump: Charlie Spargo could be due for a rest in coming weeks with Garlett closing in on a return.

Medical room: Clayton Oliver played through a broken finger against the Blues but should be right to fight through the pain barrier. Sam Weideman missed last week with a calf injury.

Verdict: Unchanged. - Ben Guthrie

North Melbourne

Get them in: There are genuine options for the Roos in the VFL. Luke Davies-Uniacke, Paul Ahern, Nathan Hrovat, young swingmen Sam Durdin and Ben McKay, Cam Zurhaar and Nick Larkey are all ready to go. When will North pull the trigger on Taylor Garner?

Under the pump: Job security has rarely been higher at Arden St. Brad Scott and co are tending to back players through form troughs and that approach is paying off.

Medical room: Mitch Hibberd returned from a knee injury at the weekend, but fellow fringe senior players Declan Mountford (ankle) and Dan Nielson (concussion) have missed five and two straight matches respectively.

Verdict: The Kangaroos have made seven changes all year and none in the past fortnight. There are in-form players waiting in the wings, but why mess with a winning formula? - Marc McGowan

Port Adelaide

Bye

Richmond

Get them in: They've got options with Connor Menadue, Tyson Stengle and Oleg Markov standouts in the VFL, while Brandon Ellis and Anthony Miles are also available. Jack Higgins will be fresh after being a late omission from Sunday's game that allowed Shaun Grigg to return.

Under the pump: Dan Butler and Jason Castagna,  who played with his knee strapped, were quiet. Nathan Broad had five possessions after managing a corked glute during the week while Sam Lloyd was another who didn't bring consistent pressure.

Medical room: Dion Prestia looks likely to miss a third week with a calf injury. Jack Riewoldt is expected to play despite reports a collision resulted in him coughing up blood on Sunday, while Alex Rance suffered a cork late in the game but should also be fine.

Verdict: Higgins or Stengle to replace Castagna and possibly Butler. Menadue is a chance for Lloyd while Ellis will be considered for Broad if he's still sore. It's looking more likely that Ivan Soldo will only play if Toby Nankervis doesn't, and this could possibly be the week the latter has a rest. - Jennifer Phelan

St Kilda

Get them in: Backman Brandon White notched up 33 disposals and 12 rebound-50s for Sandringham while Logan Austin was the carryover emergency for the senior side. Meanwhile, Lewis Pierce is starring in the ruck for Frankston, where he is playing instead of St Kilda's VFL affiliate so he can line up in his preferred position.

Under the pump: An unfamiliar forward line role isn't suiting David Armitage, who had eight disposals for the second straight week. Jack Billings and Rowan Marshall are down on form.

Medical room: Key defender Nathan Brown will miss with a right knee injury but Jake Carlisle could return if he passes a concussion test, as expected. A VFL return is on the cards for Paddy McCartin, if he overcomes concussion.

Verdict: If Carlisle is fit, he should replace Brown. - Dinny Navaratnam

Jake Carlisle is expected to pass a concussion test. Picture: AFL Photos

Sydney Swans

Get them in: Dan Robinson, Nic Newman, Harry Marsh and Darcy Cameron continue to put pressure on the senior side and dominated the NEAFL last week.

Under the pump: With an easy win over the Dockers there's unlikely to be movement at selection this week.

Medical room: Lance Franklin (bruised heel) continues to be monitored but he pulled up well last week and will play more minutes against Brisbane. Zak Jones was cleared of concussion and is right to play the Lions.

Verdict: No changes this week. - Adam Curley

West Coast Eagles

Get them in: The Eagles have a decision to make on Luke Shuey. The star midfielder could return three weeks after his hamstring but do they want to risk him at Etihad Stadium against Hawthorn?

Under the pump: Not many will be feeling the heat but someone might have to make way for Shuey. It could be Brendon Ah Chee, who took some good grabs early against Richmond but finished with only nine touches.

Medical room: There is a watch on Elliot Yeo after his knee problem but otherwise the Eagles are close to full-strength.

Verdict: Unlikely to be many changes to a flying team, with Shuey the only probable inclusion if fit. - Travis King

If fit, Luke Shuey is the only likely inclusion for the flying Eagles. Picture: AFL Photos

Western Bulldogs

Get them in: Recruit Josh Schache is in the mix to make his debut for the Dogs after nine goals in three weeks with VFL side Footscray. Tory Dickson will also be considered after overcoming a hamstring injury.

Under the pump:  In his return to the senior side last week, ruckman Jordan Roughead had limited impact against Adelaide, and the Dogs appeared top-heavy with him playing alongside Tom Boyd and Jackson Trengove.

Medical room: Veteran stopper Dale Morris pulled up sore in his VFL return from a pre-season knee injury and won't be considered for senior selection this week.

Verdict: Dickson for Roughead. - Ryan Davidson