- Gia back for Bulldogs
- Gunston and Lake confirmed for Hawks
FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon has swung the axe for Sunday's crucial clash with Hawthorn, chopping experienced duo Nick Suban and Matt de Boer.
As expected, Michael Walters makes his long-awaited return having not played since round three because of ankle surgery.
Tendai Mzungu returns after missing last week with a hamstring injury and Alex Silvagni replaces the injured Luke McPharlin (calf).
The Hawks have included big guns Brian Lake and Jack Gunston to replace Jarryd Roughead (suspended) and Billy Hartung.
North Melbourne has confirmed Daniel Wells will play his first game since round five against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
Levi Greenwood also comes in for Aaron Mullett and Kayne Turner, with the youngster rested after just one game.
Veteran Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa has been recalled. Jason Johannisen also returns in place of Easton Wood and Nathan Hrovat.
Melbourne will be boosted by the return of co-captain Jack Grimes for Sunday's game against Greater Western Sydney.
Youngster Christian Salem has also been included for Jay Kennedy-Harris and Rohan Bail.
GWS has made three changes. Mark Whiley and James Stewart will play their first games for this season on Sunday. Nathan Wilson also comes in while Jed Lamb, Tim Golds and Zac Williams have been dropped.
FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon has swung the axe for Sunday's crucial clash with Hawthorn, chopping experienced duo Nick Suban and Matt de Boer.
As expected, Michael Walters makes his long-awaited return having not played since round three because of ankle surgery.
Tendai Mzungu returns after missing last week with a hamstring injury and Alex Silvagni replaces the injured Luke McPharlin (calf).
The Hawks have included big guns Brian Lake and Jack Gunston to replace Jarryd Roughead (suspended) and Billy Hartung.
North Melbourne has confirmed Daniel Wells will play his first game since round five against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
Levi Greenwood also comes in for Aaron Mullett and Kayne Turner, with the youngster rested after just one game.
Veteran Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa has been recalled. Jason Johannisen also returns in place of Easton Wood and Nathan Hrovat.
Melbourne will be boosted by the return of co-captain Jack Grimes for Sunday's game against Greater Western Sydney.
Youngster Christian Salem has also been included for Jay Kennedy-Harris and Rohan Bail.
GWS has made three changes. Mark Whiley and James Stewart will play their first games for this season on Sunday. Nathan Wilson also comes in while Jed Lamb, Tim Golds and Zac Williams have been dropped.
Geelong has been dealt a significant blow ahead of Friday night's crucial clash against Carlton, with star forward Jimmy Bartel joining Steve Johnson on the sidelines.
Bartel has been ruled out of the match with a corked thigh, while Johnson will miss the game due to a foot injury.
Meanwhile, the Bombers have lost in-form key forward Jake Carlisle for the critical match with West Coast on Saturday.
The Cats have decided to bring in youth, with Billie Smedts and Jed Bews named as the replacements for the triple-premiership stars.
The Blues have named an unchanged line-up for the meeting.
The Sydney Swans will be missing key playmakers Rhyce Shaw (ankle) and Ben McGlynn (calf) when they take on St Kilda at the SCG on Saturday.
Youngsters Shane Biggs and Dean Towers have been called up to play in Lance Franklin's 200th game.
The Saints have made three changes, with Cameron Shenton, Nathan Wright and Josh Saunders coming into the side at the expense of Josh Bruce (shins), Jack Billings (hamstring) and Brodie Murdoch.
Port Adelaide will welcome back speedster Matt White for Saturday's battle with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
White has missed the past two games with groin soreness. Kane Mitchell has been omitted.
Charlie Dixon, Seb Tape and Timmy Sumner all make their way into the Suns' side, while Steven May (hamstring), Matt Shaw and Aaron Hall are out.
Essendon captain Jobe Watson will make his long-awaited return against West Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.
Watson, who has not played since round 13 because of a quad tendon injury, will be joined by Michael Hibberd, Ariel Steinberg – who will make his debut – and Patrick Ambrose.
Carlisle's absence with a back is a hefty blow for the Bombers, while Cory Dell'Olio, Elliott Kavanagh and Orazio Fantasia have all been dropped.
The Eagles have made one change, with Simon Tunbridge into the side to replace Xavier Ellis who will miss with a shoulder injury.
Adelaide has made two forced changes for its clash with Richmond at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, with James Podsiadly and Sam Shaw both back in the fold.
Podsiadly was rested for last week's game against the Brisbane Lions, while Shaw has not played since round nine.
As expected, Andy Otten (knee) and Tom Lynch (neck) are both out injured.
The Tigers have made one change as they fight to keep their season alive, with Ben Lennon replacing Matt Thomas (knee).
Collingwood has pulled out the big guns for Saturday night's must-win game against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG.
Dane Swan, Luke Ball, Ben Sinclair and Brodie Grundy will all return to bolster the Magpies' side.
Clinton Young, Jesse White and Tony Armstrong have been axed, while Sam Dwyer will miss with a hamstring complaint.
Claye Beams for Nick Robertson is Lions coach Justin Leppitsch's sole change.
Friday, August 15
Carlton v Geelong at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Carlton
No change
Geelong
In: B.Smedts, J.Bews
Out: J.Bartel (corked thigh), S.Johnson (foot)
Saturday, August 16
Sydney Swans v St Kilda at the SCG, 1.45pm AEST
Sydney Swans
In: S.Biggs, D.Towers
Out: R.Shaw (ankle), B.McGlynn (calf)
St Kilda
In: C.Shenton, N.Wright, J.Saunders
Out: J.Bruce (shin), B.Murdoch, J.Billings (hamstring)
Gold Coast v Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
Gold Coast
In: C.Dixon, S.Tape, T.Sumner
Out: S.May (hamstring), M.Shaw, A.Hall
Port Adelaide
In: M.White
Out: K.Mitchell
Essendon v West Coast at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm AEST
Essendon
In: J.Watson, M.Hibberd, A.Steinberg, P.Ambrose
Out: C.Dell'Olio, J.Carlisle (back), E.Kavanagh, O.Fantasia
New: Ariel Steinberg (Bendigo U18)
West Coast
In: S.Tunbridge
Out: X.Ellis (shoulder)
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions at the MCG, 7.40pm AEST
Collingwood
In: L.Ball, D.Swan, B.Sinclair, B.Grundy
Out: C.Young, S.Dwyer (hamstring), J.White, T.Armstrong
Brisbane Lions
In: C.Beams
Out: N.Robertson
Adelaide v Richmond at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST
Adelaide
In: J.Podsiadly, S.Shaw
Out: A.Otten (knee), T.Lynch (neck)
Richmond
In: B.Lennon
Out: M.Thomas (knee)
Sunday, August 17
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
North Melbourne
In: D.Wells, L.Greenwood
Out: A.Mullett, K.Turner
Western Bulldogs
In: D.Giansiracusa, J.Johannisen
Out: E.Wood (hand), N.Hrovat (ankle)
Melbourne v Greater Western Sydney at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST
Melbourne
In: J.Grimes, C.Salem
Out: J.Kennedy-Harris, R.Bail
Greater Western Sydney
In: M.Whiley, N.Wilson, J.Stewart
Out: J.Lamb, T.Golds, Z.Williams
Fremantle v Hawthorn at Patersons Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
Fremantle
In: A.Silvagni, T.Mzungu, M.Walters
Out: L.McPharlin (calf), M.de Boer, N.Suban
Hawthorn
In: B.Lake, J.Gunston
Out: J.Roughead (suspension), B.Hartung
