THE SAINTS lose five guns, Graham Polak is flagged for a Tiger return and Essendon's finals hopes nose-dive in the major storylines from round 19's team selections.

St Kilda is taking a cautious approach nearing the sharp end of the season with Nick Riewoldt (concussion), Leigh Montagna (elbow), Brendon Goddard (knee), Lenny Hayes (back) and Steven Baker (knee) all to miss Saturday's clash with Hawthorn.

Speculation had swelled mid-week that the Saints could make a raft of key changes after bookmakers received a flood of money supporting the Hawks.

Jack Steven, the 42nd pick in the 2007 draft, will play his first AFL match after impressing during the pre-season.

Luke Ball has been recalled after a month in the VFL, defender Zac Dawson returns to face his former side while ruckman Michael Gardiner and Jarryn Geary are back, too.

Though all the news surrounds the omissions at St Kilda, Hawthorn has also been hit by injury ahead of the match at Aurora Stadium.

The Hawks' defence, which has struggled to settle a regular six all season, will be without Xavier Ellis (ankle) and Brent Guerra (shoulder).

Coach Alastair Clarkson has made three changes with ruckman Robbie Campbell and versatile pair Michael Osborne and Travis Tuck both coming into the line-up. Cameron Stokes is the omission.

Carlton has named an unchanged side to take on premiership fancy Geelong.

There had been talk the Blues might include some extra height to stretch the Cats' injury-hit backline, but Cameron Cloke, Simon Wiggins and Shaun Grigg remain emergencies ahead of Friday night's game at the MCG.

Geelong has lost Paul Chapman (hamstring) as expected, with versatile tall Tom Lonergan returning to the 22. Forgotten ruckman Mark Blake is on standby, along with young defenders Jeremy Laidler and Taylor Hunt.

The Western Bulldogs will take the same 22 that prevailed against Fremantle last week into Saturday's clash against the Eagles.

Guy O'Keefe, Wayde Skipper and Easton Wood make up the emergency list.

West Coast loses Eric Mackenzie to a thigh injury and brings in Beau Wilkes to replace him. Ryan Davis, Chad Fletcher and Will Schofield are the emergencies.

Essendon's injury curse has continued with the Bombers making five changes ahead of Saturday night’s clash with the Brisbane Lions.

A week after taking an undermanned team to Subiaco, Matthew Knights has lost Andrew Lovett (leg), Scott Lucas (knee) and Andrew Welsh (leg), while Hayden Skipworth and Cale Hooker have been dumped.

The Bombers do regain Mark McVeigh and Alwyn Davey from injury, while Jarrod Atkinson, Michael Quinn and Bachar Houli have earned call-ups from the VFL.

The Brisbane Lions haven't suffered any injury setbacks this week but coach Michael Voss will make three changes to the team that lost to Collingwood on the same ground a week earlier.

Daniel Bradshaw is available after overcoming a hamstring strain while Scott Harding and Tim Notting have earned a recall.

Jason Roe, Bradd Dalziell and Tom Rockliff are the omissions.

Adelaide has recalled boom youngster Taylor Walker for Saturday night's high-stakes encounter with the Magpies at AAMI Stadium.

Walker, 19, played the first 13 rounds of the season before being sent back for a spell in the SANFL where he booted 18 goals in four games.

David Mackay also comes back after two weeks out with a hamstring strain while Patrick Dangerfield (back) and Brad Symes (omitted) drop out of the side defeated narrowly by the Cats.

Symes is an emergency with Jonathon Griffin and Richard Douglas.

Collingwood has made two unforced changes for its last interstate trip of the home and away season.

Chris Dawes and Brad Dick have earned recalls with Jaxson Barham and Steele Sidebottom making way. Barham is an emergency with Ryan Cook and Ben Reid.

North Melbourne will make at least two changes for Sunday's match against the Demons to cover Leigh Harding's hamstring injury and Adam Simpson's retirement.

Leigh Adams goes straight into the starting 18, but fellow inclusions Ed Lower, Daniel Harris, Aaron Edwards and Cruize Garlett have been named on an extended bench.

Beleaguered Melbourne regains Brent Moloney and Cale Morton, but Brock McLean and Liam Jurrah will miss another week. Colin Sylvia is no certainty to resume after being named on a seven-man bench with fellow inclusions Tom McNamara, Rohan Bail and Simon Buckley.

Jack Grimes (hip), Matthew Whelan (foot) and Jamie Bennell (knee) depart the side defeated after the siren by Richmond.

Polak could complete the feel-good story of the season should Richmond select him in its final squad to take on the Sydney Swans this Sunday.

The Tigers have included the 25-year-old – who was hit by a tram in June last year and suffered bruising to his brain – in its extended squad to play the Swans at the MCG.

Polak is among four inclusions; the others being midfielder Shane Tuck, ruckman Angus Graham and young defender Alex Rance.

Trent Cotchin is the big-name omission, with the emerging star looking ahead to 2010 after a hip injury ended his season.

The Sydney Swans will also have to trim their squad on Friday night, but so far have only confirmed one change to the team that went so close to knocking off St Kilda.

Craig Bird (shoulder) is certain to miss, with four players hoping to earn a recall against the Tigers.

Paul Bevan, Matt O'Dwyer, Kristin Thornton and goalkicker Patrick Veszpremi are among those in contention.

Fremantle will make at least one change after rolling the dice and losing its challenge to Hayden Ballantyne's rough conduct charge at the tribunal.

Marcus Drum comes in from the cold to play his first game since the opening round of the season with Brett Peake also into the starting 18. Byron Schammer and Zac Clarke are on the bench.

Port Adelaide has included Peter Burgoyne, Brett Ebert and Matthew Broadbent in its 25 for the round's last game at Subiaco – crucial to its chances of remaining in the top eight.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.