THE WESTERN Bulldogs will regain two important players for their Friday night clash with Geelong.
Key defender Ellyse Gamble will play her first game of the season after working her way back from an ankle injury that has plagued her preseason, while valued recruit Elle Bennetts will return from a calf concern that has seen her miss the past two games.
Aurora Smith will miss the remainder of the season after injuring her ACL on debut against Adelaide on Sunday, and Brooke Lochland will sit out through concussion protocols after some friendly fire early in Sunday's win.
Geelong will welcome back Darcy Moloney from suspension, and key forward Olivia Barber will play her first game of the season.
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Barber, who has been rehabbing a PCL injury sustained in last year’s VFLW season, kicked three goals and took nine marks in 65 per cent of game time in Geelong’s VFLW win over Carlton on Saturday.
Moloney kicked the matchwinning goal in round five, but also laid a dangerous tackle on Eagle Emma Swanson which resulted in her being suspended for one game.
Laura Gardiner and Madisen Maguire have both been omitted.
Friday, February 18
Western Bulldogs v Geelong at VU Whitten Oval, 7.10pm AEDT
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: N.Ferres 16 K.Lynch 10
HB: I.Grant 3 E.Brown 9 E.Gamble 14
C: I.Pritchard 20 E.Blackburn C 2 E.Snell 26
HF: E.Bennetts 11 B.Toogood 8 R.Cranston 30
F: N.Morris-Dalton 25 S.Hartwig 15
Foll: C.Moody 13 J.Fitzgerald 23 K.Lamb 27
I/C: A.Guest 19 B.Hunt 21 A.Edmonds 33 B.Gutknecht 18 E.Georgostathis 17
Emerg: A.Ling 29 A.Strahan 35
In: E.Gamble, E.Bennetts
Out: B.Lochland (concussion), A.Smith (ACL)
GEELONG
B: M.McMahon 24 M.Keryk 45
HB: C.Emonson 16 M.McDonald C 11 G.Rankin 10
C: N.Morrison 9 G.Prespakis 41 S.Van De Heuvel 27
HF: D.Moloney 4 P.McWilliams 23 R.Kearns 22
F: C.Scheer 14 O.Barber 15
Foll: R.Caris 1 R.Webster 21 A.McDonald 3
I/C: Z.Friswell 20 G.Featherston 32 J.Crockett-Grills 6 K.Darby 8 J.Ivey 5
Emerg: L.Gardiner 18 M.Maguire 7
In: D.Moloney, O.Barber
Out: M.Maguire (omitted), L.Gardiner (omitted)
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