ADELAIDE
David Mackay will be assessed this week after two heavy head knocks last Saturday – the second of which saw him subbed from the game with concussion. Scott Thompson will also face a fitness test as he hopes to overcome his annoying back/hamstring issue, but is tipped to play. Nathan van Berlo is now training at 80 per cent, but remains some way off a return. Having starred in the SANFL, Rory Laird (42 disposals, 13 marks, one goal) and Matt Crouch (35 touches, 13 clearances) will both come under heavy consideration for senior selection this week. Sam Kerridge (26 possessions) continued his return from injury and Lewis Johnston's switch to defence again proved fruitful (22 disposals, one goal). - Harry Thring


BRISBANE LIONS
After hammering Collingwood by more than 10 goals, it's hard to see coach Justin Leppitsch making too many changes ahead of Sunday's home match against Fremantle. Daniel Merrett (ankle) needs to get through training to prove his fitness, but Jackson Paine kicked five goals in the NEAFL to put his hand up should the veteran not be passed fit. Recently dropped Ryan Lester and Nick Robertson were also strong at reserves level. Matthew Leuenberger injured a toe in the twos, but should be right to play, again leaving Leppitsch the question of whether to pair him with Stefan Martin for the final two rounds. - Michael Whiting

CARLTON
Carlton’s injury list, already substantial before last Friday night’s gallant loss to Geelong, has grown again. The Blues will be without forward David Ellard (ankle), and experienced midfielder Brock McLean (calf). Carlton hopes Dale Thomas (bruised knee) and recently re-signed young forward Troy Menzel (AC sprain) will be available for this Friday night’s game against Port Adelaide. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom last weekend as ruckman Matthew Kreuzer completed his first game for the Northern Blues since having foot surgery, finishing with 10 disposals and 12 hit-outs in 50 per cent game-time. Although he played most of his time up forward with the occasional run on the ball, the Blues might be tempted to rush him back, given their long injury list. Defender Nick Holman remains in contention to make his AFL debut after another fine performance for the Northern Blues (14 disposals and a goal). Big-bodied midfielder Patrick Cripps (25 disposals, 17 contested possessions) and Matthew Watson (three goals) also staked strong claims for a recall. - Howard Kotton


COLLINGWOOD
Collingwood's horror run with injury reached disastrous proportions on Saturday night, with a host of Magpies going down like nine pins. Ben Reid (hamstring) and Dayne Beams (knee) have been ruled out for the season, while Travis Cloke (ankle) is also not likely to take any further part this year. Skipper Scott Pendlebury (quad) faces a fitness test ahead of Saturday's meeting with Greater Western Sydney. Jamie Elliott (hamstring soreness), who was a late withdrawal for the game against the Lions, will also be monitored. Jesse White, Paul Seedsman, Josh Thomas, Kyle Martin, Tom Langdon and Patrick Karnezis are those likely to be called upon to help salvage the Magpies' season. – Ben Guthrie

After a disastrous weekend the Pies will hope to at least get back Scott Pendlebury: Picture: AFL Media
ESSENDON
The Bombers will be hoping Jake Carlisle is fit to return this week against the Gold Coast, after missing the weekend's win over West Coast with a back spasm. Carlisle will provide much needed respite for an undersized forward line. Orazio Fantasia, Cory Dell'Olio and Elliott Kavanagh are all chances to find a spot in the senior line-up, while Leroy Jetta again showed good form at VFL level. Others to impress in the state league were Jason Ashby, who kicked three goals, and Shaun Edwards, while Jackson Merrett is also a chance for a senior recall, but don't expect too many changes after Essendon's excellent second-half comeback against the Eagles. - Callum Twomey


FREMANTLE
Hayden Ballantyne has been declared a certain starter this week after Ross Lyon made an executive decision to withdraw his star forward from the Hawthorn clash with a tight hamstring. Nat Fyfe will need to be replaced. Nick Suban and Matt de Boer will be the obvious candidates after both were dropped last week. Anthony Morabito made a strong case with 26 touches and a goal for Peel Thunder in the WAFL. Garrick Ibbotson had 16 disposals in defence for Peel on return from his back injury. Michael Apeness took 10 marks and kicked two goals and could be called upon if there is an injury to a key position player. - Alex Malcolm

Hayden Ballantyne is always a welcome return for Fremantle, if not for opposition fans. Picture: AFL Media

GEELONG
The Cats are likely to regain Jimmy Bartel for Saturday night's blockbuster clash with Hawthorn at the MCG. Bartel missed the win over Carlton after failing to recover from a corked thigh. Steve Johnson, who missed the victory over the Blues due to a sore foot, remains in doubt for the game against the Hawks. A number of youngsters impressed in Geelong's narrow VFL loss to Collingwood on the weekend. Brad Hartman and Jesse Stringer won plenty of the ball in the midfield, while Jake Kolodjashnij did some good things in the backline. - Adam McNicol

GOLD COAST
The Suns are running out of fit players and Charlie Dixon's quad injury adds to their woes. With Steven May still in severe doubt to return from a hamstring injury, Dixon's injury could open the door for impressive defender Clay Cameron to return for Saturday's match against Essendon. This would result in Sam Day shuffling from defence back to the forward line. Tom Murphy could also be an option after playing well in the NEAFL at the weekend. - Michael Whiting

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
The Giants copped a hammer blow this past weekend when key forward Jon Patton blew out the ACL in his right knee for the second time, in the strong victory over Melbourne. It was a cruel result for a young player that had competed so well this season following two years blighted by injury. GWS also lost co-captains Callan Ward (calf) and Phil Davis (concussion/calf) to pay a heavy price for their first win at the MCG. Sent back to the seconds last week, Zac Williams and Tim Golds impressed in their one-point loss to the Sydney Swans. Veterans Josh Hunt, Dylan Addison and Stephen Gilham were also solid in the twos and could earn themselves another senior game before the season draws to a close. - Michael Dampney

HAWTHORN
A short injury list and the return of Jarryd Roughead – probably for Tim O'Brien - will give Hawthorn plenty of flexibility at the selection table. Matt Spangher (calf tightness) could come back into contention, but Matt Suckling (ankle) is in doubt. Angus Litherland is a potential replacement in defence, but the experience of Brad Sewell or pace of Billy Hartung might be preferred if Hawthorn reshuffles its line-up. Mitch Hallahan, Kyle Cheney and ruckman Jonathon Ceglar are among a host of Hawks knocking on the door at Box Hill. – Travis King

Hawthorn will want all hands on deck against its nemesis, Geelong, this week. Picture: AFL Media

MELBOURNE
Who is not in the mix for Melbourne? Cam Pedersen looks likely to return as a forward option. Jordie McKenzie could add some toughness around the ball and had 29 disposals in the VFL, and Jay Kennedy-Harris's pace would be handy at Subiaco. Jimmy Toumpas played just one VFL game so expect him to be given time. Michael Evans and Luke Tapscott are some chance to play after winning more than 20 disposals each in the VFL. Evans also laid eight tackles. Rohan Bail did not play VFL but, if fit, will be in line for selection. - Peter Ryan

NORTH MELBOURNE
North looks set to be without two of its biggest stars this round, with Daniel Wells having accepted a one-match suspension and Brent Harvey set to face the Tribunal on a misconduct charge on Tuesday night. Joint vice-captain Jack Ziebell (knee) is also likely to face a fitness test, but Lindsay Thomas (knee) and Lachlan Hansen (hip) are expected to be fit to take on Adelaide. Aaron Mullett could be in line for a recall after racking up 34 possessions in North Ballarat's loss to Williamstown last Saturday, while Mason Wood (18 possessions and a goal) continued his push for an AFL debut in Werribee's loss to Sandringham. Jamie Macmillan (27 disposals) also impressed for Werribee in his first game after 18 weeks on the sidelines with a broken fibula and could be rushed back. Kayne Turner may also come back in after being rested last week. - Nick Bowen

PORT ADELAIDE
The club expects injured duo Angus Monfries (hip flexor) and Jackson Trengove (ankle) to be right to face Carlton on Friday, although a little more uncertainty surrounds the fitness of Hamish Hartlett (ankle). He too should play, but only if he passes fitness tests this week. If they are all available for selection Ken Hinkley would again have close to a full pool to choose his team from. The usual suspects performed for Port in the SANFL; Sam Gray was again superb (25 possessions, six tackles, one goal), while Kane Mitchell (22 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles), Ben Newton (23 possessions, six clearances) and Tom Clurey (17 disposals, seven marks, eight rebound 50s) all shone.
 - Harry Thring

RICHMOND
Midfielder Reece Conca has served his two-game suspension for striking Giant Devon Smith and should make an immediate return for Sunday's clash against St Kilda. Club champion Dan Jackson will work his way back into the team before the end of the season, but this might not be the week after he was managed in his VFL return. Jackson, who had missed three games with a glute injury, had 14 possessions in the state league. Aaron Edwards pushed his case to earn a call up, spending time at both ends of the ground and kicking three goals. Young forward Liam McBean wasn't as prolific as he has been over the past month, but he still hit the scoreboard with two goals and his form stacks up over a sustained period. Sam Lloyd (two goals and 22 possessions) and Matt Dea (27 possessions) were others to throw their names up. – Nathan Schmook  

Reece Conca is a likely return for the Tigers after his severe brain fade against GWS. Picture: AFL Media 




ST KILDA
Jarryn Geary looks unlikely to return this week after sitting out the second half of Sandringham's 20-point win over Werribee on Saturday with ice on his calf. It was the backman's first game since he ruptured a ligament in his elbow in the Saints' loss to Hawthorn in round seven, and would cast doubt on his ability to get back into the senior side this season. There were no reported injuries in the Saints' 71-point loss to the Sydney Swans on Saturday but given the magnitude of the defeat, Alan Richardson could make some changes. Trent Dennis-Lane pressed his case for the second week running in the VFL with a bag of four goals after kicking five the previous round, and Darren Minchington was listed as best but would need to be promoted back to the senior list to play after being reinstated as a rookie last week for Geary. - Jennifer Phelan

SYDNEY SWANS
For the first time in his five years as a Sydney Swan, Josh Kennedy's name will not be on the team sheet as the side prepares to face the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne. Kennedy's hamstring injury will end a run of 127 consecutive games, nine of which came at Hawthorn before he reeled off 118 straight in Sydney. Thankfully for the Swans, just two weeks out from the finals, coach John Longmire says Kennedy should only miss one match. Craig Bird is also set to miss one week after damaging a posterior cruciate ligament against St Kilda on Saturday, while Dan Hannebery and Sam Reid are nursing knocks from that game, and Ben McGlynn (calf) is another unlikely starter against the Dogs. In better news, Nick Smith (back) and Rhyce Shaw (ankle) are firmly in contention to return to the team this week. - Michael Dampney

The Swans' defence only gets stronger when Nick Smith is in the line-up. Picture: AFL Media

WEST COAST
Sam Butler is in doubt following a poke in the eye last week that saw him subbed out of the loss to Essendon. Adam Carter is the obvious like for like replacement and he helped his own cause by gathering 29 disposals for East Perth in the WAFL. Adam Simpson has said he wants to play Carter before the season is over. Mark LeCras should return after missing the past two weeks with a calf problem. Brant Colledge had 22 touches and kicked two goals in the WAFL and will certainly be considered. Beyond that, injuries leave the Eagles limited. - Alex Malcolm

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Second-year sensation Jack Macrae will return for Sunday's clash with Sydney after missing the loss to North Melbourne with general soreness. Midfielder Nathan Hrovat is a chance to return from a calf complaint. Emerging midfielder Lin Jong pressed his claims for a senior recall after a best on ground performance in the VFL. Key defenders Fletcher Roberts and Michael Talia once again shone in the win over Casey, as did key forwards Liam Jones and Jack Redpath. Daniel Giansiracusa and Jarrad Grant loom as possible omissions after having little impact against the Kangaroos. – Ryan Davidson