Jason Horne-Francis has been selected to make his VFL debut for North Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images via AFL Photos

ALL eyes will be on the AIA Centre when No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis lines up for North Melbourne in its Smithy’s VFL clash against a desperate Collingwood on Saturday morning.

Horne-Francis returns after serving a two-week suspension for striking GWS onballer Josh Kelly, with the Kangaroos deciding to give him some match practice given their bye fell during his time off, with the boom youngster named at centre half-forward for his VFL debut in place of injured goalkicker Mat Walker.

Atu Bosenavulagi also comes back into the North Melbourne team in place of the promoted Flynn Perez.

SMITHY’S VFL TEAMS, ROUND 16, click here

The Magpies regain veteran utility Michael Hartley from injury and Isaac Chugg among six changes to the team that beat Richmond by four points last week, but they will be without Charlie Dean, who hurt his ankle on club debut, AFL debutant Josh Carmichael, Jack Madgen and Harvey Harrison.

The match starts at 11.05am on Saturday, leading into the AFL game between the same teams at 1.45pm across the road at the MCG, and can be viewed at the ground with free entry or live and exclusive on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.

SMITHY’S VFL INJURY LIST, ROUND 16, click here

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Mitch Brown has been kicking goals for fun when in the Casey Demons' team. Picture: Dylan Burns, AFL Photos

GEELONG and Casey Demons have each selected a host of big-name inclusions for their crucial Smithy’s VFL clash under the Friday night lights at GMHBA Stadium.

The Cats only fielded seven AFL-listed players in their thrashing from Frankston last week but regained ruckman Jon Ceglar, who hasn’t played since seriously injuring his ankle in Round 3, as well as young big man Toby Conway, midfielders Quinton Narkle and Cooper Stephens and small forwards Luke Dahlhaus and Zane Williams for a match they need to win to stay in touch with the top eight after three consecutive losses.

The undefeated Demons, meanwhile, have countered by recalling three tall forwards in Mitch Brown, Sam Weideman and Jacob Van Rooyen, as well as full back Adam Tomlinson, utility Jake Melksham and Dandenong Stingrays debutant Kobi George.

Each club has left out six unlucky VFL-listed players, meaning both will be significantly strengthened from last week, with Geelong to field 13 listed players and Casey 15.

13.GEELONG (6-6) v 1.CASEY DEMONS (13-0)

Friday, July 8, 7.05pm @ GMHBA Stadium
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 7pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Geelong 18-15. At GMHBA: Geelong 8-5. Streak: Casey Demons 1 (July 20, 2019). Last Time: Casey Demons 7.15 57 def Geelong 8.8 56 (Casey Fields, May 15, 2021)

GEELONG
IN: J. Ceglar, T. Conway, L. Dahlhaus, Q. Narkle, C. Stephens, Z. Williams
OUT: T. Feely (concussion), S. Carlin, J. Leonard, T. Panuccio, B. Worme (omit), J. Pitt

CASEY DEMONS
IN: M. Brown, K. George, J. Melksham, A. Tomlinson, J. Van Rooyen, S. Weideman
OUT: R. Baldi, T. Edwards, B. Milford, M. Shepherd, R. Valentine (omit), L. Goonan
DEBUT: Kobi George, 21, 182cm, 74kg, Collegians via Doveton

Prediction: Casey Demons by 19

9.COLLINGWOOD (7-5) v 19.NORTH MELBOURNE (3-9)

Saturday, July 9, 11.05am @ AIA Centre
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 11am)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Collingwood 7-1-2. At AIA Centre: Never Met. Streak: Collingwood 7w/2d (last loss July 9, 1892, Arden St). Last Time: Collingwood 9.7 61 def North Melbourne 6.5 41 (Victoria Park, June 29, 2019)

COLLINGWOOD
IN: B. Andrews, I. Chugg, M. Hartley, Z. Molloy, I. Wallace, M. Wetering
OUT: J. Carmichael (AFL), C. Dean (ankle), S. Glover (omit), N. Bradshaw, H. Harrison, J. Madgen
DEBUT: Braden Andrews, 19, 189cm, 83kg, Old Carey
NORTH MELBOURNE
IN: A. Bosenavulagi, J. Horne-Francis, Z. Monkhorst
OUT: F. Perez (AFL), L. Cunningham, M. Walker
DEBUT: Jason Horne-Francis, 19, 185cm, 81kg, South Adelaide/Christies Beach
Prediction: Collingwood by 28

12.GOLD COAST (6-6) v 14.FRANKSTON (5-7)

Saturday, July 9, 11.35am (note time change) @ Metricon Stadium
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 11.30am)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Gold Coast 1-0. At Metricon Stadium: Never Met. Streak: Gold Coast 1 (never lost). Last Time: Gold Coast 15.13 103 def Frankston 7.4 46 (June 26, 2010, Merrimac Oval)

GOLD COAST
IN: J. Farrar, B. Little, A. Sexton, N. Stevens, J. Tsitas
OUT: S. Day, J. Lukosius, J. Sharp (AFL), M. Ferres, B. Fiorini
FRANKSTON
IN: T. Barlow, L. Reidy, R. Stoddart
OUT: S. Fletcher, J. Lloyd, M Massarotti
Prediction: Gold Coast by 22

7.BOX HILL HAWKS (7-5) v 2.SOUTHPORT (10-2)

Saturday, July 9, 12.35pm @ Box Hill City Oval
(3WBC 94.1FM, www.3wbc.org.au, 11.30am, https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 12.30pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Never Met

BOX HILL HAWKS
IN: L. Coghlan, B. Grey, K. Hartigan, M. Lynch, J. Saunders, L. Shiels, M. Sruk
OUT: D. Grainger-Barras, F. Maginness, J. Morris, J. Ward (AFL), J. Cunico (ankle), D. Brinker-Ritchie, M. Hall (omit)
DEBUT: Liam Coghlan, 21, 187cm, 80kg, Doncaster; Mitchell Sruk, 19, 180cm, 86kg, Rowville
SOUTHPORT
IN: R. Gilmore
OUT: M. Selsby (omit)
Prediction: Southport by 10

8.WERRIBEE (7-5) v 18.COBURG (3-9)

Saturday, July 9, 2.05pm @ Avalon Airport Oval
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 2pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Werribee 34-25. At Chirnside Park: Werribee 20-13. Streak: Werribee 4 (last loss June 25, 2016). Last Time: Werribee 19.14 128 def Coburg 6.6 42 (Piranha Park, August 4, 2019)

WERRIBEE
IN: D. Cassar (debut), O. Hanrahan, L. Rocci
OUT: M. Sodomaco (calf), K. Gray, D. Sharrock
DEBUT: Darcy Cassar, 20, 183cm, 81kg, Keilor/Footscrat
COBURG
IN: R. Sturgess
OUT: D. Thomas (omit)
Prediction: Werribee by 37

16.PORT MELBOURNE (4-8) v 5.CARLTON (8-4)

Saturday, July 9, 7.05pm @ ETU Stadium
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 7pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Carlton 12-9-1. At North Port Oval: Carlton 6-4. Streak: Carlton 2 (last loss July 28, 2002). Last Time: Carlton 12.11 83 def Port Melbourne 10.8 68 (North Port, June 19, 2021)

PORT MELBOURNE
IN: A. Hanrahan, P. Hunter, M. Signorello, C. Walker
OUT: J. O'Sullivan (concussion), T. Hofert, W. Reinhold, M. Rivett (omit)
CARLTON
IN: D. Akuei, E. Curnow, S. Durdin, L. Fogarty, J. Honey
OUT: J. Motlop (AFL), B. Crocker (managed), S. Philp (foot), Z. Barzen, L. Swaney (omit)
Prediction: Carlton by 4

11.SANDRINGHAM (6-5-1) v 15.FOOTSCRAY (5-8)

Sunday, July 10, 12.01pm @ Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval
(Channel 7 and www.7plus.com.au, 12pm)

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Footscray 5-3. Streak: Footscray 2 (last loss April 7, 2018). Last Time: Footscray 13.17 95 def Sandringham 8.10 58 (Trevor Barker Oval, July 21, 2019)

SANDRINGHAM
IN: O.Adams, R.Byrnes, S.Dunell, J.Lienert, J.Lohmann, B.Long, A.McLennan, M.Owens, B.Paton, C.Sharman
OUT: J.Higgins, T.Highmore, M.Wood (AFL), S.Beilby, O.Lewis, O.Lowe, T.Milne (omit), J.Haidon, N.Hodgson, J.McHale
DEBUT: Angus McLennan, 18, 187cm, Glen Iris/Sandringham Dragons
FOOTSCRAY
IN: J.Bruce, H.Crozier, J.Gilbee, R.McComb, T.O'Brien, J.Sweet, L.Vandermeer
OUT: M.Hannan (AFL), W.Lewis (omit), A.Bade, R.Garcia, N.Hamad, A.Jones, D.Orgil
Prediction: Footscray by 13 

20.WILLIAMSTOWN (2-11) v 6.GWS GIANTS (7-4-1)

Sunday, July 10, 1.05pm @ Williamstown Oval
(https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=7, 1pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Never Met

WILLIAMSTOWN
IN: B. Myers, C. Polson
OUT: T. Miles, L. Stapleton
GWS GIANTS
IN: R. Bice, J. Conlan, X. O'Halloran, Z. Sproule
OUT: X. Barry-Murphy, S. Quirk, B. Stewart (omit), L. Fellows
NEW: Riley Bice, 19, 185cm, 68kg, Albury; Jacob Conlan, 23, 191cm, 95kg, Albury
Prediction: GWS by 25

BYE: Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Northern Bullants, Richmond, Sydney

Brendan Rhodes’ winners: Last Round: 6. Season: 95½

All Smithy’s VFL matches in 2022 can be viewed live and free. The VFL Match of the Round will be televised each week on Channel 7, with all other matches livestreamed via vfl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. Radio station 3WBC will also again be broadcasting Box Hill Hawks matches.
To access live scores, results, ladder, stats and to link to live streams/replays, download the VFL/W Official App from the Apple or Google Play app stores.
Keep track of your Smithy’s VFL team via our VFL Match Centre, which features live scores, team and player stats, match timeline, events summary and Fantasy points. Check it out at (https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/fixture)