Advertisement

AFL teams: Senior Saints out as Ross swings axe

Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn - AFL Practice Match
Hawthorn mature-age recruit Ethan Phillips will make his debut against Port Adelaide on Sunday. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

Defenders Zac Williams and Caleb Marchbank are among four Carlton changes as the Blues prepare to face Sydney at the SCG on Friday night.

Williams has overcome a glute complaint and will face the Swans as Orazio Fantasia and Jack Carroll also return to the side.

Lachie Cowan has been dropped as Matt Cottrell (foot), Jack Martin (calf) and Adam Cerra (hamstring) were all forced changes.

Sydney made only one change with Matt Roberts rested after nine consecutive games, and fellow left-footer Braeden Campbell named as his replacement.

Caleb Daniel will return to the Western Bulldogs side against GWS on Saturday after a spot in defence opened up due to an injury complaint for Jason Johannisen.

The All-Australian halfback was named on the Bulldogs’ bench and could be used as the sub, with Luke Cleary and Joel Freijah also on the interchange after they played as defenders last week.

Luke Beveridge Presser
Western Bulldogs star Caleb Daniel will return against GWS on Saturday after an injury to Jason Johannisen. Picture: David Crosling

St Kilda veterans Seb Ross and Tim Membrey have been “managed” among six changes for the Saints’ crucial clash against Fremantle on Saturday night.

Paddy Dow will make his club debut as Mattaes Phillipou and Lance Collard earnt recalls from the VFL.

Fremantle named an unchanged side with star ruckman Sean Darcy missing again due to a lingering calf complaint.

Collingwood and Adelaide both made two changes for the Saturday afternoon clash at the MCG with the Magpies opting for a smaller forward line after losing Jeremy Howe to injury.

Jordan De Goey and Lachie Schultz will return as Jack Bytel (concussion) misses the clash.

Adelaide top 10 pick Daniel Curtin was dropped despite fellow key defender Josh Worrell suffering a broken arm, with Will Hamill recalled and Lachie Murphy returning to play his first game since he was injured in round 3.

GWS has dealt with calf injuries to Josh Kelly and Lachie Ash by recalling Xavier O’Halloran and Jacob Wehr.

Nate Caddy is a chance to make his AFL debut after he was named on an extended bench for Essendon, while Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee will return against Hawthorn.

The Hawks confirmed mature-age recruit Ethan Phillips would make his debut in the Adelaide Oval clash on Sunday, while Richmond will blood second-year forward Steely Green against Brisbane at the Gabba.

Green, 20, was close to a round 1 debut after impressive pre-season performances for the Tigers, and has been an emergency several times this season.

Phillips, who won the VFL’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as its best young player in 2022, has performed strongly for Box Hill this season with an average of 18 possessions and 12 marks per game.

Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney said the 24-year-old’s journey to a debut was a “great story of perseverance”.

Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn - AFL Practice Match
Mature-age recruit Ethan Phillips will debut in Hawthorn’s backline against Port Adelaide on Sunday. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

Before establishing himself as a VFL player, Phillips played in a VAFA premiership at St Kevin’s with Collingwood recruit Lachie Sullivan, who made his debut two weeks ago.

“This is a great story of perseverance and never giving up on your dream of playing AFL footy – we are truly excited for Ethan to get his chance on Sunday,” McCartney said.

“Ethan has played well at VFL level in the early part of the season. His form has been really strong and he has showed he is a consistent performer in our defensive end, both in defending our goal and starting our attack through intercept marks.

“It’ll be a great day for Ethan and his family as he starts his journey as an AFL footballer.”

Phillips’ selection suggests the Hawks will not take any risks with Sicily as he recovers from shoulder and ankle injuries he suffered in the round 8 win over the Western Bulldogs.

Hawthorn is also considering a recall for injury-riddled defender Changkuoth Jiath, who overcame recurrent calf injuries over the pre-season only to suffer hamstring and quad setbacks in recent months.

Melbourne wingman Ed Langdon will miss the Demons’ trip to Perth to face West Coast for personal reasons.

AFL Round 10 Teams

Sydney vs. Carlton, Friday 7.40pm, SCG

SWANS

IN Campbell

OUT Roberts (managed)

BLUES

IN Marchbank, Williams, Carroll, Fantasia

OUT Cottrell (foot), Cerra (hamstring), Martin (calf), Cowan

Collingwood vs. Adelaide, Saturday 1.45pm, MCG

MAGPIES

IN Schultz, De Goey

OUT Howe (groin), Bytel (concussion)

CROWS

IN Murphy, Hamill

OUT Worrell (arm), Curtin

GWS vs. Western Bulldogs, Saturday 4.35pm, Engie Stadium

GIANTS

IN O’Halloran, Wehr

OUT Ash, Kelly

BULLDOGS

IN Daniel

OUT Johannisen (injured)

St Kilda vs. Fremantle, Saturday 7.30pm, Marvel Stadium

SAINTS

IN Sharman, Dow, Caminiti, Jones, Collard, Phillipou

OUT Hastie, Stocker (managed), Hayes, Ross (managed), Membrey (managed), Garcia

DOCKERS

NO CHANGES

Brisbane vs. Richmond, Saturday 7.30pm, Gabba

LIONS

IN Answerth

OUT Prior

TIGERS

IN Green (Debut), McIntosh, McAuliffe, Coulthard

OUT Banks (concussion), Rioli (ankle), Graham (hamstring), Campbell (knee)

Essendon vs. North Melbourne, Sunday 1.10pm, Marvel Stadium

BOMBERS

IN Shiel, Bryan, Caddy (New)

OUT

KANGAROOS

IN Simpkin, Bergman, Taylor, Pink, Stephens, Duursma

OUT McKercher (foot), Phillips, Hardeman

Port Adelaide vs. Hawthorn, Sunday 3.20pm, Adelaide Oval

POWER

IN Rozee, Sweet, Burgoyne

OUT

HAWKS

IN Phillips (Debut), Chol, B Macdonald, Jiath, Ramsden

OUT Scrimshaw (suspended), Gunston (managed)

West Coast vs. Melbourne, Sunday 6.20pm, Optus Stadium

EAGLES

IN Waterman, Gaff, Jones, H Edwards, Culley

OUT Petruccelle (ankle), Johnston

DEMONS

IN McAdam (New), Salem, Tomlinson, Fullarton (New), Tholstrup, Brown

OUT Langdon (personal), van Rooyen (concussion), Turner (calf)