The teams are in for the final round of the AFL season with a stack of changes across the board.
Essendon cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will play the final game of his career in Friday night’s blockbuster against Collingwood, but a host of big-name Bombers are missing.
The Magpies have been forced into a defensive shuffle with Nathan Murphy ruled out, but Jordan De Goey returns.
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Geelong are already planning for 2023 with Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron among the high-profile outs for Saturday night’s clash against the finals-chasing Western Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs, who must win to keep their finals hopes alive, have lost Bailey Smith to illness and are also without Jack Macrae.
Bailey Smith will miss for the Bulldogs this week. Credit: Getty Images
In the other finals-shaping clash this weekend, Carlton will be without Sam Docherty, but Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra return to face GWS Giants on Sunday.
Elsewehre, St Kilda have rested star forward Max King and Bayley Fritsch returns for Melbourne.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
Essendon v Collingwood at the MCG, 7.50pm AEST
ESSENDON
In: S.Weideman, N.Bryan, W.Snelling, W.Setterfield, K.Baldwin
Out: J.Caldwell (hip), M.Guelfi (hamstring), P.Wright (Injured), S.Draper (hip), J.Stringer (foot), J.Kelly (Injured)
R23 sub: Jake Stringer
COLLINGWOOD
In: B.Hill, J.De Goey
Out: N.Murphy (back/glute), J.Ryan (concussion), B.McCreery (suspension)
R23 sub: Mason Cox
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
Hawthorn v Fremantle at the MCG, 1.45pm AEST
HAWTHORN
In: J.Newcombe, B.Ryan
Out: N.Long (omitted), D.Grainger-Barras (calf), M.Ramsden (omitted)
R23 sub: Jai Serong
FREMANTLE
In: M.Walters, J.Hamling
Out: N.Erasmus (sub), J.O’Meara (calf), B.Banfield (AC joint)
R23 sub: Neil Erasmus
North Melbourne v Gold Coast at Blundstone Arena, 1.45pm AEST
NORTH MELBOURNE
In: K.Dawson, M.Bergman, C.Lazzaro
Out: D.Howe (omitted), L.McDonald (hamstring), J.Ziebell (retired), B.Drury (sub)
R23 sub: Blake Drury
GOLD COAST
In: C.Burgess, A.Davies
Out: R.Atkins (omitted), J.Lukosius (Achilles), B.Humphrey (finger)
R23 sub: Darcy Macpherson
Brisbane v St Kilda at the Gabba, 4.35pm AEST
BRISBANE
In: Nil
Out: L.McCarthy (calf)
R23 sub: Jarryd Lyons
ST KILDA
In: J.Hayes
Out: S.Ross (hamstring), M.King (managed)
R23 sub: Hunter Clark
Geelong v Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
GEELONG
In: M.Knevitt, S.Menegola, O.Dempsey, T.Conway, R.Stanley, O.Mullin
Out: M.Duncan (suspension), E.Ratugolea (hamstring), B.Close (ankle), J.Cameron (AC joint), T.Hawkins (hamstring), T.Bruhn (Injured), Z.Tuohy (sub)
R23 sub: Brandan Parfitt
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: H.Crozier, T.Liberatore, T.McLean
Out: T.Duryea (suspension), B.Smith (illness), J.Macrae (concussion), L.McNeil (sub)
R23 sub: Lachlan McNeil
West Coast v Adelaide at Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
WEST COAST
In: S.Hurn, L.Shuey, B.Hough
Out: J.Jones (omitted), C.Chesser (omitted), Z.Trew (omitted), E.Yeo (hamstring)
R23 sub: Zane Trew
ADELAIDE
In: L.Gollant, P.Parnell
Out: S.McAdam (cheekbone), R.Sloane (eye), R.Thilthorpe (omitted)
R23 sub: Luke Pedlar
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
Port Adelaide v Richmond at Adelaide Oval, 12pm ACST
PORT ADELAIDE
In: D.Visentini, B.Teakle, F.Evans
Out: Nil
R23 sub: Travis Boak
RICHMOND
In: S.Banks, J.Bauer, B.Miller, J.Trezise, T.Brown, R.Mansell
Out: D.Prestia (managed), J.Riewoldt (retired), T.Cotchin (retired)
R23 sub: Maurice Rioli jnr
Sydney v Melbourne at the SCG, 3.20pm AEST
SYDNEY
In: J.Amartey, M.Roberts, L.Melican
Out: Nil
R23 sub: Ryan Clarke
MELBOURNE
In: T.McDonald, B.Fritsch, T.Woewodin, D.Turner
Out: J.Schache (sub)
R23 sub: Josh Schache
Carlton v Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium, 6.10pm AEST
CARLTON
In: M.McGovern, S.Walsh, A.Cerra, L.Fogarty, C.Durdin
Out: S.Docherty (calf), E.Curnow (sub)
R23 sub: Ed Curnow
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
In: R.Angwin, N.Haynes, M.Flynn
Out: Nil
R23 sub: Toby McMullin
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