Sunday, December 22, 2024

AFL Teams Round 15: Cats’ huge ins amid ruck gamble; Port swing axe, Bombers’ big returns

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Geelong gets some big returns but makes a bold ruck gamble, Port Adelaide swings the axe for a must-win clash and Essendon lands reinforcements. Round 15 teams!

The Cats have been bolstered by the return of skipper Patrick Dangerfield from a hamstring injury, alongside Zach Tuohy and Ollie Henry.

Chris Scott will play Mark Blicavs as the sole ruck as he looks to snap a form slump, with Shannon Neale dropped and Rhys Stanley out hurt. Tanner Bruhn misses with a wrist injury.

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Orazio Fantasia has been recalled for the Blues, replacing Jack Carroll.

Ken Hinkley has swung the axe at Port Adelaide, dropping a quartet of players including Ivan Soldo, Quinton Narkle, Dylan Williams and Francis Evans. Willie Rioli returns from a calf complaint, while Jeremy Finlayson and Jordon Sweet both get another opportunity. Mid-season draftee Logan Evans is set to make his debut in defence.

Shadeau Brain comes in to replace the injured Noah Answerth at Brisbane.

The Giants have handed a debut to exciting forward Max Gruzewski and will welcome back running defender Lachie Ash and James Peatling. Sam Taylor (ruptured testicle) and Nick Haynes are both out injured, while former number one draft pick Aaron Cadman has also been dropped.

Sydney will unveil yet another Academy product at the weekend, unearthing young gun Caiden Cleary. Damaging defender Matt Roberts has been omitted.

Bont won’t sign until end of the season | 02:42

The Dees will begin life without Christian Petracca against North Melbourne after the star midfielder was ruled out for the rest of the 2024 campaign due to a range of internal injuries suffered in the King’s Birthday clash. Father-son young gun Kynan Brown will debut, while Adam Tomlinson and Koltyn Tholstrup will return. Former Saint Jack Billings and Bailey Laurie have been dropped.

There is no sign of Colby McKercher at North Melbourne, but co-captain Jy Simpkin is back after overcoming a hamstring problem. Hard-running winger Dylan Stephens is back, while Kallan Dawson (suspension) and Jaidyn Stephenson make way.

Essendon have recalled a star quartet for their home clash against West Coast – Mason Redman, Xavier Duursma, Sam Draper and Nate Caddy all named. Elijah Tsatas will return to the VFL after being omitted.

West Coast will welcome back co-captain Oscar Allen, while Tyler Brockman, Jayden Hunt and Josh Rotham have also been named in the extended squad. Dom Sheed is out injured.

Fremantle have named five possible inclusions for Sunday’s fixture against Gold Coast, headlined by the return of Heath Chapman. Michael Walters will miss at least a month with a hamstring injury, while Josh Draper has been omitted. Hugh Davies, pick 33 in 2022, will debut with Tom Emmett, Neil Erasmus and Corey Wagner the other names who could be included.

The Suns have made at least five changes as they seek an elusive away victory. Co-captain Jarrod Witts returns from a hamstring issue, while Wil Powell is back after serving a five-match ban for a homophobic slur. Ben King is out with a knee injury, while Damien Hardwick has omitted Ned Moyle, Brayden Fiorini, Jed Walter and Nick Holman. Other inclusions for the Suns include Jake Rogers, Sam Day, Brandon Ellis, Lloyd Johnston, Alex Davies and Hawego Paul Oea.

The sides for Sunday’s games will be finalised at 5pm AEST on Friday.

AFL ROUND 15 TEAMS AND FIXTURE

CARLTON v GEELONG

Friday June 21, 7:40pm at the MCG

BLUES

B: J.Boyd, J.Weitering, B.Kemp

HB: N.Newman, M.McGovern, A.Saad

C: O.Hollands, P.Cripps – C, B.Acres

HF: L.Fogarty, H.McKay, Z.Williams

F: M.Owies, C.Curnow, A.Cincotta

FOLL: T.De Koning, S.Walsh, G.Hewett

I/C: L.Cowan, M.Kennedy, E.Hollands, C.Durdin, O.Fantasia

EMG: J.Motlop, C.Marchbank, M.Pittonet

IN: O.Fantasia

OUT: J.Carroll (Omitted)

CATS

B: J.Henry, S.De Koning, J.Kolodjashnij

HB: M.Duncan, T.Stewart, Z.Guthrie

C: Z.Tuohy, M.Holmes, M.O’Connor

HF: B.Close, J.Cameron, G.Miers

F: T.Stengle, T.Hawkins, O.Henry

FOLL: M.Blicavs, P.Dangerfield – C, T.Atkins

I/C: O.Dempsey, G.Rohan, O.Mullin, J.Clark, J.Bowes

EMG: R.Stanley, M.Hardie, L.Humphries

IN: Z.Tuohy, O.Henry, P.Dangerfield

OUT: S.Neale (Omitted), R.Stanley (Injured), T.Bruhn (Injured)

PORT ADELAIDE v BRISBANE LIONS

Saturday June 22, 1:45pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: K.Farrell, E.Ratugolea, B.Zerk-Thatcher

HB: L.Evans, A.Aliir, D.Houston

C: J.Burgoyne, C.Rozee – C, W.Drew

HF: D.Byrne-Jones, T.Marshall, M.Bergman

F: Z.Butters, O.Lord, M.Georgiades

FOLL: J.Sweet, J.Horne-Francis, J.McEntee

I/C: O.Wines, T.Boak, J.Mead, J.Finlayson, W.Rioli

EMG: I.Soldo, J.Sinn, F.Evans

IN: L.Evans, J.Sweet, J.Finlayson, W.Rioli

OUT: I.Soldo (Omitted), Q.Narkle (Omitted), D.Williams (Omitted), F.Evans (Omitted)

LIONS

B: D.Zorko, J.Payne, R.Lester

HB: C.McKenna, H.Andrews, B.Starcevich

C: B.Reville, C.Rayner, J.Berry

HF: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, H.McCluggage

F: C.Ah Chee, J.Daniher, L.Morris

FOLL: O.McInerney, J.Dunkley, L.Neale – C

I/C: K.Lohmann, J.Fletcher, Z.Bailey, S.Brain, D.Wilmot

EMG: J.Lyons, D.Fort, D.Joyce

IN: S.Brain

OUT: N.Answerth (Injured)

GWS GIANTS v SYDNEY SWANS

Saturday June 22, 4:35pm at ENGIE Stadium

GIANTS

B: C.Idun, J.Buckley, H.Himmelberg

HB: L.Whitfield, L.Aleer, L.Ash

C: R.Angwin, T.Green, X.O’Halloran

HF: B.Daniels, M.Gruzewski, T.Bedford

F: T.Greene – C, J.Hogan, H.Thomas

FOLL: K.Briggs, F.Callaghan, J.Kelly

I/C: J.Peatling, C.Ward, C.Brown, J.Riccardi, T.McMullin

EMG: H.Rowston, J.Wehr, L.Keeffe

IN: L.Ash, M.Gruzewski, J.Peatling

OUT: S.Taylor (Injured), N.Haynes (Injured), A.Cadman (Omitted)

SWANS

B: D.Rampe – C, T.McCartin, L.Melican

HB: O.Florent, H.Cunningham, N.Blakey

C: J.McInerney, Ch.Warner, E.Gulden

HF: J.Jordon, L.McDonald, T.Adams

F: T.Papley, J.Amartey, W.Hayward

FOLL: B.Grundy, I.Heeney, J.Rowbottom

I/C: J.Lloyd, B.Campbell, S.Wicks, H.McLean, C.Cleary

EMG: M.Roberts, C.Mitchell, P.Ladhams

IN: C.Cleary

OUT: M.Roberts (Omitted)

MELBOURNE v NORTH MELBOURNE

Saturday June 22, 7:30pm at the MCG

DEMONS

B: B.Howes, S.May, T.Rivers

HB: C.Salem, A.Tomlinson, J.McVee

C: A.Neal-Bullen, C.Oliver, C.Windsor

HF: K.Chandler, H.Petty, J.van Rooyen

F: K.Pickett, B.Fritsch, E.Langdon

FOLL: M.Gawn – C, J.Viney, T.Sparrow

I/C: J.Bowey, T.McDonald, K.Tholstrup, K.Brown, D.Turner

EMG: B.Laurie, T.Fullarton, T.Woewodin

IN: A.Tomlinson, K.Tholstrup, K.Brown

OUT: C.Petracca (Injured), J.Billings (Omitted), B.Laurie (Omitted)

KANGAROOS

B: A.Corr, C.Comben, T.Pink

HB: J.Archer, H.Sheezel, L.McDonald

C: D.Stephens, L.Davies-Uniacke, B.Scott

HF: T.Powell, B.Teakle, E.Ford

F: P.Curtis, N.Larkey, C.Zurhaar

FOLL: T.Xerri, G.Wardlaw, J.Simpkin – C

I/C: C.Taylor, D.Tucker, L.Shiels, Z.Fisher, W.Phillips

EMG: Z.Duursma, R.Hardeman, C.Harvey

IN: D.Stephens, J.Simpkin

OUT: J.Stephenson (Omitted), K.Dawson (Suspension)

ESSENDON v WEST COAST EAGLES

Sunday June 23, 1pm at Marvel Stadium

BOMBERS

B: J.Ridley, B.McKay, J.Laverde

HB: N.Martin, M.Redman, A.McGrath

C: X.Duursma, S.Durham, A.Perkins

HF: M.Guelfi, J.Gresham, H.Jones

F: J.Stringer, P.Wright, K.Langford

FOLL: T.Goldstein, J.Caldwell, Z.Merrett – C

I/C (FROM): S.Draper, W.Setterfield, N.Cox, N.Hind, D.Heppell, N.Caddy, J.Menzie

IN: M.Redman, X.Duursma, S.Draper, N.Caddy

OUT: E.Tsatas (Omitted)

EAGLES

B: B.Hough, T.Barrass, A.Witherden

HB: T.Cole, J.McGovern, L.Duggan – C

C: J.Jones, E.Yeo, J.Hunt

HF: J.Cripps, J.Waterman, L.Ryan

F: R.Maric, O.Allen, J.Darling

FOLL: M.Flynn, R.Ginbey, J.Petruccelle

I/C (FROM): A.Gaff, T.Brockman, C.Chesser, B.Williams, J.Rotham, J.Hutchinson, J.Culley

IN: J.Hunt, O.Allen, T.Brockman, J.Rotham

OUT: D.Sheed (Injured)

FREMANTLE v GOLD COAST SUNS

Sunday June 23, 4pm at Optus Stadium

DOCKERS

B: H.Chapman, A.Pearce – C, H.Davies

HB: B.Walker, L.Ryan, J.Clark

C: J.Sharp, N.Fyfe, M.Johnson

HF: B.Banfield, S.Switkowski, M.Frederick

F: J.Treacy, J.Amiss, L.Jackson

FOLL: S.Darcy, C.Serong, A.Brayshaw

I/C (FROM): S.Sturt, J.O’Meara, J.Aish, T.Emmett, K.Worner, H.Young, C.Wagner

IN: H.Chapman, H.Davies, T.Emmett, N.Erasmus, C.Wagner

OUT: J.Draper (Omitted), M.Walters (Injured)

SUNS

B: S.Collins, M.Andrew, W.Powell

HB: S.Flanders, B.Uwland, J.Jeffrey

C: B.Ainsworth, T.Miller, S.Clohesy

HF: T.Berry, J.Rogers, B.Humphrey

F: B.Long, S.Day, J.Lukosius

FOLL: J.Witts – C, N.Anderson, M.Rowell

I/C (FROM): D.Swallow, W.Graham, A.Sexton, C.Ballard, B.Ellis, A.Davies, H.Oea

IN: W.Powell, J.Rogers, S.Day, J.Witts, B.Ellis, L.Johnston, A.Davies, H.Oea

OUT: B.Fiorini (Omitted), B.King (Injured), N.Holman (Omitted), J.Walter (Omitted), N.Moyle (Omitted)

Bye week: Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Richmond, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs

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