AFL Teams Round 1: Chopping Block - Collingwood to make changes

Kieran Francis

AFL Teams Round 1: Chopping Block - Collingwood to make changes image

Collingwood will welcome back a star defender, while several players will be nervous at selection time.

The Magpies host Sydney at the MCG with Jeremy Howe returning, while the likes of Mason Cox and Ash Johnson could find their positions in jeopardy.

Ten sides will announce their first teams of the season after missing out on playing in the Opening Round.

The Sporting News has all the latest AFL team selection news.

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Carlton vs. Richmond teams

Don't expect too many changes at the Blues after a famous win against Brisbane last week.

Sam Docherty will definitely come out after tearing his ACL, but his substitute replacement Jack Carroll was mighty impressive and will likely come in to the starting team.

Jesse Motlop is likely to be fit for the game, but Carlton might give him another week off after their attack functioned solidly.

Richmond will be boosted by the return of Dustin Martin, Toby Nankervis and Rhyan Mansell from injury.

That positions the Tigers with a healthy list as only Jack Graham is missing from their best team.

Samson Ryan will almost certainly be omitted for Nankervis, while Thomson Dow and Maurice Rioli also face the axe after struggling against the Suns.

Collingwood vs. Sydney teams

Collingwood's fragile-looking defence will welcome the return of Jeremy Howe from a calf injury.

Debutant Charlie Dean is the most likely to come out of them.

Billy Frampton and Finlay Macrae were emergencies last week and could be options to come into the side.

The likes of Ash Johnson, Mason Cox and John Noble will be looking over their shoulders come selection time.

Unlikely to be too many changes to a winning team at the Swans.

Angus Sheldrick was an emergency last week and was stiff to miss out.

Peter Ladhams had a decent pre-season and could be a replacement for Joel Amartey, who struggled to impact against the Demons.

Essendon vs. Hawthorn teams

Essendon will be without stars Darcy Parish (hamstring) and Jordan Ridley (quad), while Dylan Shiel and Sam Draper are likely to build fitness away from the senior team.

Expect to see all of the Bombers' trade signings, including Ben McKay, Jade Gresham, Todd Goldstein and Xavier Duursma.

Hawthorn have been cruelled by injury, particularly in defence, and are likely to be fielding several depth players.

Guaranteed starters James Blanck (ACL), Will Day (foot), Changkuoth Jiath (hamstring), Denver Grainger-Barras (toe) and Chad Wingard (Achilles) are all ruled out.

Dylan Moore is expected to be available after recovering from glandular fever.

GWS vs. North Melbourne teams

Callan Ward (shoulder) is the only guaranteed out for GWS, who will welcome back Finn Callaghan and Harry Perryman from injury.

Debutant Harvey Thomas could be the unlucky player to come out, while Jake Riccardi will want to perform better after only getting four disposals against the Magpies.

It has been confirmed that top five draft picks Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma will make their debuts for North Melbourne.

While there will be most likely a swag of mature-age players playing their first game for North Melbourne, including Zac Fisher, Dylan Stephens and Toby Pink.

Captain Jy Simpkin will be absent after the concussion suffered from Jimmy Webster's hit in pre-season.

Geelong vs. St Kilda teams

A healthy list for Geelong sees only Cam Guthrie (quad) officially ruled out, while Gary Rohan (hamstring) will face a fitness test.

Jhye Clark is framing to make his debut, while mature-age recruit Shaun Mannagh will also be in the mix to play his first AFL game.

St Kilda has confirmed draftee Darcy Wilson will make his debut, while trade recruits Liam Henry and Riley Bonner will play their first games for the club.

The Saints have a number of players under an injury cloud including Jack Sinclair and Marcus Windhager.

The likes of Dougal Howard (hamstring), Dan Butler (ankle), Hunter Clark (calf), Paddy Dow (knee) and Jimmy Webster (suspension) won't make the trip down to the Cattery.

Gold Coast vs. Adelaide teams

After a huge performance against Richmond and no injuries out of the game, expect an unchanged team from Gold Coast.

Adelaide will be without promising key forward Riley Thilthorpe (knee), with former Sun Chris Burgess a chance to come in for his Crows debut.

Mark Keane (concussion) will face a fitness test, while top draftee Daniel Curtin is considered unlikely to make his debut.

Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs teams

Melbourne will welcome back Harrison Petty and Kysaiah Pickett into a forward line that looked limp against Sydney.

Jake Bowey's broken collarbone will keep him out for a number of weeks

Key position players Tom McDonald and Tom Fullarton were both emergencies last week and could come in for Josh Schache.

The Western Bulldogs team should have four new faces, with top draftee Ryley Sanders, Nick Coffield, James Harmes and Lachie Bramble impressing in pre-season.

There are rumours that Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel will start the season in the VFL.

Port Adelaide vs. West Coast teams

It looks like a full strength team for Port Adelaide, with defender recruits Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher both expected to debut.

Zak Butters is expected to be available despite suffering an ankle issue in pre-season.

West Coast will debut no.1 draft pick Harley Reid, but have several injury concerns.

Dom Sheed, Matthew Flynn, Liam Ryan and Elijah Hewett have all been ruled out.

Fremantle vs. Brisbane teams

Sean Darcy's knee injury will see Luke Jackson ruck solo for Fremantle, in a blow for the team's flexibility.

It will be a new-look midfield for the Dockers, with Hayden Young becoming a permanent fixture and Nat Fyfe returning to the engine room.

Brisbane will likely include Conor McKenna in a straight-swap for ACL-stricken Keidean Coleman, with the Irishman returning from injury.

Expect Chris Fagan to stick fat with his players, despite their disappointing home loss against Carlton.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.