AFL Teams Round 7: Chopping Block - Melbourne key forwards under pressure

Kieran Francis

AFL Teams Round 7: Chopping Block - Melbourne key forwards under pressure image

Melbourne face tough decisions with their tall forward setup for Wednesday night's ANZAC eve clash against Richmond.

Both Ben Brown and Harrison Petty will come under the selection microscope after being unsighted in the Demons' last match versus Brisbane.

GWS could lose three important forward line players ahead of their huge match with the Lions in Canberra. 

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

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Richmond vs. Melbourne teams

Both teams had the bye in both the AFL and VFL last weekend making unforced changes hard to predict.

Melbourne has locked in Clayton Oliver to play despite having surgery on a finger during the bye, while Kosi Pickett will return from suspension.

In their last match, a comprehensive defeat to Brisbane, both Ben Brown and Harrison Petty had no impact up forward on the match and one could be dropped.

First-game Koltyn Tholstrup is the most likely to make way for Pickett in a like-for-like swap, while Josh Schache or Tom Fullarton could be a key forward option.

After a heavy loss to struggling West Coast in their last match, expect Richmond to make plenty of changes.

The Tigers should welcome back Dylan Grimes (wrist) and Jacob Hopper (knee).

Several players were disappointing against the Eagles including Kamdyn McIntosh (six disposals), Jacob Koschitzke (seven disposals, no score) and Maurice Rioli (one tackle).

Essendon vs. Collingwood teams

It's hard to see the Bombers making too many changes after a big win over Adelaide last weekend.

Peter Wright's suspension is over and will likely come back but who will come out?

Harrison Jones would be unlucky with his good form in recent weeks, while the tandem ruck duo of Todd Goldstein and Sam Draper has been working well.

Dylan Shiel is building form in the VFL and will likely get a senior opportunity soon - just not this week.

Collingwood is unlikely to be busy at selection after an excellent win against Port Adelaide.

There is a possibility that sub Reef McInnes could be switched for Ash Johnson to provide a different forward mix, but no change is more likely.

GWS vs. Brisbane teams

The Giants will lose both Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene unless they are successful at overturning their one-match bans at the AFL Tribunal.

Brent Daniels (knee) is also in doubt after picking up a knee injury against Carlton.

Four goals in the VFL should see Toby McMullin replace Greene, while Conor Stone (three goals) and key forward Max Gruzewski are the options for Hogan.

Where to for Brisbane after their third consecutive loss at the Gabba against Geelong?

Darcy Fort will be a straight swap for the concussed Oscar McInerney, while Conor McKenna got through a full match in the VFL.

Jaxon Prior (26 disposals) is the player pushing hardest for selection from the VFL.

If Chris Fagan decides it's time to swing the axe then Jarryd Lyons or Callum Ah Chee could find themselves in trouble.

Port Adelaide vs. St Kilda teams

Jason Horne-Francis' fitness will shape Port Adelaide's selection with the midfielder coming off in the last quarter against Collingwood with a hamstring injury.

Travis Boak (back) and Charlie Dixon (managed) should both return to the team, with Jed McEntee and Jordon Sweet the likely omissions.

It will be interesting to see how Ross Lyon reacts to the Saints' thrashing at the hands of the Bulldogs.

Max King (knee) should return, while Dan Butler (hamstring) definitely comes out.

Paddy Dow (knee), Mason Wood (collarbone) and Hunter Clark (calf) played in a VFL practice match on the weekend but could spend another week in the twos building fitness.

If Lyon uses selection to make a statement Zak Jones and Cooper Sharman will likely be first gone, while Dougal Howard come in for Zaine Cordy.

North Melbourne vs. Adelaide teams

Anything could happen at North Melbourne selection after a hugely disappointing loss to Hawthorn.

So many players are out of form including Cam Zurhaar, Zane Duursma and Blake Drury, while Tyler Sellers has only managed three disposals in the first two AFL games of his career.

Eddie Ford was subbed out with a hip injury on the weekend and might need replacing.

You can bank on George Wardlaw returning to the team after being managed last week.

It will be interesting to see whether Adelaide drop Josh Rachele after his poor efforts against Essendon.

The axe could fall on the likes of Brayden Cook, Lachlan Gollant and Luke Nankervis, with Matt Crouch returning from suspension and Elliott Himmelberg a chance to be promoted from the emergency list.

Geelong vs. Carlton teams

Geelong will lose Tom Stewart (concussion) in a huge blow to their capacity to deal with Carlton's powerful forward line.

Connor O'Sullivan should get a crack at his second AFL game as Stewart's replacement, while Gary Rohan kicked three goals in the VFL.

Cam Guthrie (quad) is edging to his first match of the season, but that should be in the VFL building fitness.

Carlton will put Zac Williams (Achilles) through his paces before selection, with Alex Cincotta or Jaxon Binns on standby to come in.

Orazio Fantasia is struggling to impact matches this season and could see his spot taken by Ashton Moir.

Fremantle vs. Western Bulldogs teams

A shock upset loss against derby rivals West Coast should see Justin Longmuir busy at Dockers selection.

Matt Taberner (managed) should be a straight-swap for the concussed Jye Amiss, which Michael Frederick and Sam Switkowski are likely to return from minor injuries.

Hayden Young (hamstring) sat out most of the last quarter against the Eagles, while Neil Erasmus was quiet once again during a senior opportunity.

Everything clicked for the Bulldogs against the Saints last week, with widespread changes unlikely.

If Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal) returns then his replacement Rory Lobb will likely come out despite performing well.

Tom Liberatore (concussion) should be available after a week off with James Harmes or Riley Garcia likely to be unlucky omission.

Caleb Daniel has spent the last two games in the VFL and is available if Luke Beveridge chooses.

Gold Coast vs. West Coast teams

Gold Coast Academy pair Ethan Read and Jake Rogers looked short of AFL standard against Sydney and are candidates to return the VFL to build their promising careers.

Ben Long has kicked eight goals in the past two VFL matches, while Rory Atkins and Joel Jeffrey are also banging down the selection door.

West Coast should keep a relatively unchanged team after two consecutive wins, but Tom Barrass has been suspended for one match.

Josh Rotham appears to be the like-for-like replacement for Barrass, while Zane Trew has been their best WAFL player in recent weeks.

Hawthorn vs. Sydney teams

Key forward Mitch Lewis and gun midfielder Will Day could both be available if they pass fitness tests.

Father-son pick Calsher Dear kicked four goals in the VFL and looks ready for his AFL debut.

It will be difficult for Sam Mitchell to find omissions after a good win against North Melbourne.

Expect an unchanged team from Sydney after a big win against the Suns.

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.