- Swans drop three for clash with Cats, who bring in Mitch Clark
- Four Tigers axed, including big men Ivan Maric and Ty Vickery
- Giants lose three players to injury, but Devon Smith returns
GEELONG forward Mitch Clark has been named for Friday night's heavyweight clash against the Sydney Swans in a triumphant return from an injury battle that threatened to end his career.
The luckless forward, who has fought a recurring calf injury as well as a public mental health battle, makes his return after a strong four-week block in the VFL.
The tall forward will be joined in the crunch game by Darcy Lang and Nakia Cockatoo, with the Cats dropping Rhys Stanley, Shane Kersten and Cory Gregson.
The Swans have made three surprise changes with young star Isaac Heeney managed and Jeremy Laidler and Ben McGlynn dropped.
Ruckman Toby Nankervis has been replaced by counterpart Sam Naismith, with Ted Richards, Aliir Aliir and Tom Papley all recalled for the crucial clash that could decide top spot if Hawthorn slips up against Port Adelaide.
Richmond has turned to the future after conceding its finals chances are over, dropping tall forward Ty Vickery and ruckman Ivan Maric for Saturday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
The Tigers have also selected tall forward Liam McBean for the first time this season and just the third time in four years.
Maric has been replaced by Shaun Hampson, with Oleg Markov named to make his debut and Jason Castagna and Daniel Rioli recalled.
Shaun Grigg will miss with a knee injury, while Kane Lambert and Nathan Broad have been dropped.
The Bulldogs have stuck by midfielder Lin Jong after news emerged this week that he had met with Collingwood officials.
Jong toured the Magpies' facilities after hours last week, but his flirtation with the rival club didn't discourage the Bulldogs from selecting him.
The Bulldogs dropped ruckman Will Minson and lost defender Marcus Adams (foot), recalling midfielder tough midfielder Koby Stevens and defender Fletcher Roberts.
Greater Western Sydney has suffered another injury blow, with midfielder Ryan Griffen ruled out of Saturday's clash against Collingwood with a hamstring injury.
The Giants will also be without Nathan Wilson (groin) and Matt Buntine (hamstring), while Matt Kennedy has been omitted.
Devon Smith will play his first senior game since round five after recovering from a knee injury, with Adam Kennedy, Adam Tomlinson and Jack Steele recalled.
The Magpies have made five changes, with midfielder Levi Greenwood and ruckman Mason Cox managed out of the team.
Tyson Goldsack, Marley Williams and Tom Phillips have been dropped in a ruthless week at selection.
Coming into the team are Taylor Adams, Jesse White, Brent Macaffer, Alex Fasolo, and Jonathon Marsh.
The Brisbane Lions will unveil rookie half-back Reuben William, who was born in South Sudan, in Saturday's QClash.
The Lions regain star midfielder Dayne Zorko after one match sidelined because of personal reasons, with Josh Walker and Ben Keays dropped.
Gold Coast has made one forced change, with half-forward Jarrod Garlett replacing injured wingman Matt Rosa (hamstring).
Melbourne defender Jack Grimes has been selected for his first senior game this season, named as one of two inclusions for Saturday night's clash against Fremantle in Darwin.
The former co-captain, who has been named as an emergency 11 times this season, will be joined by rookie Mitch White, who is also playing his first game this season.
Defender Tom Bugg and forward Chris Dawes have been dropped.
Fremantle has made three changes, with midfielder Michael Barlow sidelined with a finger injury and ruckmen Jack Hannath and Zac Clark dropped.
Big man Jon Griffin has been named, with defender Garrick Ibbotson and midfielder Ed Langdon both back in the team for the first time since round 10.
Carlton and Adelaide have made one forced change each at this stage for Sunday's clash at the MCG, with Blue Ciaran Byrne (knee) and Crow Luke Brown (groin) injured.
Coming into the extended squad for Carlton are Dennis Armfield, Jason Tutt, Dylan Buckley and Nick Graham.
The Crows have named important defender Paul Seedsman after two weeks sidelined with a hamstring injury, as well as Ricky Henderson, Jake Kelly and Wayne Milera.
Essendon has been forced to make at least five changes for Sunday's clash against St Kilda after losing ruckman Mark Jamar and key midfielder David Zaharakis to suspension earlier this week.
Ruckman Mathew Leuenberger is also unavailable with a knee injury, opening the door for mature-age recruit and former Lion Sam Michael to play his first game for the club. Fellow tall Shaun McKernan will lead the ruck division with Michael named at centre-half back.
Mathew Stokes (groin) and Jason Ashby (omitted) also make way, with exciting youngster Aaron Francis and Irishman Conor McKenna both named in the 25-man squad.
James Polkinghorne, Patrick Ambrose, Jayden Laverde and Kyle Langford have all been named in the extended team, which will be trimmed on Friday afternoon.
West Coast and North Melbourne have not made any changes for Sunday's clash at Domain Stadium, with the Kangaroos still without Daniel Wells (calf) and Jarrad Waite (hip).
Recruit Jed Anderson, who has not played since round one, has been named in the 25-man squad for the Kangaroos, with Majak Daw and Ryan Clarke also included.
The Eagles have brought Josh Hill, Jack Redden and Liam Duggan into their extended squad.
Thursday, July 7
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm ACST
PORT ADELAIDE
No change
HAWTHORN
In: C.Rioli
Out: D.Howe (omitted)
Friday, July 8
Geelong v Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
GEELONG
In: M.Clark, D.Lang, N.Cockatoo
Out: R.Stanley, S.Kersten, C.Gregson
SYDNEY SWANS
In: T.Richards, A.Aliir, T.Papley, S.Naismith
Out: I.Heeney (managed), J.Laidler, T.Nankervis, B.McGlynn
Saturday, July 9
Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood at Spotless Stadium, 1.40pm AEST
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
In: D.Smith, A.Kennedy, A.Tomlinson, J.Steele
Out: R.Griffen (hamstring), N.Wilson (groin), M.Buntine (hamstring), M.Kennedy
COLLINGWOOD
In: J.White, B.Macaffer, A.Fasolo, T.Adams, J.Marsh
Out: T.Goldsack, L.Greenwood (managed), M.Williams, T.Phillips, M.Cox (managed)
Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
GOLD COAST
In: J.Garlett
Out: M.Rosa (hamstring)
BRISBANE LIONS
In: R.William, D.Zorko
Out: J.Walker, B.Keays
New: Reuben William (Wilston Grange/Lions Academy)
Western Bulldogs v Richmond at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: K.Stevens, F.Roberts
Out: W.Minson, M.Adams (foot)
RICHMOND
In: S.Hampson, L.McBean, O.Markov, J.Castagna, D.Rioli
Out: I.Maric, S.Grigg (knee), T.Vickery, K.Lambert, N.Broad
New: Oleg Markov (North Adelaide)
Melbourne v Fremantle at TIO Stadium, 7.10pm ACST
MELBOURNE
In: J.Grimes, M.White
Out: C.Dawes, T.Bugg
FREMANTLE
In: J.Griffin, G.Ibbotson, E.Langdon
Out: M.Barlow (finger), J.Hannath, Z.Clarke
Sunday, July 10
Carlton v Adelaide at the MCG, 1.10pm AEST
CARLTON
In: D.Armfield, J.Tutt, D.Buckley, N.Graham
Out: C.Byrne (knee)
ADELAIDE
In: R.Henderson, P.Seedsman, J.Kelly, W.Milera
Out: L.Brown (groin)
West Coast v North Melbourne at Domain Stadium, 1.20pm AWST
WEST COAST
In: J.Hill, J.Redden, L.Duggan
Out: -
NORTH MELBOURNE
In: M.Daw, J.Anderson, R.Clarke
New: Ryan Clarke (Eastern U18)
Essendon v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm AEST
ESSENDON
In: J.Polkinghorne, S.McKernan, S.Michael, P.Ambrose, J.Laverde, K.Langford, A.Francis, C.McKenna
Out: M.Jamar (suspension), M.Stokes (groin), M.Leuenberger (knee), D.Zaharakis (suspension), J.Ashby
New: Sam Michael (Brisbane Lions), Aaron Francis (West Adelaide)
ST KILDA
In: S.Dempster, N.Wright, L.Pierce, E.Templeton, D.McKenzie
Out: T.Lee, P.McCartin (concussion)
