Port Adelaide has made one change to its team to face Geelong at Adelaide Oval tonight, with versatile Sam Colquhoun returning after nearly two years out of AFL ranks.
Colquhoun, who last played in the AFL in the 2013 finals series (coincidentally against the Cats), replaces Karl Amon, who has a calf injury. The midfielder, who has also played back and forward in the SANFL, has returned strongly after recovering from a long-term knee injury.
Geelong also made just one change for the first game of the bye rounds, with ruckman Rhys Stanley coming back from a quad injury at the expense of Michael Luxford.
Essendon will take on West Coast without a recognised ruckman after James Hird dropped Tom Bellchambers ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Hird reacted to last week’s thrashing at the hands of Geelong by axing the out-of-form Bellchambers along with Courtenay Dempsey.
The Bombers’ faltering season hit a new low with the 69-point mauling by the Cats, but there is some good news with skipper Jobe Watson returning from a groin injury for the trip to Perth.
Former Giant Shaun Edwards has also earned a call-up as the Dons try to avoid losing three games on the trot.
The Eagles have a big inclusion of their own with forgotten forward Jack Darling in for his first game since round 23 last year.
Darling has battled a foot injury this season but he returns to the line-up along with ex-Hawk Xavier Ellis.
Fraser McInnes and Jackson Nelson were omitted.
North Melbourne and Sydney do battle at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night in their first meeting since last year’s preliminary final, won handsomely by the Swans.
Neither team made a change to line-ups that recorded wins last week.
Cellar dwellers Gold Coast have recalled Charlie Dixon for their clash against ladder leaders Fremantle.
Dixon has served a one-match ban for breaking team rules and drinking alcohol the night before their round-nine loss to Hawthorn.
The tall forward returns along with former Swan Nick Malceski and Jack Leslie, while key back Steven May (groin), Greg Broughton (Achilles) and Keegan Brooksby (calf) depart the side beaten by Sydney last week.
Paul Duffield and Zac Clarke have felt the wrath of Ross Lyon after Richmond ended the Dockers’ unbeaten run last week.
The pair were dropped, while Michael Johnson (hamstring) and Chris Mayne (illness) couldn’t be considered.
Lee Spurr, Alex Pearce, Tendai Mzungu and Jack Hannath come into the side for Saturday’s encounter at Metricon Stadium.
Collingwood have added Taylor Adams, Jarrod Witts and Brayden Maynard to an extended squad for the early game on Sunday against GWS at the MCG.
The Giants have included Nick Haynes, Zac Williams and Andrew Phillips.
The return of Sam Gilbert is the good news story for St Kilda ahead of their twilight clash with Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The veteran defender hasn’t played since round 22 last season thanks to a chronic foot problem but he is one of six inclusions in the Saints’ 25-man squad.
Dom Tyson and former skipper Jack Grimes head a group of seven additions to the Demons’ squad, as both sides look to get back on the winners’ list.
Round 11 form guide
FRIDAY, June 12
Port Adelaide v Geelong at Adelaide Oval 7.50pm
Head to Head: Power 9 Cats 18 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 6 2014 – Power 16.11 (107) bt Cats 9.13 (67) at Adelaide Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Power $1.48 Cats $2.65
William Hill: Power $1.48 Cats $2.65
Port coach Ken Hinkley termed this a “pretty significant game” and it’s hard to argue with. Both sides have 5-5 records and sit within striking distance of the top eight. The Power are coming off comfortable wins over Melbourne and Western Bulldogs, while Geelong’s 69-point thumping of Essendon was their most clinical performance of the season.
Key: Geelong are yet to register a win outside Victoria in 2015, having been outclassed by Sydney and West Coast. They’re also short of experience at Adelaide Oval, having lost their only match at the redeveloped stadium. Can the Cats play their best football at the Portress?
Tip: Power by 2 points
SATURDAY, June 13
Gold Coast v Fremantle at Metricon Stadium 1.40pm
Head to Head: Suns 0 Dockers 4
Last clash: Round 2 2014 – Dockers 12.15 (87) bt Suns 5.9 (39) at Domain Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Suns $9.00 Dockers $1.06
William Hill: Suns $9.50 Dockers $1.05
Gold Coast’s season of woe is going to get worse before it gets better. The Dockers suffered their first defeat of the season in round 10 and will be desperate to atone. Suns skipper Gary Ablett remains sidelined, but Charlie Dixon will be seeking absolution in his comeback game after a club-imposed suspension for drinking.
Key: Nat Fyfe. The 23-year-old’s bandwagon is at full capacity and for good reason. Already in the box seat for a Brownlow medal, Fyfe put forward strong nominations for the mark and goal of the year in a dominant showing against Richmond. If the Suns don’t curb his influence, they won’t win.
Tip: Dockers by 62 points
West Coast v Essendon at Domain Stadium 4.35pm
Head to Head: Eagles 21 Bombers 27
Last clash: Round 21 2014 – Bombers 11.11 (77) bt Eagles 11.8 (74) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Eagles $1.19 Bombers $4.75
William Hill: Eagles $1.18 Bombers $4.80
West Coast suffered a 10-point loss to North Melbourne in round 10, but can shore up their place in the top four with a win over Essendon. The Bombers have been inconsistent this season, with their inability to kick a goal in the first half of last Saturday’s loss to Geelong a clear low point.
Key: Josh Kennedy’s stellar season has made the Eagles the second most potent side this season, only Hawthorn have kicked more goals. Their forward line will get even better this weekend when Jack Darling returns from injury). Can Essendon’s defence stop them both?
Tip: Eagles by 26 points
North Melbourne v Sydney at Etihad Stadium 7.20pm
Head to Head: Kangaroos 72 Swans 82 drawn 1
Last clash: Finals Week 3 2014 – Swans 19.22 (136) bt Kangaroos 9.11 (65) at ANZ Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Kangaroos $2.75 Swans $1.45
William Hill: Kangaroos $2.75 Swans $1.45
As Jack Ziebell put it eloquently on Wednesday, North Melbourne had their pants pulled down by Sydney in last year’s preliminary final. The Kangaroos have been hot and cold since then and at 5-5 have a lot of work to do to climb back into the top four before September. The Swans have lost only twice this year and look a genuine premiership contender yet again.
Key: Scott Thompson was the only defender to keep Lance Franklin goal-less in 2014, when he piloted the Kangaroos to an upset win at the SCG. Thompson couldn’t repeat the dose in the preliminary final, when Franklin kicked five goals. It will be an enthralling battle that will go a long way to deciding the game.
Tip: Swans by 16 points
SUNDAY, June 14
Collingwood v Greater Western Sydney at MCG 1.10pm
Head to Head: Magpies 3 Giants 0
Last clash: Round 22 2014 – Magpies 11.9 (75) bt Giants 9.13 (67) at Spotless Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Magpies $1.60 Giants $2.35
William Hill: Magpies $1.62 Giants $2.30
Both sides boast 7-3 records and will be keen to flaunt their top-four credentials in this crunch clash. The Magpies’ seven wins have come against the teams currently filling the bottom seven spots on the ladder, but they go into this clash as favourites after dismissing Melbourne by 25 points on Queen’s Birthday.
Key: Shane Mumford is one of the form ruckmen in the competition and his 105kg frame will test Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts). Will the Magpies look to use a third man up at the ruck contests more often? Will Scott Pendlebury and his fellow on-ballers win enough of the contested ball to get Collingwood over the line?
Tip: Giants by 9 points
St Kilda v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium 4.40pm
Head to Head: Saints 87 Demons 118 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 1 2014 – Saints 10.8 (68) bt Demons 6.15 (51) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Saints $1.80 Demons $2.00
William Hill: Saints $1.80 Demons $2.00
Both teams have managed three wins this season and victory here will go a long way to avoiding the wooden spoon. The Saints have looked far more competitive this year compared to 2014 and some of their best football, including a stellar comeback win over Western Bulldogs, has come at Etihad Stadium. In contrast, the Demons have lost their past 20 games at the venue.
Key: Tom McDonald has been one of the Demons’ best this year, however he was unable to stop Travis Cloke’s match-winning bag last Monday. Paul Roos confirmed McDonald will be given the job on Nick Riewoldt this weekend. With fellow Demons defender Colin Garland out due to a hand injury, McDonald will need to be at his best.
Tip: Saints by 14 points
– with AAP
