19 hours Ago By Shayne Hope
Port Adelaide vice-captain Zak Butters is poised to return from a knee injury ahead of time and Geelong have been bolstered by the inclusion of Tom Stewart for their clash with Melbourne. Five-time All-Australian Stewart missed one week with a knee injury and has been given the green light for the Cats' Friday night assignment, while the winless Demons have made four changes. Kysaiah Pickett headlines the inclusions for Simon Goodwin's side after serving his three-match rough conduct ban, with Daniel Turner, Caleb Windsor and Charlie Spargo also back in action.
The Demons axed Blake Howes, Aidan Johnson and Jack Billings, while Xavier Lindsay (knee) is out injured. Shaun Mannagh will play his first game of the season for the Cats, with Jhye Clark (omitted) and Mitch Knevitt (managed) out. Butters has been named in an extended squad for the Power's clash with St Kilda on Sunday after pre-season knee surgery kept him out of the opening three rounds.
Young forward Ollie Lord (shoulder) is also back for Port while the Saints, who have won their last two matches, named captain Jack Steele to return after a knee injury sidelined him in round three. Gold Coast's Ben Ainsworth is back from a quad injury in place of Nick Holman for their bumper home clash with fellow unbeaten side Adelaide on Saturday. The Crows picked Luke Nankervis and Lachlan Murphy to replace Josh Rachele (ribs) and Matt Crouch (managed).
Brisbane Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney is back from illness in place of Darcy Fort for the reigning premiers' first game at the MCG since last season's grand final, when they take on Richmond on Saturday. The Tigers named Sam Banks as the replacement for suspended forward Rhyan Mansell, who was given a three-match ban for rough conduct. Key position prospect Matt Whitlock will debut for North Melbourne against Sydney on Saturday, after being taken with pick No.
27 at last year's draft. Kangaroos defender Griffin Logue is back from a hamstring injury to face the Swans, who have lost Tom Papley (heel) and recalled youngster Caiden Cleary for his first game since serving a ban for drug possession. Tom Gross, Sandy Brock and Hamish Davis will debut for winless West Coast in their difficult assignment away to GWS on Sunday.
The Giants named Jake Riccardi and Toby McMullin in an extended squad, with the pair available after serving bans over their behaviour at last year's end-of-season function. Gun midfielder Hayden Young (hamstring) is still sidelined for Fremantle, who have dropped James Aish for Sunday's home clash with the Western Bulldogs..
