A key Bulldog returns as injuries ravage the Magpies for Saturday night’s blockbuster, plus a surprise Sydney call with big changes across the first midseason bye round.
See the sides for Round 12 below!
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Coming off two consecutive wins to start his interim Carlton tenure, Josh Fraser made just the two changes ahead of a tough fixture with Geelong on Friday night.
He replaced the injured Matt Carroll with forgotten veteran Blake Acres, while star defender Jacob Weitering comes back into the side at the expense of Wade Derksen.
For red-hot Geelong, Tanner Bruhn comes back in after being managed, with veteran forward Jack Martin (managed) going out. Midfielder James Worpel remains on the outer.
Sydney has been hamstrung ahead of its Saturday afternoon clash with Richmond, with Callum Mills, Tom Papley and Malcom Rosas all out injured.
As a result, Dean Cox has opted to reward 2025 first-round pick Harry Kyle with a debut, while Harry Cunningham earns a reprieve alongside Hayden McLean.
Cox has also chosen to rest star ruckman Brodie Grundy against the Tigers, with Pete Ladhams finally rewarded for dazzling reserves form.
The Tigers opted to replace Jonty Faull, Tom Lynch (both injured) and Tom Burton (omitted) with Liam Fawcett, Sam Banks and Dion Prestia – the latter pair straight back in after injuries.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has decided to immediately recall Jarrod Berry and Noah Answerth after recovering from respective injuries, while Cody Curtin also returns.
Those changes come at the expense of Will McLachlan, James Tunstill and Sam Marshall, who were all dropped. So, no selection statement after last Sunday’s 78-point loss to GWS.
Zorko out for longer than expected | 01:18
Coming off 10-straight wins, Justin Longmuir’s Dockers made just one change, with skipper Alex Pearce returning at Oscar McDonald’s expense, as Hayden Young and Caleb Serong each spend at least one more week sidelined.
Luke Beveridge has made one change from the side that upset Melbourne in Round 11, with Tim English returning after clearing concussion protocols, replacing the concussed Luke Cleary.
He hasn’t played since Round 9, and his inclusion means Rory Lobb will shift back into defence after serving as the side’s number one ruckman.
Cody Weightman remains a week away, with an expectation he’ll be considered for selection against Hawthorn next Friday night should he pull up well from training across the weekend.
As for the Pies, Craig McRae has called on reinforcements after injury blows to Jamie Elliott (ACL), Darcy Moore (hamstring) and Will Hayes (shoulder), with Tim Membrey, Harvey Harrison and Angus Anderson coming into the side. Wil Parker also comes back in as Charlie West goes out (omitted).
It marks a 671-day spell in between AFL games for Harrison, who last played in Round 20, 2024.
Tom McDonald is in line to replace defender Jake Lever, who entered concussion protocols last Sunday, while Changkuoth Jiath also picked up an injury in last week’s loss to the Bulldogs.
Latrelle Pickett is also in Steven King’s squad after being managed, as is Andy Moniz-Wakefield after a starring VFL performance last weekend.
For the Giants, Jack Buckley is back on the injury list after hurting his hamstring last Sunday, while Lachie Whitfield is in line to return after he was a late exclusion last week. Jake Riccardi is also injured.
Andrew McQualter has included young hybrid Cooper Duff-Tytler in his squad for Sunday night’s bout with the Bombers, while interim Essendon coach Dean Solomon has confirmed five outs for the Bombers’ trip west, with Mason Redman also battling injury.
On Wednesday evening, the Hawks confirmed Will Day would make his long-awaited return at AFL level to face the Saints, after foot and shoulder injuries.
Day played managed minutes in the VFL last week but will play senior footy for the first time since Round 21 last year, joined by veteran star forward Jack Gunston.
ROUND 12 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)
ST KILDA v HAWTHORN
Thursday May 28, 7:30pm at Marvel Stadium
SAINTS
B: J.Silvagni, C.Wilkie, A.Caminiti
HB: A.Tauru, R.Byrnes, M.Windhager
C: L.O’Connell, M.Hall, B.Hill
HF: H.Garcia, M.Phillipou, M.Wood
F: D.Wilson, C.Sharman, C.Banfield
FOLL: T.De Koning, S.Flanders, J.Sinclair
I/C: J.Macrae, I.Keeler, J.Carroll, R.Marshall, L.Henry
EMG: T.Travaglia, L.Stocker, A.Hastie
IN: I.Keeler, A.Tauru
OUT: D.Howard (injured), L.Stocker (managed)
HAWKS
B: J.Impey, J.Battle, J.Sicily
HB: B.Macdonald, B.Hardwick, K.Amon
C: J.Weddle, C.Mackenzie, M.D’Ambrosio
HF: J.Gunston, M.Chol, D.Moore
F: N.Watson, M.Lewis, C.Macdonald
FOLL: N.Reeves, J.Newcombe, W.Day
I/C: J.Ginnivan, L.Meek, J.Ward, C.Nairn, C.Nash
EMG: A.Schubert, J.Dalton, F.Perez
IN: J.Gunston, W.Day
OUT: B.Ryan, F.Maginness (both omitted)
CARLTON v GEELONG
Friday May 29, 7:40pm at the MCG
BLUES
B: B.Wilson, J.Weitering, N.Haynes
HB: O.Florent, H.Dean, L.Cowan
C: A.Cerra, S.Walsh, B.Acres
HF: B.Ainsworth, M.McGovern, W.Hayward
F: T.Byrne, H.McKay, F.Young
FOLL: M.Pittonet, J.Smith, P.Cripps – C
I/C: N.Newman, G.Hewett, B.Kemp, F.Evans, J.Ison
EMG: W.Derksen, Z.Williams, H.O’Keeffe
In: – J.Weitering, B.Acres
Out: – W.Derksen (Omitted), M.Carroll (Injured)
CATS
B: C.O’Sullivan, T.Stewart, S.De Koning
HB: M.O’Connor, Z.Guthrie, J.Henry
C: M.Blicavs, B.Smith, L.Humphries
HF: J.Cameron, S.Mannagh, O.Dempsey
F: O.Henry, S.Neale, P.Dangerfield – C
FOLL: M.Edwards, M.Holmes, O.Mullin
I/C: J.Kolodjashnij, T.Atkins, G.Miers, B.Close, T.Bruhn
EMG: R.Stanley, J.Bowes, O.Wiltshire
In: – T.Bruhn
Out: – J.Martin (Managed)
SYDNEY SWANS v RICHMOND
Saturday May 30, 1:15pm at the SCG
SWANS
B: L.Melican, T.McCartin, W.Edwards
HB: H.Kyle, N.Blakey, R.Bice
C: J.Serong, J.Rowbottom, J.Jordon
HF: J.Lloyd, Ch.Warner, H.Cunningham
F: J.Amartey, C.Curnow, L.McDonald
FOLL: P.Ladhams, I.Heeney – C, J.McInerney
I/C: S.Wicks, A.Sheldrick, C.Cleary, T.Hanily, H.McLean
EMG: J.Hamling, J.Dattoli, Co.Warner
In: – H.Kyle, H.Cunningham, P.Ladhams, H.McLean
Out: – C.Mills (Injured), M.Rosas (Injured), T.Papley (Injured), B.Grundy (Managed)
TIGERS
B: N.Broad, B.Miller, L.Trainor
HB: N.Vlastuin, J.Short, S.Grlj
C: P.Retschko, T.Taranto – C, S.Banks
HF: N.Roberts-Thomson, S.Campbell, S.Green
F: L.Fawcett, M.Lefau, J.Alger
FOLL: N.Balta, J.Ross, S.Cumming
I/C: O.Hayes-Brown, D.Prestia, J.Trezise, T.Sonsie, J.Hopper
EMG: S.Ryan, H.Ralphsmith, T.Burton
In: – S.Banks, L.Fawcett, D.Prestia
Out: – J.Faull (Injured), T.Lynch (Injured), T.Burton (Omitted)
BRISBANE LIONS v FREMANTLE
Saturday May 30, 4:15pm at the Gabba
LIONS
B: K.Coleman, H.Andrews – C, D.Gardiner
HB: D.Wilmot, T.Gallop, B.Reville
C: J.Berry, H.McCluggage, Z.Bailey
HF: C.Cameron, L.Morris, L.Ashcroft
F: S.Draper, C.Rayner, K.Lohmann
FOLL: D.Fort, J.Dunkley, L.Neale
I/C: J.Fletcher, W.Ashcroft, C.McKenna, C.Curtin, N.Answerth
EMG: J.Tunstill, S.Brain, D.Joyce
In: – J.Berry, C.Curtin, N.Answerth
Out: – J.Tunstill (Omitted), S.Marshall (Omitted), W.McLachlan (Omitted)
DOCKERS
B: B.Cox, A.Pearce – C, H.Chapman
HB: J.Clark, L.Ryan, J.McVee
C: M.Frederick, A.Brayshaw, N.O’Driscoll
HF: M.Reid, I.Dudley, S.Switkowski
F: P.Voss, J.Amiss, J.Treacy
FOLL: L.Jackson, S.Bolton, M.Johnson
I/C: K.Worner, C.Wagner, N.Erasmus, C.Scerri, M.Cox
EMG: J.O’Meara, J.Sharp, O.McDonald
In: – A.Pearce
Out: – O.McDonald (Omitted)
WESTERN BULLDOGS v COLLINGWOOD
Saturday May 30, 7:35pm at Marvel Stadium
BULLDOGS
B: N.Coffield, B.Khamis, M.Sellwood
HB: C.Budarick, J.O’Donnell, B.Dale
C: J.Freijah, M.Bontempelli – C, L.Jaques
HF: R.Sanders, J.Croft, A.Jones
F: W.Lewis, A.Naughton, R.West
FOLL: R.Lobb, M.Kennedy, E.Richards
I/C: T.English, A.Treloar, L.Bramble, L.McNeil, C.Hynes
EMG: C.May, L.Carmichael, O.Baker
In: – T.English
Out: – L.Cleary (Injured)
MAGPIES
B: B.Maynard – C, J.Howe, B.Frampton
HB: W.Parker, J.Daicos, I.Quaynor
C: P.Lipinski, S.Sidebottom, E.Allan
HF: L.Schultz, H.Harrison, B.McCreery
F: D.McStay, T.Membrey, J.De Goey
FOLL: D.Cameron, S.Pendlebury, N.Daicos
I/C: D.Houston, J.Crisp, A.Anderson, N.Long, R.Steele
EMG: C.West, S.Swadling, J.Buller
In: – W.Parker, H.Harrison, T.Membrey, A.Anderson
Out: – D.Moore (Injured), J.Elliott (Injured), C.West (Omitted), W.Hayes (Injured)
MELBOURNE v GWS GIANTS
Sunday May 31, 3:15pm at TIO Traeger Park
DEMONS
B: J.Bowey, D.Turner, K.Tholstrup
HB: B.Howes, H.Petty, T.Rivers
C: T.Sparrow, H.Langford, H.Sharp
HF: K.Pickett, E.Langdon, B.Laurie
F: K.Chandler, J.van Rooyen, B.Fritsch
FOLL: M.Gawn – C, J.Steele, C.Windsor
I/C: M.Jefferson, T.McDonald, M.Heath, B.Mihocek, L.Pickett, P.Cross, J.Henderson, A.Moniz-Wakefield
In: – T.McDonald, B.Mihocek, L.Pickett, J.Henderson, A.Moniz-Wakefield
Out: – J.Lever (Injured), C.Jiath (Injured)
GIANTS
B: J.Laverde, S.Taylor, C.Idun
HB: J.Fonti, L.Whitfield, L.Ash
C: C.Stone, C.Oliver, H.Thomas
HF: T.Greene – C, P.Gothard, T.Bedford
F: J.Stringer, A.Cadman, M.Gruzewski
FOLL: K.Briggs, B.Daniels, F.Callaghan
I/C: H.Himmelberg, S.Coniglio, T.McMullin, C.Brown, L.Aleer, H.Oliver, H.Rowston, J.Delana
In: – S.Taylor, L.Whitfield, L.Aleer, H.Rowston, J.Delana
Out: – J.Buckley (Injured), J.Riccardi (Injured)
WEST COAST EAGLES v ESSENDON
Sunday May 31, 7:20pm at Optus Stadium
EAGLES
B: L.Duggan – C, R.Ginbey, B.Hough
HB: T.McCarthy, T.Young, L.Baker
C: H.Davis, E.Yeo, B.Allan
HF: W.Duursma, J.Shanahan, H.Johnston
F: M.Champion, J.Waterman, M.Murdock
FOLL: B.Williams, H.Reid, T.Kelly
I/C: J.Lindsay, C.Duff-Tytler, R.Maric, T.Gross, T.Cole, C.Hall, R.Bazzo, J.Williams
In: – C.Duff-Tytler, T.Gross, C.Hall
Out: –
BOMBERS
B: M.Kondogiannis, Z.Reid, J.Prior
HB: A.Roberts, B.McKay, J.Farrow
C: X.Duursma, D.Parish, A.Day-Wicks
HF: N.Cox, N.Caddy, S.Robey
F: A.May, K.Langford – C, N.Bryan
FOLL: L.Blakiston, Z.Merrett, A.Perkins
I/C: E.Tsatas, J.Gresham, W.Setterfield, H.Jones, H.El Achkar, S.El-Hawli, J.Nguyen, T.Edwards
In: – M.Kondogiannis, N.Cox, E.Tsatas, W.Setterfield, H.Jones, H.El Achkar, S.El-Hawli, J.Nguyen
Out: – A.McGrath (Injured), M.Redman (Injured), S.Durham (Injured), J.Caldwell (Injured), M.Guelfi (Injured)
BYE: Adelaide Crows, Gold Coast Suns, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide