Skipper on board for Dogs clash
INJURY-HIT Essendon has regained skipper Dyson Heppell from a nagging foot complaint for the pivotal clash with the Western Bulldogs at Docklands tomorrow.
Heppell, who has missed four of the past five matches with the issue that will require surgery after the season, comes into the side along with Josh Begley, Shaun McKernan, Ben McNiece, David Myers and Mark Baguley.
But Adam Saad (hamstring), Darcy Parish (concussion), Aaron Francis (whiplash) and Matt Guelfi (knee) all joined a lengthy injury list after last week’s loss to Port Adelaide.
Taylor Duryea and Will Hayes are the inclusions for the 10th-placed Dogs, who need to upset the seventhplaced Bombers to keep their finals chances alive.
The Bulldogs lost Tom Liberatore and Caleb Daniel to injuries sustained in last week’s loss to Brisbane.
In other selection news for Round 21, Geelong dropped veterans Lachie Henderson and Scott Selwood and lost Gary Rohan and Jordan Clark to injury for tomorrow night’s clash with North Melbourne at Kardinia Park.
Harry Taylor, Brandan Parfitt, Luke Dahlhaus and Quinton Narkle come in for Mitch Duncan’s 200th AFL game, while the Roos added Jed Anderson and Shaun Atley.
GWS kicks off the round in Canberra tonight when it hosts Hawthorn, with Adam Kennedy, Jeremy Cameron and Dawson Simpson named.
Port Adelaide is unchanged for tomorrow’s encounter with Sydney at Adelaide Oval, while the Swans surprised by dropping Kieren Jack while adding Dane Rampe and James Bell.
Melbourne regained Steven May from a hamstring injury for its clash with Collingwood at the MCG, while the Pies brought in Jack Madgen for Mason Cox, who suffered a season-ending eye injury against Gold Coast.
High-flying Brisbane is unchanged for the local derby against the last-placed Suns at the Gabba tomorrow.
Trade speculation around Jack Martin will intensify after he and Peter Wright were axed for the game, with debutant Caleb Graham and Jacob Heron preferred.
Jack Steven, Dan Hannebery, Blake Acres and Jack Newnes were added to St Kilda’s extended squad for Sunday’s match against Fremantle at Docklands Stadium.
Steven will play his first game since taking a mentalhealth break after Round 6 and Hannebery will make just his third senior appearance for the Saints if they remain after the squad is culled later today.