Saints wield axe after big defeat

ST KILDA has responded to its humiliating loss to Essendon by dropping three players for its crunch game against West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

Ben Long, Shaun McKernan and Mason Wood were all dumped from the side that sustained a 75-point hammering, while Jade Gresham is out with an achilles injury.

Ruckman Rowan Marshall, who will play his first game this year, headlines St Kilda’s ins, which also feature Jimmy Webster and Jack Bytel.

The Eagles have brought in Jake Waterman to replace captain Luke Shuey (hamstring) for the twilight fixture.

Carlton has made one change for its away Saturday night match against Gold Coast, as Will Setterfield comes in for the injured Zac Williams.

For the Suns, Caleb Graham replaces Jarrod Witts, who will miss the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Collingwood also made the sole adjustment, bringing in Beau McCreery for Tyler Brown (omitted) for its Saturday night clash with Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.

Known for his forward tackling pressure, McCreery joined the Magpies from South Adelaide in last year’s draft and was an unused medical substitute in Round 3 against the Brisbane Lions.

The Giants have lost former skipper Phil Davis to a calf injury, captain Stephen Coniglio to an ankle complaint, and tagger Matt de Boer (hamstring). They have also rested ruckman Matthew Flynn and dropped Nick Shipley.

Tall forwards Jake Riccardi and Jeremy Finlayson, ruckman Shane Mumford and debutant Conor Stone have been brought into Leon Cameron’s 0-3 side.

Western Bulldogs have brought in last week’s medical substitute Patrick Lipinski to replace injured full-back Ryan Gardner for Saturday afternoon’s game against Brisbane.

The visitors have omitted Connor Ballenden and Callum Ah Chee, while Jack Payne (foot) is injured. Darcy Gardiner, Jarrod Berry and Oscar McInerney are the Lions’ ins.