The footy season is so close now, so who will your side roll out in their season opener? See all the potential debutants and who’s racing the clock to be fit.
Footy returns on Thursday night and we’ve got you covered with all the selections news.
Who looks set to debut, who’s missing with injury, who’s changing position?
Find out here in our predicted teams.
ADELAIDE
B: B. Smith, J. Butts, T. Doedee
HB: W. Milera, N. Murray, J. Dawson
C: M. Hinge, J. Rachele, R. Sloane
HF: B. Keays, E. Himmelberg, D. Fogarty
F: I. Rankine, T. Walker, S. McAdam
FOLL: R. O’Brien, S. Berry, R. Laird
I/C: P. Parnell, H. Schoenberg, J. Soligo, L. Pedlar
Sub: M. Michalanney
The watch: The watch is on Wayne Milera who hasn’t trained with the group for the past two weeks. The Crows are confident he’ll be right for round 1.
BRISBANE
B: B. Starcevich, H. Andrews, D. Rich
HB: K. Coleman, J. Payne, C. Rayner
C: Z. Bailey, J. Berry, H. McCluggage
HF: W. Ashcroft, E. Hipwood, J. Gunston
F: C. Cameron, J. Daniher, L. McCarthy
FOLL: O. McInerney, J. Dunkley, L. Neale
I/C: D. Robertson, C. McKenna, D. Wilmot, J. Prior
Sub: J. Tunstill
The watch: Conor McKenna is all but certain to feature in his return to the AFL while fellow popular SuperCoach selection Darcy Wilmot is also a lock to play. Dayne Zorko will miss round 1 as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
CARLTON
B: S. Docherty, J. Weitering, M. McGovern
HB: A. Saad, L. Young, N. Newman
C: B. Acres, P. Cripps, A. Cerra
HF: Z. Fisher, C. Curnow, J. Silvagni
F: J. Motlop, H. McKay, C. Durdin
FOLL: M. Pittonet, M. Kennedy, G. Hewett
I/C: T. De Koning, O. Hollands, L. Cowan, E. Curnow
Sub: A. Cincotta
The watch: The Blues have confirmed Hollands and Cowan as debutants but will rookie Alex Cincotta also get the nod? Carlton expects Jesse Motlop to face Richmond on Thursday night despite the small forward being placed on a modified training program.
COLLINGWOOD
B: B. Maynard, D. Moore, I. Quaynor
HB: N. Daicos, J. Howe, S. Pendlebury
C: J. Daicos, J. Crisp, S. Sidebottom
HF: J. Elliott, D. McStay, W. Hoskin-Elliott
F: B. Hill, B. Mihocek, B. McCreery
FOLL: D. Cameron, J. De Goey, T. Mitchell
I/C: T. Adams, M. Cox, B. Frampton, J. Noble
Sub: J. Carmichael
The watch: The Pies will have strong line up against the Cats with a suite of new faces set to feature including Bill Frampton, Bobby Hill and Tom Mitchell.
ESSENDON
B: M. Redman, J. Laverde, J. Ridley
HB: J. Kelly, B. Zerk-Thatcher, A. McGrath
C: S. Durham, Z. Merrett, W. Setterfield
HF: N. Martin, S. Weideman, A. Perkins
F: A. Davey Jr, P. Wright, H. Jones
FOLL: S. Draper, D. Parish, D. Shiel
I/C: J. Caldwell, M. D’Ambrosio, M. Guelfi, J. Menzie
Sub: W. Snelling
The watch: Jake Stringer is a confirmed out but the watch will be on midfielder Jye Caldwell (ankle) and second-year Bomber Ben Hobbs (calf) who face fitness tests this week. Small forward Matt Guelfi and midfielder Kyle Langford pushed their case for round one selection after strong performances in the club’s VFL practice match against Frankston on Saturday.
FREMANTLE
B: L. Ryan, A. Pearce, H. Chapman
HB: J. Clark, B. Cox, H. Young
C: J. Aish, A. Brayshaw, L. Henry
HF: L. Schultz, L. Jackson, N. Fyfe
F: S. Switkowski, M. Taberner, M. Walters
FOLL: S. Darcy, C. Serong, J. O’Meara
I/C: B. Banfield, W. Brodie, B. Walker, J. Treacy
Sub: M. Johnson
The watch: New recruit Jaegar O’Meara is fine after an ankle injury scare and should be all set to make his club debut. Michael Walters (achilles) needs to prove his fitness. A decision on Brennan Cox (hip) and Luke Ryan (back) will be made closer to game day.
GEELONG
B: J. Bews, M. Blicavs, Z. Guthrie
HB: T. Stewart, S. De Koning, M. O’Connor
C: M. Holmes, T. Atkins, I. Smith
HF: G. Miers, J. Cameron, B. Parfitt
F: T. Stengle, O. Henry, B. Close
FOLL: R. Stanley, C. Guthrie, P. Dangerfield
I/C: J. Bowes, T. Bruhn, G. Rohan, E. Ratugolea
Sub: Z. Tuohy
The watch: Will Tom Hawkins be fast-tracked for Friday’s blockbuster or will Chris Scott take the long road with his star spearhead? Mitch Duncan is still a few weeks away after getting treatment in SA.
GOLD COAST
B: C Constable, S. Collins, B. Long
HB: C. Ballard, C. Graham, J. Farrar
C: B. Ellis, T. Miller, E. Hollands
HF: J. Jeffrey, M. Chol, B. Ainsworth
F: J. Lukosius, B. King, N Holman
FOLL: J. Witts, M. Rowell, N. Anderson
I/C: D. Swallow, A. Davies, S. Flanders, L. Weller
Sub: M. Rosas Jnr
The watch: Touk Miller is good to go after the Suns reassured he’d overcome his hamstring injury.
GWS
B: I. Cumming, S. Taylor, C. Idun
HB: L. Ash, N. Haynes, L. Whitfield
C: F. Callaghan, J. Kelly, J. Wehr
HF: J. Peatling, J. Hogan, J. Riccardi
F: T. Greene, H. Himmelberg, D Lloyd
FOLL: B. Preuss, T. Green, S. Coniglio
I/C: H. Perryman, C. Ward, L. Aleer, A. Kennedy
SUB: C. Stone
The watch: Finn Callaghan is a lock and is set to play a mix of inside mid and wing. The Giants favour Leek Aleer so he looks a genuine chance to feature again at AFL level.
HAWTHORN
B: B. Hardwick, J. Sicily, S. Frost
HB: L. Bramble, J. Blanck, C. Jiath
C: K. Amon, J. Newcombe, W. Day
HF: D. Moore, J. Koschitzke, C. Macdonald
F: C. Wingard, F. Greene, L. Breust
FOLL: N. Reeves, J. Worpel, J. Ward
I/C: J. Impey, C. Mackenzie, F. Maginness, L. Meek
Sub: J. Scrimshaw
The watch: Will Cam Mackenzie make his debut after a scintillating practice match? Sam Mitchell gave nothing away at his mid-week press conference but surely the first-round draft pick will feature.
MELBOURNE
B: H. Petty, S. May, J. Bowey
HB: A. Brayshaw, J. Lever, T. Rivers
C: E. Langdon, J. Harmes, L. Hunter
HF: A. Neal-Bullen, T. McDonald, K. Pickett
F: M. Gawn, B. Brown, K. Chandler
FOLL: B. Grundy, C. Oliver, C. Petracca
I/C: J. McVee C. Spargo, T. Sparrow, J. Jordon
Sub: B. Laurie
The watch: Bayley Fritsch (foot) and Jack Viney (knee) have been ruled out for Saturday’s clash against the Dogs. James Jordon hasn’t featured too heavily in the Dees’ practice matches but is he a ready made round 1 replacement for Viney? The watch is on whether the Dees blood youngster Judd McVee as sub or in the starting 22.
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: J. Ziebell, A. Corr, F. Perez
HB: L. McDonald, G. Logue, J. Goater
C: B. Scott, B. Cunnington, K. Turner
HF: T. Powell, T. Goldstein, P. Curtis
F: C. Zurhaar, N. Larkey, H. Sheezel
FOLL: T. Xerri, L. Davies-Uniacke, J. Simpkin
I/C: C. Taylor, L. Shiels, A. Bonar, W. Phillips
Sub: A. Hall
The watch: Tarryn Thomas is back after playing at VFL on the weekend but whether he’s ready for AFL level is yet to be determined. Aaron Hall has had interrupted pre-season but could feature at sub.
PORT ADELAIDE
B: D. Byrne-Jones, T. Jonas, R.Burton
HB: D. Houston, A. Aliir, K. Farrell
C: X. Duursma, O. Wines, M. Bergman
HF: O. Fantasia, T. Marshall, T. Boak
F: J. Rioli, C. Dixon, S. Powell-Pepper
FOLL: S. Lycett, C. Rozee, J. Horne-Francis
I/C: Z. Butters, M. Georgiades, W. Drew, L. Jones
Sub: J. Burgoyne
The watch: Jeremy Finlayson trained on Tuesday after dealing with a syndesmosis issue over the summer and could come into selection consideration while Josh Sinn will play a half a SANFL trial match as he recovers from an interrupted pre-season.
RICHMOND
FB: R. Tarrant, N. Balta, N. Broad
HB: N. Vlastuin, D. Grimes, D. Rioli
C: J. Short, T. Taranto, K. McIntosh
HF: S. Bolton, J. Riewoldt, M. Rioli
F: D. Martin, T. Lynch, N. Cumberland
FOLL: T. Nankervis, D. Prestia, J. Hopper
I/C: L. Baker, B. Miller, M. Pickett, T. Cotchin
Sub: T. Dow
The watch: Dion Prestia is locked into Richmond’s clash against Carlton while Jayden Short is one of a number of Richmond premiership heroes who need to prove their fitness at Tuesday’s main training session. The club has said he is “unlikely” to play in round 1 but will monitor his progress on Tuesday as Jack Graham (toe) and Marlion Pickett (groin) also push to be in that side.
ST KILDA
B: C. Wilkie, D. Howard, J. Webster
HB: J. Sinclair, J. Battle, N. Wanganeen-Milera
C: M. Wood, J. Steele, B. Hill
HF: J. Gresham, Z. Cordy, J. Higgins
F: M. Owens, A. Caminiti, D. Butler
FOLL: R. Marshall, B. Crouch, M. Windhager
I/C: H. Clark, M. Phillipou, L. Stocker, B. Paton
Sub: J. Bytel
The watch: Young gun Marcus Windhager (hand) will have to prove his fitness at training this week while Tim Membrey was ruled out of the season-opener.
SYDNEY
B: D. Rampe, T. McCartin, B. Campbell
HB: N. Blakey, P. McCartin, J. Lloyd
C: D. Stephens, C. Mills, J. McInerney
HF: I. Heeney, L. McDonald, W. Hayward
F: T. Papley, L. Franklin, E. Gulden
FOLL: P. Ladhams, C. Warner, L. Parker
I/C: O. Florent, J. Rowbottom, H. McLean, H. Cunningham
Sub: S. Reid
The watch: How the Swans fit their talls in is hard to gauge but Sydney coach John Longmire said yesterday Lance Franklin remained a “week-to-week” proposition as they manage his match load.
WEST COAST
B: S. Hurn, T. Barrass, T. Cole.
HB: L. Duggan, J. McGovern, J. Hunt.
C: A. Gaff, E. Yeo, R. Ginbey.
HF: J. Cripps, J. Waterman, J. Jones.
F: L. Ryan, O. Allen, T. Kelly.
FOLL: B. Williams, D. Sheed, L. Shuey
I/C: E. Hewett, C. Jamieson, X. O’Neill, C. Chesser
Sub: J. Petruccelle
The watch: Veteran ruck Nic Naitanui is unlikely to be rushed in for the season opener but fellow big man Bailey Williams (hamstring) should be OK.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: L. Jones, A. Keath, T. Duryea
HB: B. Dale, S. Darcy, E. Richards
C: A. Treloar, C. Daniel, B. Smith
HF: B. Williams, A. Naughton, J. Macrae
F: J. Ugle-Hagan, R. Lobb, R. West
FOLL: T. English, M. Bontempelli, T. Liberatore
I/C: O. Baker, A Scott, T. McLean, J. Bruce
Sub: H. Crozier
The watch: Arthur Jones (adductor strain) has been ruled out while Cody Weightman will miss the start of the season. Whether they pick Mitch Hannan or Rhylee West for the forward pressure spot is up in the air.
Originally published as AFL round 1 teams: How every club could line up revealed