Round 21 is almost with us, so lets take a look at the ins and outs of the weekend. Injuries can have a big impact at this time of the season, with some teams struggling with omissions and others delighted to see important returns.
Geelong play St Kilda this Friday night, with Geelong welcoming back multiple names. James Kelley, Joel Corey, and Josh Hunt are all expected to return from injury, and ruckman Trent West is also a likely inclusion. The Saints are in a less fortunate position however, and will suffer from the omission of Nick Riewoldt with a knee injury.
Essendon take on Carlton this Saturday, with Essendon being another team bolstered from multiple inclusions. Both Paddy Ryder and Brent Stanton are set to return, with David Zaharakis also a likely inclusion after a long term quad injury. Carlton will benefit from the return of captain Chris Judd after a four week suspension, while Michael Jamison is likely to be out for another week.
GWS vs Melbourne kicks-off on Saturday, with the Giants ruling out key forwards Jonathon Patton and Jeremy Cameron to shoulder and hip injuries respectively. Melbourne are hoping for the return of Mark Neeld for this game, with ruckman Mark Jamar also a slight chance to make a return from his calf injury.
The clash between Fremantle and Richmond also sees a number of changes, with Docker star Nat Fyfe likely to start after he sustained an ankle injury in his hotel room. For Richmond, Reece Conca is definitely out, with defender Jake Batchelor a good chance to make the fold after suffering from knee complaints.
Collingwood vs North Melbourne is one much anticipated clash this weekend, and the Magpies are still without Dane Swan due to suspension and Tyson Goldsack with an ankle injury. North Melbourne are welcoming the return of Jack Ziebell after his suspension, although Daniel Wells, Leigh Adams, and defender Nathan Grima are all out.
Brisbane take on Adelaide this Saturday night, with Brisbane likely to see the return of Matt Maguire from injury. Adelaide have a tough decision to make regarding Tippett, who has missed the last three matches because of multiple concussions. He is likely to start however, with any other changes looking unlikely.
The Port Adelaide vs West Coast is on Sunday, with Hamish Hartlett out for Port due to a striking suspension. Aaron Young and Steven Salopek are both potential inclusions, although nothing is finalised at this stage. West Coast are hoping for the return of forward Josh Kennedy this weekend, with Matt Rosa also needing to pass a fitness test if he wants to take the field.
Western Bulldogs play Sydney on Sunday, with Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney looking like making a comeback for the Dogs. For Sydney, Sam Reid and Jude Bolton are struggling with injuries, with both men to face fitness tests later in the week.
The last game of the week is between Hawthorn and the Gold Coast on Sunday. The Hawks will have to do without star Cyril Rioli for this clash, with additional question marks about Lance Franklin’s hamstring injury also raised. The Gold Coast have had bad luck with injuries for weeks now, with a massive total of 17 players unavailable this week, including Nathan Bock, Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli, and Zac Smith.
