Western Bulldogs key forward Travis Cloke is probably another week away from an AFL recall after he did not fly to Cairns with his teammates.
Cloke was named as an emergency for Saturday’s match against Gold Coast.
But he was not on Thursday morning’s flight north, two days after coach Luke Beveridge had said Cloke was being considered for senior selection.
The former Collingwood forward has impressed in the VFL after returning from a lay-off last month to deal with mental health issues.
But the Bulldogs made only one change, recalling Easton Wood for Jake Stringer (hamstring).
The Suns are again without star on-baller Gary Ablett because of a hamstring problem.
Co-captain Steven May (hamstring) and Jarryd Lyon (ankle) are two other big losses for the Suns.
Jack Scrimshaw will make his senior debut as Jesse Lonergan and Brayden Fiorini return.
Fremantle announced they had dropped youngsters Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan because they had breached the team’s alcohol policy last weekend.
Cam McCarthy and Josh Deluca will return for Saturday night’s home game against Hawthorn.
The Hawks will give Conor Glass his AFL debut and have recalled Brendan Whitecross, with Kurt Heatherley and Kade Stewart making way.
St Kilda reacted to last week’s bad loss to Essendon with four unforced changes.
Tom Hickey, Daniel McKenzie, Ben Long and Josh Battle are out, while Sam Gilbert has a hand injury.
They recalled Billy Longer, Jimmy Webster, Luke Dunstan and Blake Acres, with Rowan Marshall to make his AFL debut against Sydney.
Sydney lost Sam Reid (groin) and regained Callum Sinclair.
North Melbourne made five changes for Saturday’s Etihad Stadium clash against Essendon, with Todd Goldstein and Lindsay Thomas headlining the omissions.
Captain Jack Ziebell (managed), Corey Wagner (ankle) and Mitch Hibbert (shoulder) are the other outs, as the Kangaroos regain Jarrad Waite, Trent Dumont, Sam Durdin and Ryan Clarke.
Nick Larkey will be North’s ninth first-gamer this season.
Essendon regain veteran Jobe Watson and Jayden Laverde will play his first senior game this year.
Josh Green has a hamstring injury and Craig Bird has been dropped.
Melbourne have five major inclusions for Saturday’s MCG match against Port Adelaide, regaining Jack Viney, Jack Watts, Jack Trengove, Christian Salem and Dom Tyson.
Port dropped Jasper Pittard and recalled Matthew Broadbent.