Demons’ three Jacks back for Port AFL game

The Jacks are back, headlining Melbourne’s five changes for their big AFL match against Port Adelaide at the MCG.

As North Melbourne lost patience with All-Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein’s form and Gold Coast again lost star onballer Gary Ablett to a hamstring injury, the Demons shook up their side for one of the matches of the round.

Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney is on the verge of making a speedy comeback after foot surgery.

Jack Watts will also return to bolster their attack, while forgotten former co-captain Jack Trengove will play his first senior game this season.

The Demons also regain Dom Tyson and Christian Salem.

Bernie Vince is suspended and Dean Kent has a shoulder injury, while Cam Pedersen, Josh Wagner and Joel Smith have been dropped.

Fourth-placed Port recalled Matthew Broadbent and dropped Jasper Pittard for the match against the Demons. Melbourne sit a game and percentage behind them in seventh.

North also made five changes for Saturday’s Etihad Stadium clash with rivals Essendon, with 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, Simon 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.

Ablett is again out of action with a hamstring injury for Saturday night’s match against the Western Bulldogs in Cairns.

Co-captain Steven May (hamstring) and Jarryd Lyons (ankle) are other big losses for the Suns.

Jack Scrimshaw will make his senior debut as Jesse Lonergan and Brayden Fiorini return.

Bulldogs veteran Easton Wood will replace Jake Stringer (hamstring), while Travis Cloke is named as an emergency.

As expected, Adelaide named Rory Sloane (concussion) and Geelong included Patrick Dangerfield (foot) for their Friday night blockbuster, although the Cats’ star still had to pass a fitness test.

The Crows named Alex Keath for his senior debut and lost Jake Lever to a hamstring injury.

Scott Selwood and Tom Stewart return for the Cats, who lose Brendan Parfitt (hamstring) and have dropped Sam Simpson.

Fremantle announced they had dropped youngsters Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan for Saturday night’s home game against Hawthorn 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.

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