Hawthorn star forward Jarryd Roughead will continue his comeback from injury through the VFL this weekend.
With Roughead to line up for Box Hill against Sandringham on Sunday, he is highly unlikely to play in Hawthorn’s round one AFL clash with Collingwood at the MCG five days later.
Roughead made his return from a serious achilles injury last weekend, playing half of a pre-season match against Fremantle.
Other Hawks selected to play with Box Hill this weekend include former Melbourne veteran Cameron Bruce, defender Tom Murphy and Xavier Ellis.
Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes will make his return from a shoulder injury for VFL affiliate Casey on Sunday.
The Demons’ much-scrutinised young key forward Jack Watts, who missed the AFL club’s final pre-season clash with Port Adelaide, has also been selected for Casey, along with Luke Tapscott and Cale Morton.
A host of Richmond players have been named in the Coburg VFL side to play on Saturday, including Luke McGuane, Daniel Connors, Jake Batchelor and ruck pair Angus Graham and Andrew Browne.
The Tigers start their AFL season against Carlton five days later.
Other players set to line up in the VFL include St Kilda’s Farren Ray, Jason Blake, David Armitage and Dean Polo, the Western Bulldogs’ Justin Sherman and Nathan Djerrkura and North Melbourne’s Lachie Hansen and Scott McMahon.