With Round 4 nearing, we're here to cover all the selection news and rumours ahead of the weekend.
Here's the latest on the AFL selection front...
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Blues tall ruled out with back complaint
Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet won't feature in Sunday's clash with the Suns, with a niggling back complaint limiting the 25-year-old's abilities.
The injury saw Pittonet subbed out of last week's win over Hawthorn, with the complaint continuing to hamper the Blues tall.
Forward/midfielder Lachie Fogarty has come into Michael Voss' lineup, with Brodie Kemp moved into the available emergencies for the Round 4 clash.
Several players late outs under health and safety protocols
The Swans are the latest side to be impacted by the AFL's health and safety protocols, with forward Sam Wicks ruled out of Saturday's clash with North Melbourne after being required to isolate.
The Swans have called upon Ben Ronke to come into their 22-man side for the match, with Wicks also in doubt for the club's Round 5 clash with West Coast next Friday night.
The Western Bulldogs have lost forward Mitch Hannan for their Round 4 clash with Richmond due to illness.
The Dogs have confirmed that Lachlan McNeil will replace Hannan in Luke Beveridge's 22-man side, with Josh Schache named as an emergency.
Essendon have been forced to make an adjustment to their 26-man squad for Sunday's clash with Adelaide, with defender Tom Cutler entering AFL health and safety protocols.
Stand-in Bombers coach Blake Caracella confirmed on Friday that Cutler will miss the Round 4 affair, with no replacement named as of yet.
Cutler was named on the extended interchange for Essendon, with the Bombers set to cut their squad to 22 at 5pm AEST on Friday.
Selection News
West Coast are tipped to welcome back a plethora of key names after making a record number of changes across the past fortnight. Senior coach Adam Simpson confirmed to 7 Newsย the club expects Luke Shuey, Tom Barrass, Liam Duggan, Willie Rioli and Bailey Williams back this week.
Star trio Tim Kelly, Oscar Allen and Elliot Yeo will miss another week, however are expected to return in the next two weeks.
West Coast's Round 4 opponents, Collingwood, could welcome back key defender Jordan Roughead and Trey Ruscoe from shoulder and leg injuries respectively, while veteran Steele Sidebottom has been cleared of any damage and will be fit for the Marvel Stadium bout.
The Pies midfield will be lightened following the news that Taylor Adams will be forced to miss his side's Round 4 date after entering health and safety protocols.
Jordan De Goey's suspension could open the door for in-form VFL duo Tom Wilson or Ashley Johnson, while Reef McInnes is likely to hold his place after impressing on debut against Geelong.
The Cats will be missing skipper Joel Selwood for their Round 5 date with the Lions after it was confirmed that the 33-year-old earning a rest following his final quarter heroics against the Pies.
Geelong's Esava Ratugolea will be a test for Friday night's clash with Brisbane as the Cats look to combat an undermanned Lions ruck group. Oscar McInerney will miss through suspension, leaving the first-string ruck duties to ex-Cat Darcy Fort.ย Tom Fullarton would likely share the ruck duties with Fort as McInerney's replacement.
The Cats won't see Sam Menegola back for Friday night, with the veteran wingman suffering a concussion while Jonathon Ceglar is facing an extended period on the sidelines with a setback of his own.
The Western Bulldogs will be without Zaine Cordy for this weekend's clash against Richmond due to concussion. Josh Schache and Hayden Crozier will both be contending for list spots, while Ryan Gardner will hold his place in defence after a strong outing on Lance Franklin.
In-form midfielder Robbie McComb suffered a rib injury last week and will be a test should Luke Beveridge look his way.
Tigers defender Dylan Grimes is set to miss with a hamstring setback, but Damien Hardwick could welcome Nick Vlastuin, Jack Riewoldt and Dion Prestia back from injury.
Jack Ross looms as a likely option to face the chopping block, while Tyler Sonsie made a large case for selection after a dominant display in the VFL.
Swans tall Tom Hickey will miss the next six weeks after suffering a medial ligament strain, giving former Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams his club debut. Youngster Justin McInerney will be assessed throughout the week as he eyes his first appearance of the season.
Logan McDonald booted four goals in the VFL after being dropped last week, while midfielder Ryan Clarke was dominant in the Swans reserves' loss to Gold Coast as the pair make their case for a spot back in John Longmire's side.
Sydney will face a North Melbourne side coming off a 108-point loss to Brisbane in Round 3, with David Noble tipped to wrung the changes. Midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke would return after a head knock sustained in Round 2.
Melbourne will likely welcome back Jake Lever for their Thursday night clash at Adelaide Oval against the winless Power, while fellow key defender Harrison Petty will return through the VFL before eyeing a spot in the club's best 22.
Forward Ben Brown will return from AFL health and safety protocols, offering a selection dilemma for Simon Goodwin after Sam Weideman dazzled in the Demons' Round 3 win over Essendon.
The Power have cleared Sam Skinner of any major damage to his ankle after being subbed out of the Showdown, while Robbie Gray will be available after undergoing health and safety protocols.
Kane Farrell will return through the SANFL after overcoming an ACL injury and will be in line for selection in the coming weeks, while defender Tom Clurey could be a chance at either level after undergoing knee surgery earlier this season.
Taylor Walker will be welcomed back into Matthew Nicks' side for Round 4 after serving his club suspension across the opening three weeks of the year. With Elliott Himmelberg, and Lachlan Gollant in form, it is the hulking frame of Darcy Fogarty that will miss Adelaide's date with the Dons.
Crows captain Rory Sloane is predicted to return after missing the Showdown with an adductor injury, while the club has cleared Lachie Murphy of major damage to his neck following a collision late into the Showdown. Murphy will be a test for this weekend's clash with Essendon.
The Bombers could welcome Nik Cox and Will Snelling back from ankle and calf injuries for Round 4, while Devon Smith remains uncertain after battling form and injury. Draftee Ben Hobbs impressed in the VFL and was deemed unlucky to miss the clash with Melbourne last week.
Fremantle will welcome David Mundy back from health and safety protocols, with the veteran onballer missing the past two weeks after being required to isolate. The Dockers will also be without their coach Justin Longmuir for successive weeks for similar reasons, with Jaymie Graham set to coach his second match in purple for their clash with the Giants on Saturday night.
The Dockers will continue to assess young gun Caleb Serong, who missed Round 3 with a knee issue.
Greater Western Sydney would be buoyed by Braydon Preuss' Round 3 performance, with the ex-Demon and Roo likely to hold down the ruck duties again this week.
Midfielder Jacob Hopper is unlikely to return from a knee complaint, while Toby Greene remains another two weeks away from his return after copping a six-game suspension at the end of last season. Draftee Finn Callaghan has 20 touches and two goals against Frankston in the VFL on Saturday, making a case for his own selection.
Saint Jack Higgins is set to miss his side's match against Hawthorn through concussion, opening a chance for trio Jack Bytel, Mitchito Owens or Ryan Byrnes. Brett Ratten will have to make a call as to whether the club continues its three-pronged ruck tandem, with Jack Hayes the likely casualty should a system change occur.
The Hawks will be bolstered by Jack Scrimshaw's ability to shake off a shoulder complaint, while Jarman Impey made a successful return through the VFL on the weekend. Tom Phillips could also re-enter the frame after plenty of promise for Box Hill.
Hawthorn will miss Chad Wingard's effervescence after the club announced the South Australian would be held out of Sam Mitchell's side due to calf tightness.
Blues speedster Adam Saad is tipped to return from health and safety protocol, while defender Oscar McDonald could also be in contention after missing Round 3 with a back issue. Expect Jordan Boyd and/or Lachie Plowman to miss this weekend. Backman Mitch McGovern will remain sidelined after his own setback in the lead up to last week.
Carlton will be hit by COVID again, with small-forward Corey Durdin and his four housemates - Tom Williamson, Jack Carroll and Jesse Motlop - all ruled out as well.
Ruckman Marc Pittonet suffered a back complaint late into the win over Hawthorn and could miss this week, opening a potential debut for Alex Mirkov.
The Suns came through relatively unscathed from their loss to GWS but could force changes after the disappointing Round 3 outing. Charlie Constable has made his return through the VFL and could press for a spot in midfield. Izak Rankine will be a test after suffering a quad complaint in recent weeks.
