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Teams: Dog stars shine; Cats falter; a giant named gun joins the spotlight.
SAM Darcy and Bailey Dale will both feature for the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, overcoming injury concerns to take on two-time premiers Brisbane at the Gabba. This marks a strong return for both players as they aim to lift their side in a challenging clash.
Geelong’s start to the season brings mixed news: Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield are ruled out for the trip to the Gold Coast. On a brighter note, a pair of big-name players have beaten injuries to suit up, offering Geelong a welcome boost.
In other Opening Round selection updates, Finn Callaghan is in for Greater Western Sydney, while Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will have to wait a bit longer for his Suns debut after being left out of the team to face the Cats.
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Darcy has overcome hip and groin soreness that kept him out of both pre-season games to secure his place against the Lions, with Dale recovering from a knee issue.
Cam Rayner will line up for the premiers after overcoming a groin problem.
Although Dangerfield (calf) and Cameron (quad) have not been named in Chris Scott’s 23-man squad, the Cats received some positive news with Bailey Smith (calf) and Gryan Miers (thumb) both included.
Christian Petracca will make his Suns debut.
Callaghan has overcome a hip issue that plagued him during much of the pre-season and will partner club debutant Clayton Oliver against a Hawthorn side that has full-back Tom Barrass back in contention.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
Gold Coast v Geelong at People First Stadium, 7.35pm AEST
GOLD COAST
B: M. Andrew 1, B. Uwland 6, S. Collins 25
HB: J. Noble 2, D. Rioli 17, J. Jeffrey 16
C: L. Weller 14, W. Powell 27, S. Clohesy 33
HF: C. Petracca 3, B. Humphrey 19, W. Graham 26
F: E. Read 20, B. King 34, L. Lombard 8
Foll: J. Witts 28, N. Anderson - C 15, T. Miller 11
I/C: A. Davies 5, B. Long 22, Z. Uwland 32, O. Adams 48, J. Farrar 50
Emerg: N. Moyle 23, L. Gulbin 39, C. Graham 46
Notable absentees: M. Rowell, J. Walter, N. Holman, J. Ugle-Hagan, C. Ballard
GEELONG
B: C. O’Sullivan 14, S. De Koning 16, J. Henry 38
HB: Z. Guthrie 39, T. Stewart - C 44, L. Humphries 17
C: O. Dempsey 28, M. Holmes 9, M. O’Connor 42
HF: B. Close 45, S. Mannagh 7, G. Miers 32
F: O. Henry 36, S. Neale 33, J. Martin 19
Foll: M. Blicavs 46, T. Atkins 30, B. Smith 3
I/C: T. Bruhn 4, O. Mullin 34, M. Knevitt 10, J. Worpel 29, J. Clark 13
Emerg: J. Polkinghorne 2, L. Hofmann 23, M. Edwards 11
Notable absentees: P. Dangerfield, R. Stanley, J. Cameron, J. Kolodjashnij, J. Bowes, T. Stengle, J. Bews
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
Greater Western Sydney v Hawthorn at Engie Stadium, 4.15pm AEDT
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
B: J. Laverde 25, J. Buckley 44, C. Idun 39
HB: J. Fonti 37, L. Whitfield 6, L. Ash 7
C: R. Angwin 9, C. Oliver 10, H. Thomas 1
HF: P. Gothard 11, J. Riccardi 26, J. Delana 38
F: T. Greene - C 4, J. Hogan 23, J. Stringer 20
Foll: K. Briggs 32, S. Coniglio 3, F. Callaghan 17
I/C: H. Himmelberg 27, H. Rowston 24, X. O’Halloran 33, C. Brown 46, M. Gruzewski 35
Emerg: J. Leake 30, N. Madden 41, O. Hannaford 13
Notable absentees: Josh Kelly, Sam Taylor, Tom Green, Brent Daniels, Toby Bedford, Aaron Cadman, Darcy Jones
HAWTHORN
B: B. Hardwick 15, T. Barrass 37, J. Scrimshaw 14
HB: J. Battle 24, J. Sicily - C 6, J. Weddle 23
C: D. Moore 8, C. Nash 11, J. Impey 4
HF: F. Maginness 20, J. Ginnivan 33, N. Watson 5
F: M. Lewis 2, M. Chol 18, J. Gunston 19
Foll: L. Meek 17, J. Newcombe 3, J. Ward 25
I/C: C. Macdonald 9, H. Morrison 1, M. D’Ambrosio 16, S. Butler 30, K. Amon 10
Emerg: F. Perez, N. Mraz 21, N. Reeves 7
Notable absentees: Will Day, Cam Mackenzie, Ned Reeves, Calsher Dear
Brisbane v Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, 6.35pm AEST
BRISBANE
B: K. Coleman 18, D. Gardiner 27, R. Lester 35
HB: D. Wilmot 44, H. Andrews 31, D. Zorko 15
C: J. Fletcher 3, H. McCluggage 6, J. Berry 7
HF: C. Cameron 23, O. Allen 4, Z. Bailey 33
F: W. Ashcroft 8, L. Morris 13, T. Gallop 22
Foll: D. Fort 32, J. Dunkley - C 5, L. Neale 9
I/C: K. Lohmann 1, L. Ashcroft 10, C. Rayner 16, Z. Zakostelsky 21, B. Reville 38
Emerg: L. McCarthy 11, D. Annable 14, D. Joyce 41
Notable absentees: E. Hipwood, L. McCarthy, C. McKenna, N. Answerth, T. Doedee, J. Payne, S. Draper
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: L. Jaques 11, B. Khamis 24, R. Lobb 7
HB: C. Budarick 19, J. O’Donnell 18, L. Bramble 29
C: S. Davidson 42, M. Bontempelli - C 4, B. Williams 34
HF: C. Hynes 6, S. Darcy 10, J. Freijah 27
F: J. Croft 16, A. Naughton 33, T. Liberatore 21
Foll: T. English 44, M. Kennedy 8, E. Richards 20
I/C: M. Sellwood 37, O. Baker 13, R. West 14, A. Jones 32, B. Dale 31
Emerg: H. Gallagher 12, W. Lewis, L. Kennedy 35
Notable absentees: A. Treloar, L. Vandermeer, C. Weightman, N. Coffield, R. Sanders
SUNDAY, MARCH 8
St Kilda v Collingwood at the MCG, 7.20pm AEDT
ST KILDA
B: J. Silvagni 3, C. Wilkie 44, A. Caminiti 47
HB: A. Tauru 26, B. Hill 8, N. Wanganeen-Milera 7
C: M. Windhager 2, M. Hall 40, D. Wilson 22
HF: M. Phillipou 25, H. Boxshall 38, M. Owens 10
F: R. Marshall 19, C. Sharman 43, J. Higgins 1
Foll: T. De Koning 21, S. Flanders 9, J. Sinclair - C 35
I/C: J. Macrae 6, L. Stocker 14, I. Keeler 17, J. Carroll 18, L. Ryan 31, M. Wood 32, H. Garcia 34, C. Banfield 36
Notable absentees: Dan Butler, Dougal Howard, Hunter Clark, Paddy Dow, Max King, Ryan Byrnes, Liam Henry
COLLINGWOOD
B: B. Frampton 17, I. Quaynor 3, B. Maynard 4
HB: D. Houston 9, J. Daicos 7, H. Perryman 12
C: W. Parker 15, N. Daicos - C 35, E. Allan 16
HF: L. Schultz 8, S. Sidebottom 22, B. McCreery 31
F: T. Membrey 28, J. Elliott 5, D. McStay 11
Foll: D. Cameron 14, J. Crisp 25, J. De Goey 2
I/C: P. Lipinski 1, S. Pendlebury 10, O. Steene 21, J. Cochran 27, L. Sullivan 33, J. Buller 34, N. Long 44, R. Steele 45
Emerg: Jeremy Howe, Darcy Moore, Bobby Hill
