Fremantle and West Coast have welcomed back key names as they look to respond from heavy defeats in round one against last year's grand finalists this weekend.
Marquee recruit Shai Bolton has been named for his first game in Dockers' colours for Sunday's hosting of a Sydney outfit desperate to post their first win of 2025, while the Eagles will hope to benefit from Liam Ryan's inclusion up front against the Lions at the Gabba.
Steven May will miss a second game after fracturing his larynx at Melbourne training last week, while Port Adelaide have dropped Jeremy Finlayson following their 91-point loss to Collingwood.
Brisbane have opted to give Charlie Cameron another week on the sidelines after being a late out last week.
Bolton, who arrived at Fremantle on a long-term deal from Richmond in the off season, retuens from a leg injury after passing fitness tests at training.
"We're probably going to have to manipulate his role a little bit, to what we were doing pre-season and what we have planned (for him)," Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said ahead of Thursday's main session.
"But we think he'll be right for four quarters and we'll get him into the team.
"It will be nice to get him out there…we'll see how he goes at training and we'll work out our plan from there."
Bolton has been named at half forward, while Sydney have stuck with former Docker and Yorta Yorta defender Joel Hamling after the 31-year-old made his debut for the club in last week's loss to Brisbane.
Hamling didn't feature in a senior game through 2024 after arriving at the Swans ahead of their minor premiership campaign.
Against the Lions, he was the first Indigenous player to make a senior appearance for the Swans since Lance Franklin's retirement in 2023.
Ryan, who played all but one match after returning from a high-grade hamstring strain in round seven, re-enters the Eagles' lineup on return from another hamstring issue.
Speaking on Thursday, ahead of a tough task against the reigning premiers, West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said he's confident his side can rectify issues identified this week after handing Gold Coast their biggest-ever win.
"He was really close last week, to playing", McQualter said on Ryan.
"We made a decision with a little bit of Liam's history in mind…we're confident.
"He'll have to get through training today, but he's in a good spot and we can't wait to have him out there."
Port have omitted Finlayson for their matchup with Richmond at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Finlayson had 19 touches after starting in the back pocket, but has made way for Christian Moraes as the only change.
The 29-year-old has been named as an emergency.
He missed the end part of 2024 with a season-ending spleen injury before signing a one-year extension with the Power in August.
At the Demons, Steven May will miss a second consecutive game to start the season after copping a knock to his larynx.
Coach Simon Goodwin told reporters the veteran defender is due to see a specialist ahead of the Demons' match against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Melbourne fell to a heartbreaking three point loss against GWS to start their season last weekend.
May is due to see a specialist on Saturday.
"We'll have a bit more of an update of where it sits from there. (May is) progressing really well," Goodwin said.
It's "not as bad" as a similar presason injury suffered by captain Max Gawn in 2024, Goodwin said, and "probably more shorter term than longer term" for May.
St Kilda have named 20-year-old South Australian Isaac Keeler to make his debut this weekend.
The Kokatha man, tipped as a handy utility at 198cm tall, is a close companion of Saints distributor Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who broke the news to Keeler this week.
