Get them in: Tom Lynch (calf), Wayne Milera (calf) and Cam Ellis-Yolmen (shin) are set to return for Saturday's Showdown with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. Draftee Chayce Jones and utility David Mackay – who both had 19 disposals in the SANFL – will come into consideration to add leg speed.

Under the pump: Bryce Gibbs could be dropped again after a quiet game in last Friday night's loss to Geelong. Midfielder/forward Hugh Greenwood and debutant Ben Davis will also be under pressure.

Medical room: Lynch, Milera and Ellis-Yolmen will be assessed this week. Co-captain Taylor Walker is expected to be right to play despite a minor elbow injury.

Verdict: Three changes – Lynch, Milera and Ellis-Yolmen, for Davis, Gibbs and Greenwood. – Lee Gaskin

NINE THINGS WE LEARNED Star Crow's fall defies belief

Get them in: Another week, another thumping NEAFL win. Nick Robertson kicked five goals among 21 touches, while Ryan Bastinac's 36 disposals also caught the eye. Josh Walker, Sam Skinner and Matt Eagles could all come into calculations as another tall defender.

Under the pump: A strong win over Melbourne, but young defender Brandon Starcevich might fall victim to the "last in, first out" dilemma.

Medical room: Ruckman Oscar McInerney will be assessed through the week for concussion and his availability for the weekend is not yet known. He was an onlooker at Tuesday's training session. Alex Witherden has overcome the dose of the flu that forced him to be a late withdrawal.

Verdict: Coach Chris Fagan said recently he would select "horses for courses", so with three big GWS forwards, this is a headache. Eagles has the speed and height to go with Harry Himmelberg if the Lions want to make a change, but Ryan Lester deserves to retain his spot despite being slightly outsized. Witherden returning for Starcevich seems logical. – Michael Whiting

The 'Big O' will be assessed after copping a massive hit against the Demons. Picture: AFL Photos





Get them in: It was another strong performance for Darcy Lang in the VFL, with the midfielder winning 25 disposals and laying eight tackles for the Northern Blues. Hugh Goddard was again solid in defence, claiming 21 disposals and nine marks.

Under the pump: The Blues might like the mix they found against the Dockers. In terms of numbers, Paddy Dow was the club's quietest performer, but the youngster still did some nice things and kicked an important goal.

Medical room: Co-captain Patrick Cripps will be touch-and-go as he recovers from a sprained foot, though star forward Charlie Curnow appears unlikely to recover from a knee problem. The Blues will wait on fellow forward duo Harry McKay and David Cuningham, who both missed the trip to Perth due to soreness.

Verdict: A lot will depend on fitness tests later this week. Cripps, McKay and Cuningham will be certainties to come into the team if deemed fit to play, though Curnow appears unlikely at this stage. - Riley Beveridge



Adding Patrick Cripps and Harry McKay to a winning outfit will make the Blues stronger. Picture: AFL Photos





Get them in: Small forward Jamie Elliott has been passed fit and defender James Aish could return after being a late withdrawal last round. Regular emergency Ben Crocker, veteran utility Tyson Goldsack and potential debutant Tyler Brown could also be in the frame. As crazy as it sounds, mid-season draftee and line-breaking half-back/wingman John Noble might even enter the discussion after just two VFL games.

Under the pump: The injury to fellow key forward Ben Reid might well have saved Mason Cox his spot in the team. Since returning from an ankle injury the 'American Pie' has kicked five goals in three games but has been decidedly rusty.

Medical room: Elliott (hamstring) is available after seven weeks on the sidelines, while midfielder Brayden Sier (concussion) and Aish (hamstring soreness) will be assessed.

Verdict: Elliott will return along with Aish (if fit) and replace Reid and possibly Sier. - Ben Collins

Collingwood's Ben Reid has headed for treatment after this marking contest early in the first quarter.#AFLPiesNorth pic.twitter.com/1tvGh7UWJu — AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) June 29, 2019

Get them in: Essendon will need to replace injured ruckman Tom Bellchambers, so looks set to recall Zac Clarke to face Sydney on Saturday. Michael Hartley could come back into the side if Essendon wants to persist with Cale Hooker forward, while Mark Baguley, Will Snelling and David Myers played well in the VFL.

Under the pump: Josh Begley was quiet against Greater Western Sydney he booted three goals against West Coast the previous week, so should retain his spot.

Medical room: Again the attention will be on forward Jake Stringer, who has not played since hurting his leg against Hawthorn in round 13. The Bombers say they don't know when he will be available, making it a week-to-week assessment. Matt Guelfi missed last week with soreness after being shoved into the fence.

Verdict: Clarke will come back to play the Swans, but don't expect too many unforced changes after Essendon's comeback win over the Giants. Guelfi could also return to replace Martin Gleeson, who came in last week as his cover. - Callum Twomey

BARRETT The 'Any Given Sunday' era has finally arrived

Get them in: If Rory Lobb and Aaron Sandilands are fit the Dockers have some decisions to make. Does Taylin Duman come back in for defensive support after 21 touches for Peel, should Ryan Nyhuis be recalled for a lockdown role and has Travis Colyer done enough coming off 22 touches and two goals?

Under the pump: A few will be feeling the heat after a shock loss to Carlton. Brett Bewley, Bailey Banfield, Sean Darcy and Brennan Cox might be nervous.

Medical room: Lobb (foot) should be back less than a month after the club feared he was gone for the year, and Sandilands is likely to play his first game at any level after repeat calf woes.

Verdict: This a tough selection ahead of a crunch Western Derby, but Lobb comes in for Cox, Darcy is replaced by Sandilands and either Banfield or Bewley is omitted for Duman. – Travis King

Rory Lobb is in line to make a miraculous comeback after a foot injury. Picture: AFL Photos





Get them in: Zac Smith was close last week and impressed again in the VFL with two goals. Having him as the No.1 ruck and Rhys Stanley more forward is a consideration, with Wylie Buzza not out of the frame as a forward/ruck. James Parsons (28 disposals), Scott Selwood (22 and nine tackles) and Sam Simpson (23) are next in line in the midfield.

Under the pump: Lachie Fogarty will be better for the run but remains on the edge. Rhys Stanley was moved out of the ruck in the second half last week and has been quiet for the past fortnight. The Cats played eight defenders in order to fit Jed Bews back in as Jack Henry started forward. One may have to make way if the Cats want the typical No.1 ruck with another forward/ruck option.

Medical room: Patrick Dangerfield did very little in Monday's skills session but is expected to build up his training as the week progresses and be fit to play. After a hamstring setback at training last week, Esava Ratugolea is set to spend at least another match on the sidelines. Gary Rohan should be right to return from concussion.

Verdict: Rohan for Fogarty. Bews or Henry for Buzza or Smith which will allow Mark Blicavs to return to defence to take Aaron Naughton. – Mitch Cleary

The addition of ruckman Zac Smith could free up other options for the Cats. Picture: AFL Photos



FANTASY FORM WATCH Lion king reigns with bye rounds over

Get them in: A bag of six goals against Sydney in the NEAFL should make Josh Corbett difficult to overlook. George Horlin-Smith and Jordan Murdoch also impressed.

Under the pump: Young wingman Wil Powell struggled against Sydney with just four disposals, while Ben King battled in a forward line starved of opportunities.

Medical room: No fresh injuries for the Suns but Sean Lemmens is likely to return in the NEAFL following a long layoff with an ankle injury. Nick Holman is battling to overcome a back complaint that kept him out last week.

Verdict: Despite a poor loss last week, hard to see many, if any, changes. Most of the Gold Coast players struggling for form are the youngsters – who need to be persisted with during this rebuild – and guys fresh back from injury. – Michael Whiting

Get them in: Club champion Lachie Whitfield will train fully this week after recovering from a broken collarbone and should be back to face Brisbane on Sunday. Speedy forward Ian 'Bobby' Hill had his best game in the NEAFL last week and is pressing hard for a debut, while Daniel Lloyd, Isaac Cumming, Aiden Bonar and Nick Shipley are also in good touch.

Under the pump: With Whitfield likely to return to his role across half-forward, Brent Daniels or Zac Langdon could find themselves on the outer.

Medical room: Whitfield trained well on Tuesday and will increase his work on Thursday, but Aidan Corr remains a couple of weeks away with his calf issue.

Verdict: Whitfield to come in for Langdon. – Adam Curley