Rising ruck struck down; Saints spearhead doubtful again — AFL ...

Fremantle will hand an AFL debut to top 2023 draft pick Cooper Simpson on Saturday night.

The 19-year-old medium forward impressed in the Western Derby curtain-raiser last week with two goals from 19 disposals.

He will wear Matthew Pavlich’s famous No.29.

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Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has conceded that it is “unlikely” spearhead Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will make his AFL return this week against the Dockers.

Ugle-Hagan missed his side’s round six victory over St Kilda for personal reasons as the star forward returned home to south-west Victoria to deal with a private family issue.

“We’ll make sure he’s okay, we’re processing a few things, he is on a personal level and us supporting him,” Beveridge told reporters on Wednesday.

As reported earlier in the week West Coast has rested Harley Reid for the long trip to face Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon.

Reid will return home to Tongala in Victoria and spend the weekend with his family.

Port Adelaide will be without improved ruckman Ivan Soldo for the first time this season after he irritated a previous meniscus injury.

Soldo will undergo an arthroscopy early next week, ruling him out of Friday night’s clash with St Kilda.

The 28-year-old has started impressively at Alberton, ranking fifth in the competition for total hit-outs in 2024.

Soldo’s absence likely means ex-Bulldog Jordon Sweet retains his spot in Ken Hinkley’s side despite being subbed out in his club debut last week against Collingwood.

Charlie Dixon, who was managed for the Pies match that saw Sweet included, shapes as a strong possibility to return for the Power’s bout with the Saints.

On the other side of Friday night’s fixture, Saints key forward Max King (knee) is expected to remain out of Ross Lyon’s side.

St Kilda announced earlier in the week that King would be subject to a fitness test to determine his availability, and while the club is yet to officially rule him out, Nine’s Tom Morris reports on Thursday that the Saints would prefer to afford their valuable asset ‘another week’ to recover.

At Sydney Luke Parker may have to return via the VFL as he regains fitness following his fractured arm.

“We haven’t made the decision whether he actually plays or not this week,” said coach John Longmire.

“He’s got to get through training and do some contested work. He did some of that last week, he needs to ramp that up this week and then if he gets the all-clear, it’s whether he plays at VFL or AFL level because he’s missed a lot of footy.”

In earlier games, Essendon has gone big for the Anzac Day blockbuster against Collingwood, despite a big chance of rain hitting the MCG.

The Bureau of Meteorology estimated a 70 per cent chance of rain in Melbourne on Thursday, but Brad Scott chose to omit young Elijah Tsatas as he regains key forward Peter Wright.

There was some concern over whether the Dons could play all four of Wright, Harrison Jones, and ruck pair Sam Draper and Todd Goldstein, but the quartet have all been named.

Collingwood makes just one change with Harvey Harrison replacing the omitted Reef McInnes.

GWS will hand an AFL debut to small forward Darcy Jones on Anzac Day against Brisbane.

Jones, the 21st pick in the 2022 Draft, replaces the suspended Toby Greene.

Foxfooty.com.au understands Max Gruzewski, taken one pick later in that draft, would have debuted alongside him if Jesse Hogan’s Tribunal appeal was unsuccessful.

Brisbane regains Darcy Fort and Conor McKenna for the Thursday night clash, with the concussed Oscar McInerney and Jarryd Lyons gone from the side.

Meanwhile, Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver has been named to play in his side’s blockbuster Anzac Day Eve showdown with Richmond despite undergoing finger surgery over the bye as the Tigers have swung the axe.

Kysaiah Pickett also returns from suspension alongside Bailey Laurie and Dylan Turner, while both Ben Brown and Koltyn Tholstrup have been dropped as Christian Salem (hamstring) also goes out.

The Tigers have meanwhile made mass changes in response to their loss to West Coast prior to their bye.

Tyler Sonsie, Kane McAuliffe and Jacob Koschitzke have all been axed in addition to Jayden Short’s forced omission with a calf injury.

Adem Yze’s side will however be boosted by the returns of Dylan Grimes and Jacob Hopper, while Sam Naismith and Sam Banks also come in.

The teams for the rest of the round will be announced at 6:20pm on Thursday.

AFL ROUND 7 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)

RICHMOND v MELBOURNE

Wednesday April 24, 7:25pm at the MCG

TIGERS

B: T.Young, N.Broad, D.Grimes

HB: N.Vlastuin, T.Brown, D.Rioli

C: H.Ralphsmith, J.Graham, M.Pickett

HF: S.Campbell, R.Mansell, M.Rioli

F: M.Lefau, S.Bolton, D.Martin

R: T.Nankvervis (C), L.Baker, T.Dow

I/C: S.Naismith, K.McIntosh, B.Miller, J.Hopper, S.Banks

EMG: J.Koschitzke, K.McAuliffe, T.Sonsie

IN: D.Grimes, S.Naismith, J.Hopper, S.Banks

OUT: T.Sonsie (Omitted), K.McAuliffe (Omitted), J.Short (Injured), J.Koschitzke (Omitted)

DEMONS

B: T.Rivers, S.May, T.McDonald

HB: B.Howes, J.Lever, J.McVee

C: E.Langford, C.Petracca, J.Billings

HF: K.Chandler, J.Van Rooyen, K.Pickett

F: A.Neal-Bullen, B.Fritsch, H.Petty

R: M.Gawn (C), J.Viney, C.Oliver

I/C: C.Windsor, B.Laurie, T.Sparrow, T.Woewodin, D.Turner

IN: K.Pickett, B.Laurie, D.Turner

OUT: K.Tholstrup (Omitted), C.Salem (Injured), B.Brown (Omitted)

ESSENDON v COLLINGWOOD

Thursday April 25, 3:20pm at the MCG

BOMBERS

B: D.Heppell, B.McKay, J.Laverde

HB: N.Martin, M.Redman, A.McGrath

C: X.Duursma, D.Parish, J.Kelly

HF: S.Durham, K.Langford, A.Davey Jnr

F: S.Draper, P.Wright, B.Hobbs

FOLL: T.Goldstein, J.Caldwell, Z.Merrett - C

I/C: J.Gresham, N.Cox, N.Hind, H.Jones, J.Stringer

EMG: E.Tsatas, N.Caddy, M.Guelfi

IN: P.Wright

OUT: E.Tsatas

MAGPIES

B: B.Maynard, I.Quaynor, B.Frampton

HB: J.Noble, J.Crisp, D.Moore - C

C: S.Sidebottom, S.Pendlebury, J.Daicos

HF: L.Schultz, P.Lipinski, B.Mihocek

F: B.Hill, J.Elliott, M.Cox

FOLL: D.Cameron, N.Daicos, J.De Goey

I/C: T.Mitchell, B.McCreery, W.Hoskin-Elliott, H.Harrison, J.Howe

EMG: R.McInnes, L.Sullivan, O.Markov

IN: H.Harrison

OUT: R.McInnes

GWS GIANTS v BRISBANE LIONS

Thursday April 25, 7:35pm at Manuka Oval

GIANTS

B: H.Perryman, H.Himmelberg, C.Idun

HB: L.Whitfield, J.Buckley, L.Ash

C: J.Wehr, J.Kelly - C, F.Callaghan

HF: B.Daniels, A.Cadman, T.Bedford

F: J.Riccardi, J.Hogan, C.Brown

FOLL: K.Briggs, C.Ward, T.Green

I/C: X.O’Halloran, H.Thomas, L.Aleer, D.Jones, J.Peatling

EMG: T.McMullin, R.Angwin, M.Gruzewski

IN: D.Jones

OUT: T.Greene (Suspension)

LIONS

B: B.Starcevich, J.Payne, R.Lester

HB: D.Wilmot, H.Andrews - C, D.Gardiner

C: J.Fletcher, C.Rayner, J.Berry

HF: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, H.McCluggage

F: L.McCarthy, J.Daniher, D.Zorko

FOLL: D.Fort, J.Dunkley, L.Neale

I/C: K.Lohmann, C.Ah Chee, C.McKenna, J.Tunstill, N.Answerth

EMG: J.Lyons, H.Smith, D.Joyce

IN: D.Fort, C.McKenna

OUT: O.McInerney (Injured), J.Lyons (Omitted)

PORT ADELAIDE v ST KILDA

Friday April 26, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

SAINTS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

NORTH MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE CROWS

Saturday April 27, 1:45pm at Blundstone Arena

KANGAROOS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

CROWS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

GEELONG v CARLTON

Saturday April 27, 4:35pm at the MCG

CATS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

BLUES

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Saturday April 27, 7:40pm at Optus Stadium

DOCKERS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

BULLDOGS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

GOLD COAST SUNS v WEST COAST EAGLES

Sunday April 28, 1pm at People First Stadium

SUNS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

EAGLES

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

HAWTHORN v SYDNEY SWANS

Sunday April 28, 4pm at the MCG

HAWKS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm

SWANS

TBA Thursday 6:20pm