COLLINGWOOD has been forced into two late changes ahead of its clash against North Melbourne on Saturday night.
Veteran Scott Pendlebury will miss due to illness, while small forward Bobby Hill has withdrawn for personal reasons.
Wil Parker comes into the side for his sixth game, with premiership defender Oleg Markov getting a last-minute call up to replace Hill, after approval from the AFL allowed the Pies to change their match day squad due to exceptional circumstances.
Pendlebury also missed the Magpies’ round nine game against Fremantle after being rested for the trip to Perth, stalling the 413-game veteran’s move towards passing the all-time games record.
The Magpies are premiership favourites after winning eight of their first 10 games of the season.
North Melbourne v Collingwood at Marvel Stadium, 7.35pm AEST
LATE CHANGES
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury (illness) replaced in selected side by Wil Parker; Bobby Hill (personal) replaced in selected side by Oleg Markov
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Zac Fisher
Collingwood: Oleg Markov
The Roos have shown improvement in the past fortnight and landed their second win of the season by beating Richmond last week.
Paul Curtis returns from suspension and Zac Fisher also comes into the side after strong VFL form, the pair replacing the omitted Bailey Scott and Zane Duursma.
Collingwood made just one change to its initial team, bringing in debutant William Hayes to cover for Steele Sidebottom, who is being managed.
In another huge outing at Optus Stadium, Walyalup hosts Yartapuulti on Saturday night.
The Dockers eased the pressure on coach Justin Longmuir with an impressive win over Greater Western Sydney last week.
That helped Walyalup improve to 5-5 as it looks to gain some momentum in 2025.
The Power have lost three straight games and have been hit by injury, now sitting with a 4-6 win-loss record.
Happy with their last-up performance, the Dockers have named an unchanged line-up.
Walyalup v Yartapuulti at Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Walyalup: Bailey Banfield
Yartapuulti: Hugh Jackson
Yartapuulti, on the other hand, has been forced into four changes due to injury, with Jason Horne-Francis, Josh Sinn and Lachie Jones all finishing last week’s big loss on the bench, and Esava Ratugolea out with hamstring tightness.
Veteran Travis Boak returns, as do Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Rory Atkins, while 2021 draftee Hugh Jackson gets a long-awaited debut.
Hawthorn v Brisbane at the MCG, 4.15pm AEST
LATE CHANGES
Hawthorn: Jarman Impey (personal) replaced in selected side by Finn Maginness
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Finn Maginness
Brisbane: Deven Robertson
Carlton v Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium, 12.35pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Jaxon Binns
Greater Western Sydney: Harry Rowston
