With just two rounds remaining, the stakes continue to rise with finals positions up for grabs and team selection becomes even more crucial.
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Tiges lose four for Friday night
Richmond has opened the door for Essendon to keep their finals hopes alive with captain Trent Cotchin, Kane Lambert, Dion Prestia and David Astbury all ruled out.
Prestia and Cotchin will miss with hamstring soreness, clearly indicating the club has opted to rest the midfield duo.
Astbury had an Achilles complaint, while Lambert underwent minor surgery on an ankle injury earlier in the week.
None of the injuries are serious as the Tigers enter management mode in the lead-up to finals.
In better news, ruckman Toby Nankervis should return after being managed last week.
Corey Ellis, Connor Menadue and Sam Lloyd are the likely candidates to earn a recall.
Dons sweat on star trio
Essendon need everything to go right to play finals and while they got the four points last week, they lost four key players.
Orazio Fantasia has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Adam Saad (concussion), Brendon Goddard (knee) and Cale Hooker (knee) are in doubt.
Goddard and Hooker didn’t train today, but still remain chances to play.
Saad did train after the hit that saw St Kilda defender Nathan Brown suspended for three weeks.
Matt Guelfi (illness) will be among those a chance to return.
Pies yet to catch a break
Jeremy Howe won't return for the Pies despite being tipped as a likely inclusion last weekend.
Howe has struggled with a serious corkie and coach Nathan Buckley hopes he'll get up next week.
It’s unlikely they’ll make too many more changes from the side that beat Brisbane.
Adam Oxley is the candidate who will likely make way for Howe to return.
Port lose twin towers
Charlie Dixon is done for the season with a broken leg, with the Power set to go smaller up forward.
They’ll have to make a call in the ruck as well with Paddy Ryder set to miss with a hip injury.
Young ruckman Billy Frampton could finally get a chance in that position, while Jack Hombsch could bolster the backline.
Dan Houston (neck) and Jared Polec (hamstring) are in doubt as well.
Cats lose ruckman again
Rhys Stanley is out again for Geelong and Ryan Abbott has earned the right to be his replacement this week against Fremantle.
Defender Zach Tuohy has a small crack in his hand, but Chris Scott indicated he is likely to play regardless.
If he can’t get up, Jackson Thurlow has showed good VFL form and could replace him or Jed Bews (shoulder).
Jordan Murdoch and Zach Guthrie will also be in the mix.
Fyfe time?
Nathan Fyfe would have to be an outside chance to play this weekend after missing six weeks with a hamstring.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has confirmed Fyfe will fly to Geelong this weekend with the aim of playing.
Getting their captain back would buoy Freo fans, but they will lose Michael Walters (hamstring) for the season.
Joel Hamling and Aaron Sandilands could also be among those considered, though both will have to prove their fitness from calf strains.
Bailey Banfield was left out of last week’s win over Carlton and could also be considered.
More injury blows for the Giants
GWS has had no luck, and just as things seemed to be turning around the last fortnight, injuries have crippled them again.
After losing Toby Greene (hamstring), Brett Deledio (calf), Dawson Simpson (ankle) and Sam Taylor (hamstring) last week, Heath Shaw and Josh Kelly went down against the Crows.
Kelly was knocked out by a tackle that saw Adelaide captain Taylor Walker suspended and he’d have to be in considerable doubt for this week.
It’s worse news for Shaw who’ll be out for the season with a knee injury.
Daniel Lloyd and Harry Perryman had big weeks in the NEAFL and defender Aidan Corr will be considered after a groin injury.
Swans lose Alex Johnson again
One game after his miraculous return, Alex Johnson has gone down once again with an ACL tear.
What flew under the radar a little is the loss of Nick Smith to a hamstring injury.
Smith could miss up to six weeks in a massive blow for the Sydney backline.
Zak Jones will return from suspension to give them some relief, while Colin O'Riordan could replace Johnson.
Lions lose defender
Darcy Gardiner has had an excellent year for Brisbane and was on track for potentially a top five best and fairest finish.
Unfortunately, his season is done after suffering a dislocated right shoulder.
Claye Beams and Zac Bailey would be among those up for consideration to take his spot in the side.
Suns could lose four
Pearce Hanley just got back into the team, but will now miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
Similar news for Will Brodie who also hurt his hamstring. It’s a shame as he was showing some excellent form and was starting to become a reliable player for the Suns.
Rory Thompson (hamstring) and Sean Lemmens (hand) could add to the damage for the Suns heading into the Q-Clash.
Brad Scheer and Josh Schoenfeld are the two likely candidates to break into the side.
First round draft pick in the mix
With Nathan Brown’s season over, the door is open for Hugh Goddard to make his return to the Saints’ line-up.
Goddard has played one game since 2016 and has shown some good form in the VFL of late.
Logan Austin made his return from injury in the VFL, but likely doesn’t have the match fitness to be considered.
Roughead & McEvoy could bolster Hawks
Jarryd Roughead was a late withdrawal for Hawthorn last week with an ankle injury, but should get up for Saturday night.
Ben McEvoy could face his old side too as the big man has spent several weeks on the sideline with a broken cheekbone.
If both miss, it’s hard to see the Hawks making any unforced changes.
Number one draft pick still in doubt for Carlton
Jacob Weitering’s status is still up in the air after copping a heavy bump in a marking contest from Steven May in Round 19.
Carlton has been conservative with him and may opt to leave him out against the Dogs.
Matthew Kreuzer (heart) has been ruled out for the season as the Blues work out what’s causing his elevated heart rate.
In better news for the Blues, vice-captain Sam Docherty has returned to full training after suffering an ACL injury before the season. It’s hard to see the Blues sending him out there for a game though.
Dogs to get key defenders back
Captain Easton Wood will return for the Bulldogs just in time to deal with Carlton duo Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.
Marcus Adams is also a chance to get up, but will need to prove his fitness after a shoulder injury.
Zaine Cordy will make way after fracturing his forehead last weekend, while Roarke Smith is in doubt with a concussion.
Josh Kennedy still unlikely to return
The Eagles are in a position where they don’t really have to rush spearhead Josh Kennedy back into the side, but he has now missed a considerable period of time with that shin injury.
Ruckmen Nathan Vardy and Scott Lycett are both sore, but should both get up for Sunday afternoon’s date with Max Gawn.
Jake Waterman could be considered if the Eagles lose one of the talls.
Who replaces Hogan?
With Jesse Hogan’s season done and dusted thanks to a foot injury, the Dees may turn to Sam Weideman to take his spot up forward.
He kicked two goals in the VFL and Melbourne has invested a lot into the former top 10 draft pick.
Jayden Hunt will also miss out with an ankle injury and won’t be on the plane to Perth.
Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham should be good to go and Jay Kennedy-Harris could be the one who makes way.
Crows lose Walker
Taylor Walker’s season is over due to suspension as Adelaide look to put the nail in the coffin of North Melbourne’s season.
Mitch McGovern should come in for him in an easy swap.
Paul Seedsman (hamstring) and Riley Knight (knee) should come back into the side, but Daniel Talia (calf) is unlikely to be ready to face Ben Brown.
Roos tagger to return?
Ben Jacobs has spent a considerable period on the sideline dealing with neck and concussion issues, but the Roos need to role the dice and get the four points.
Jacobs’ inclusion would bolster their midfield and give them the ability to tag Rory Sloane or Bryce Gibbs out of the game.
Brad Scott may swing the axe after last weekend’s shock loss to the Bulldogs, with Luke Davies-Uniacke, Billy Hartung and Nathan Hrovat in the mix.
Luke McDonald, Will Walker, Paul Ahern and Ryan Clarke had quiet days in the defeat.