AFL LIVE updates: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs; Sanders the sub for Dogs

Metro Trains is clearing up delays on various services. See the latest here:

Luke Beveridge has dismissed the idea of a rift with players as “total fiction” despite controversial team selections this year, saying rebuilding is a myth and a line had not been put through any senior players.

Where he had been mixed in his messaging after Friday’s night terrible performance against Essendon in the 29 point loss, this time the Western Bulldogs coach tried to be clear.

Though several senior players – including premiership winners, All-Australians and those on long-term deals and significant money – have been in and out of the side and used as subs this year, Beveridge denied there was disharmony at the club and that he and the players were not on the same page.

”The rebuilding term is a myth. You cannot rebuild in our code, in our competition within the constraints that exist with the draft and the salary cap. You just can’t, you can’t do it. Rebuilding infers that you’re knocking something down and it’s coming from the ground up from a new origin and you just can’t do that,” Beveridge said.

JON PIERIK and MICHAEL GLEESON report. Read more

It’s interesting that the Bulldogs have opted for youngster Ryley Sanders as the sub. He was quite unhappy to be subbed off last round.

There are significant delays across the network, which will inevitably disrupt the arrival of some patrons at Southern Cross Station.

FRIDAY – Adelaide v Essendon:

ADELAIDE
In: J.Borlase, L.Sholl
Out: J.Butts (hamstring), M.Crouch (suspension)

ESSENDON
In: E.Tsatas
Out: J.Menzie (shoulder)

SATURDAY

Collingwood v Port Adelaide

COLLINGWOOD
In: None
Out: None

PORT ADELAIDE
In: J.Sweet
Out: C.Dixon (managed)

Carlton v GWS Giants

CARLTON
In: L.Cowan, L.Young
Out: M.McGovern (hamstring), A.Saad (hamstring)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
In: C.Ward, L.Aleer
Out: S.Taylor (concussion), S.Coniglio (knee)

Brisbane v Geelong

BRISBANE
In: J.Lyons
Out: Z.Bailey (ankle)

GEELONG
In: J.Kolodjashnij, P.Dangerfield, T.Hawkins, T.Conway
Out: C.O’Sullivan (omitted), Z.Tuohy (managed), S.Neale (omitted), R.Stanley (managed)

West Coast v Fremantle

WEST COAST
In: D.Sheed
Out: L.Edwards (concussion)

FREMANTLE
In: S.Darcy, S.Sturt
Out: S.Switkowski (concussion), M.Taberner (managed)

Sydney v Gold Coast

SYDNEY
In: S.Wicks, P.Ladhams, C.Cleary, A.Francis
Out: C.Mitchell (omitted)

GOLD COAST
In: R.Atkins, A.Sexton, J.Rogers, D.Macpherson
Out: M.Rosas (hamstring)

North Melbourne v Hawthorn

NORTH MELBOURNE
In: C.Zurhaar, W.Phillips, J.Archer
Out: None

HAWTHORN
In: J.Gunston, J.Serong, H.Morrison
Out: None

One of these two teams will fall to 2-4 after six games, presuming the match doesn’t end in a draw. The Bulldogs go into the match with all football supporters watching and waiting to see how they respond to their shock loss to Essendon last Friday night while the Saints’ three losses have been by a combined margin of 13 points. The Bulldogs have lost Tom Liberatore and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, two of their best performers this season while the Saints are without key forward Max King, although they have performed well without him in the past. Ugle-Hagan’s replacement, Rory Lobb, who looked set for a long stint in the VFL, has been on the ground kicking for goal and chatting to people for an hour. Can he take his opportunity? It’s one of many questions to be answered tonight in what shapes as a huge match in the context of both teams’ hopes for 2024.

After Charlie Cameron had his rough conduct charge downgraded from a suspension to a
fine at the AFL Tribunal, it is incumbent on clubs now to cite good character to help their players earn lesser sanctions, says Geelong coach Chris Scott.

On Tuesday night, Brisbane Lions star Cameron challenged his one-match ban for a dump tackle on Melbourne defender Jake Lever.

The tribunal, led by chairman Jeff Gleeson, found exceptional and compelling circumstances to use its discretion to turn the ban into a fine, citing Cameron’s clean record throughout his 207-game career.

Character references for Cameron from Adelaide and Carlton champion Eddie Betts and an Indigenous elder also helped sway the tribunal.

The gun forward is now free to face Scott’s Cats at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The Cameron case could potentially be used as a precedent, with clubs attempting to draw upon character references or disciplinary records in other hearings.

Asked if the Cats would go down that path with a Geelong player with a similarly clean record, Scott said: “Oh, well, you have to now.

“Whether you agree with it or not, it’s incumbent on you to use that.

“It would be offensive to any of our players to suggest that they’re of lesser character than the two players in recent history who have successfully used that clause.”

AAP

ST KILDA
B: [26] Josh Battle, [21] Zaine Cordy, [44] Callum Wilkie
HB: [14] Liam Stocker, [35] Jack Sinclair, [7] Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
C: [13] Ryan Byrnes, [6] Sebastian Ross, [8] Bradley Hill
HF: [1] Jack Higgins, [43] Cooper Sharman, [10] Mitch Owens
F: [22] Darcy Wilson, [47] Anthony Caminiti, [28] Tim Membrey
FOL: [19] Rowan Marshall, [9] Jack Steele, [2] Marcus Windhager
I/C: [3] Zak Jones, [16] Dan Butler, [25] Mattaes Phillipou, [34] Hugo Garcia, [36] Riley Bonner
EMG: [18] Jack Hayes, [20] Dougal Howard, [24] Angus Hastie
IN: Z.Jones
OUT: M.King (knee)

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: [20] Ed Richards, [19] Liam Jones, [18] James O’Donnell
HB: [15] Taylor Duryea, [24] Buku Khamis, [39] Jason Johannisen
C: [34] Bailey Williams, [1] Adam Treloar, [12] Harvey Gallagher
HF: [23] Laitham Vandermeer, [33] Aaron Naughton, [14] Rhylee West
F: [10] Sam Darcy, [7] Rory Lobb, [3] Cody Weightman
FOL: [44] Tim English, [4] Marcus Bontempelli, [11] Jack Macrae
I/C: [29] Lachlan Bramble, [31] Bailey Dale, [38] Riley Garcia, [22] James Harmes, [9] Ryley Sanders
EMG: [35] Caleb Daniel, [32] Arthur Jones, [25] Caleb Poulter
IN: R.Lobb, R.Garcia, J.Harmes
OUT: J.Ugle-Hagan (personal reason), T.Liberatore (concussion protocols), O.Baker (omitted)