Power star, Bombers defender return to AFL action

Shayne Hope |

Willie Rioli (l) is back for Port Adelaide after serving his one-match suspension.
Willie Rioli (l) is back for Port Adelaide after serving his one-match suspension.

Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli will make an immediate return from his one-match AFL ban and Essendon defender Jayden Laverde is back for his first senior appearance of the season.

In other round-10 selection news, Fremantle have lost ruckman Sean Darcy to a knee injury and Jacob van Rooyen is among the trio of players axed by Melbourne.

Rioli initially withdrew from last week’s South Australian Showdown in the wake of the furore surrounding his threatening text message to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale.

The Power forward was then banned by the AFL for one game when it emerged he had previously threatened rivals from Essendon and Geelong on the field.

All eyes will be on Rioli when he returns to the spotlight against the Cats at Adelaide Oval on Saturday as Port seek to snap a two-match losing skid.

Logan Evans replaces injured Power defender Kane Farrell (knee), but there is still no room for veteran Travis Boak.

Geelong have regained Jack Henry (hamstring) and Lawson Humphries (concussion), but five-time All-Australian defender Tom Stewart (knee) remains sidelined.

Essendon’s Laverde has not been seen at AFL level this year owing to a hip flexor injury and a VFL suspension for headbutting.

Laverde
Jayden Laverde (l) will make his first AFL appearance of the season for Essendon. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

The 29-year-old backman returns to bolster the Bombers’ defence in their clash with the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

Taylor Duryea has been rewarded for his strong VFL form and will return for the Dogs at senior level for the first time since round two.

GWS will welcome back key duo Toby Bedford and Darcy Jones against Fremantle at Engie Stadium on Saturday, while co-captain Toby Greene has proved his fitness after an ankle complaint.

Stephen Coniglio (glute) remains sidelined, while Fremantle’s Darcy has been put out of action by another knee injury which they hope is only minor.

Collingwood have regained Brayden Maynard and Scott Pendlebury after they sat out last week’s win over the Dockers, and Brody Mihocek (abdominal) is back from injury.

But Magpies captain Darcy Moore (shoulder) and Lachie Schultz (concussion) are out of the team to face an unchanged Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday.

In Sunday’s games, West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen (knee) is poised to return against St Kilda and premiership star Jayden Short (calf) is in Richmond’s extended squad for the clash with North Melbourne.

Melbourne have dropped tall forward van Rooyen, Koltyn Tholstrup and Matthew Jefferson for their tough assignment against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

AAP