Final teams in for Sydney derby. LIVE from 1.45pm AEST
Follow all the action from Saturday's round eight games
ST KILDA will be hoping to get its season back on track when it faces North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The blowtorch has turned onto St Kilda as it risks losing touch with the top eight after slumping to a 2-5 record that includes four defeats by less than two goals.
SAINTS v KANGAROOS Follow it LIVE
But the Saints now have an opportunity to get their campaign back on track, while also fine tuning their form, against the struggling Kangaroos, with Hawthorn to follow.
North Melbourne (0-7) will carry extra spice into the clash after co-captain Jy Simpkin was on the end of a high hit from Jimmy Webster that was followed by a heated exchange during their pre-season meeting. After serving a seven-game ban, Webster returns to the Saints side today.
It could be just the ingredient to shake up a Roos outfit that has only won four quarters across their opening seven matches.
The Saints welcome back a host of stars including Max King, while Mason Wood, Webster and Jack Hayes also return in place of Zaine Cordy, Jack Higgins, Anthony Caminiti and Cooper Sharman. The Roos have also made sweeping changes with Liam Shiels and Jaidyn Stephenson among four inclusions.
St Kilda v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Ryan Byrnes
North Melbourne: Toby Pink
Sydney v Greater Western Sydney at the SCG, 1.45pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Robbie Fox
Greater Western Sydney: Harvey Thomas
Melbourne hosts Geelong at the MCG in a blockbuster Saturday night clash.
The Demons (5-2) have breezed past their less fancied opponents this season to edge into the top four, but they could still do with making a statement against a contender like Geelong.
DEMONS v CATS Follow it LIVE
The Demons have fallen short against the Cats at GMHBA Stadium the last two times they have met, but will be boosted by facing the League leaders at the MCG for the first time in more than three years.
The all-conquering Geelong (7-0) could put more breathing space between itself and its most likely challengers with a third consecutive victory over a top-four hopeful.
The Cats have shown they can win in different ways and even when well below their best, but will now have to stand up without injured captain Patrick Dangerfield to maintain an unbeaten start to the season.
Mark O'Connor and Brandan Parfitt have been managed for the clash against the unchanged Demons.
West Coast will be looking to make it three wins on its home deck in a row when it welcomes Essendon to Optus Stadium in the final game on Saturday.
The Eagles were starting to show signs of turning its fortunes around when pushing Essendon to within the barest of margins when the sides met late last season.
EAGLES v BOMBERS Follow it LIVE
West Coast (2-5) looms as a far more dangerous prospect now compared to earlier in the season, especially after winning two of its past three games, and are set to be bolstered by the return of Harley Reid after the young gun was rested last week.
Essendon (4-2-1) went within a stray shot at goal of clinching a stirring victory over Collingwood on Anzac Day, which would have well and truly confirmed its place as a top-eight contender.
But the Bombers must now quickly lift themselves back up to make the most of a stretch of matches against three of the current bottom-four sides over the next month.
Harley Reid and Tom Barrass return in a massive boost for the Eagles, who have axed Dom Sheed and Tyler Brockman among four changes. The Bombers welcome back Archie Perkins and Matt Guelfi, with Sam Draper and Nick Hind out.
