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Hawthorn, Geelong recall stars

Hawthorn have summoned three premiership stars including backman Brian Lake for Saturday’s AFL grand final rematch against Sydney.

Lake will play his first match since straining knee ligaments a month ago while teammates Isaac Smith and Jordan Lewis also return for the MCG blockbuster.

The proven performers replace dropped trio Angus Litherland, Jonathan Simpkin and Taylor Duryea while Sydney made just one change, recalling Harry Cunningham at expense of Dean Towers, who was omitted.

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Like Hawthorn, Geelong also called on three flag-winners for their Friday night fixture against struggling Carlton.

The Cats named Tom Hawkins, James Kelly and Andrew Mackie for the Etihad Stadium encounter against the Blues, who swung the selection axe on four players.

Carlton, winners just once this season, dumped Matthew Dick, Matthew Watson, Kristian Jaksch and David Ellard in favour of Kade Simpson, Dylan Buckley, Liam Jones and Patrick Cripps.

St Kilda and West Coast both lost frontliners for their Saturday afternoon clash at Etihad Stadium.

The Saints lost captain Nick Riewoldt to concussion while emerging Eagle Dom Sheed is out with a hand injury, replaced by Scott Selwood, who will play his first game since round one.

In other Saturday fixtures, Greater Western Sydney called on defender Phil Davis to go up against his former club, the Adelaide Crows.

The Giants also named Josh Kelly to play against Adelaide, who lost half-back Brodie Smith (concussion) and Matthew Jaensch to a season-ending knee injury, but recalled back-up ruckman Josh Jenkins and Cam Ellis-Yolmen from injury.

And Collingwood were strengthened for their Saturday twilight clash against the Suns on the Gold Coast by the return of Steele Sidebottom and Alex Fasolo, replacing Alex Toovey (knee) and Patrick Karnezis (omitted).

Suns coach Rodney Eade dumped three players – Matt Shaw, Zac Smith and Greg Broughton – while recalling Adam Saad, Tom Lynch and Luke Russell.

Fremantle were bolstered for Saturday’s other game, against North Melbourne in Perth, with the return of key defender Luke McPharlin while the Roos were unable to consider captain Andrew Swallow (hand) and Ben Brown (knee).

While Sunday’s squads will be trimmed, Melbourne included Jack Watts, who dropped himself for last week’s loss to Hawthorn, but lost forward Chris Dawes to a calf injury for their clash against the Western Bulldogs.

Essendon host Brisbane, and Port Adelaide host Richmond, in Sunday’s other games.

AAP    

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