No relief for Magpies` attack

Struggling Collingwood have regained ruckman Josh Fraser to take on West Coast star
big man Dean Cox, but there is no help at hand for their severely undermanned
attack.
The Magpies welcome back Fraser for Saturday night's Subiaco clash with the Eagles,
after a knee injury caused him to miss the thrashing handed out by Carlton last
weekend.
But hopes that an injury-depleted and underperforming forward line might be boosted
were dashed, with Paul Medhurst, Alan Didak, Dale Thomas and Anthony Rocca all
failing to prove their fitness.
Key forward Travis Cloke also remains sidelined by a hamstring injury, meaning the
Magpies will again be forced to field the attack that has managed a total of just 12
goals in the past two rounds
Along with Fraser, young defender Tyson Goldsack was recalled, with Anthony Corrie
and Dayne Beams dropped from the side that failed to compete with the Blues.
The Eagles will be boosted by the return of gun midfielder Daniel Kerr, who missed
last round's narrow loss to Sydney with a groin injury.
Geelong made two huge gains for Friday night's big Etihad Stadium clash with the
Western Bulldogs, with star midfielder Gary Ablett and half-forward Paul Chapman
both back from injury.
The Cats also recalled forward Ryan Gamble and defender David Johnson.
But they will be without suspended key forward Cameron Mooney, while veteran
defender Darren Milburn and running player Shannon Byrnes were forced out by injury.
Tall utility Tom Lonergan was dropped, despite having been a possible option to
cover Mooney's absence in attack.
The Bulldogs were hit hard by injury, losing star forward Robert Murphy, along with
young defenders Andrejs Everitt and Dylan Addison.
But they regained talented midfielder Shaun Higgins from an adductor injury, while
recalling Tim Callan and Callan Ward.
North Melbourne welcomed back three important midfielders for Saturday's match
against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium.
Daniel Wells, Brady Rawlings and Jack Ziebell all return from injuries which caused
them to miss last week's thumping by Geelong at Skilled Stadium, with Rawlings and
Wells both late withdrawals from that game.
The Dockers named midfielder-forward Des Headland for what will be his first game of
the season, after overcoming a calf injury.
Headland was also restricted to just six games last season because of a knee injury.
Carlton kept the same team that thrashed Collingwood for Saturday's AAMI Stadium
meeting with Adelaide.
The Crows made two changes, recalling big man Ivan Maric and tagger Robert Shirley
in place of Jared Petrenko and Brent Reilly, although Shirley needed to win an
appeal against a SANFL suspension to take his place.
Brisbane will be forced to try to combat St Kilda key forwards Nick Riewoldt and
Justin Koschitzke at Etihad Stadium on Sunday without key defenders Daniel Merrett
and Joel Patfull, both forced out after being injured against Adelaide last weekend.
The Saints were yet to make any omissions from their 25-man squad, with running
player Jason Gram keeping his spot despite concerns over a thigh injury.
Melbourne welcomed back star midfielder Brad Green, along with tall defenders Jared
Rivers and James Frawley and ruckman Mark Jamar, all returning from injury to their
squad to play Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.
The Hawks had made no cuts from the side which downed Fremantle last round.
Sydney and Port Adelaide were both also yet to make any omissions from their squads
ahead of their encounter at the SCG on Sunday.