AFL 2024 round 10 LIVE updates: Cats forced to make late change for Suns clash on Larrakia country

Gold Coast have also gone down the player management path, resting co-captain Jarrod Witts, Nick Holman, Jed Walter and Jake Rogers.

Veteran midfielder David Swallow and Brayden Fiorini return after a week off, with Sam Day and young ruckman Ned Moyle also recalled.

The Suns have spent the week in Darwin preparing for the Geelong clash after thrashing North Melbourne at TIO Stadium last week.

It was Gold Coast’s fifth game in two years at a venue renowned for its slippery conditions, and wingman Sam Clohesy said that experience would benefit his side.

“It’s definitely an advantage … just being able to run out a full game in this heat,” Clohesy said.

“It’s nothing like playing down in Melbourne or, really, playing on the Gold Coast.

“I think we’re going to use it as an edge against them.”

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Tonight’s subs:

• Alex Davies for Gold Coast
• Jhye Clark for Geelong

Luke Beveridge has recalled Caleb Daniel (to replace Jason Johannisen with a hamstring injury), while keeping out young pup Ryley Sanders, who will play another game in the VFL, as Ross Lyon made a whopping six changes for the weekend.

Mattaes Phillipou is back in for Euro-Yroke, along with midfielder Zak Jones and ex-Blue Paddy Dow, while Seb Ross, Tim Membrey and Liam Stocker are all out.

Lachie Schultz is back from suspension and Jordan De Goey from a groin injury, they will face Kuwarna, who dropped young gun Daniel Curtin for the game. Tom Mitchell is still out with an appendix issue.

Carlton have also been forced to make some big changes with Adam Cerra, Jack Martin and Matt Cottrell all out with injury. Zac Williams, Caleb Marchbank and Orazio Fantasia come in as replacements.

It’s still bad news for Richmond with Liam Baker not available with a corked leg and Sydney veteran Luke Parker will continue to play in the VFL. Swan Tom McCartin is still out with concussion, while Nick Blakey has been cleared to play.

Jacob Wehr and Xavier O’Halloran come in for the Giants, as Josh Kelly and Lachie Ash are both out with soft-tissue injuries.

Jake Waterman will return for Waalitj Marawar from concussion, while Ed Langdon is out for Narrm due to personal reasons. Noah Answerth is back from concussion for Brisbane, while Dylan Shiel and draftee Nate Caddy are among Essendon’s extended list.

Geelong has swung a late change less than an hour before its first match for premiership points in Darwin.

The Cats have rushed in Zach Tuohy after big defender Sam De Koning suffered hamstring soreness during the warm up.

They bring in a mid-sized defender for a big man, but Darwin conditions are often slippery, so it should not make a significant difference for the Cats.

Geelong have left out 840 games of AFL experience in a selection gamble for their clash with Gold Coast in Darwin after opting to rest premiership stars Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan and Rhys Stanley.

The trio did not travel with the Cats’ squad this week, joining fellow veteran Jeremy Cameron (concussion) on the sidelines as coach Chris Scott attempts to negotiate a six-day break between matches.

Scott’s “complicated” selection call comes with Geelong on a two-match losing skid heading into the Suns encounter at TIO Stadium.

“You can’t satisfy every requirement every single week, but as a guide we try not to get too beholden to the opposition we’re playing,” Scott told reporters on Wednesday.

“We do think a little bit about the length of break and the venue and those sorts of things, but the overwhelming priority is to look at it at the individual level… I’m loath to say ‘at their age’ because their age is not necessarily the deciding factor.

“It’s more just how we think about their season overall.”

Fellow key forward Cameron was put in concussion protocols the following day after he experienced delayed symptoms from hitting his head in a heavy fall from a marking contest

Scott admitted it prompted a brief reconsideration of the plan to rest Hawkins, who is now poised to break long-time teammate Joel Selwood’s record for games played for Geelong in a home clash with Greater Western Sydney next week.

Six-game forward Shannon Neale, standing at 203cm, has been recalled to provide a tall target in the Cats’ forward line against Gold Coast after kicking three goals in a win over North Melbourne in his only previous senior appearance this season.

Three-game ruckman Toby Conway, Jack Bowes and Tanner Bruhn have also been included.

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Hello and welcome to our live blog for some Thursday night footy.

Tonight, Gold Coast and Geelong will face off in Darwin and kick off the important fortnight that is Sir Doug Nicholls round.

First bounce is set for 7.30pm AEST.

Enjoy the hours to come. You ready, footy fans?