Follow all the events of Friday 17th round.
Riley Thilthorpe scores during the match between the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide at Marvel Stadium in Round 14, 2026. Photo: Getty Images
ADELAIDE was dealt a blow ahead of Friday’s match against West Coast when star forward Riley Thilthorpe withdrew due to illness an hour before the game.
Thielthorpe has been replaced by winger Billy Dowling and the Crows already boast a strong forward line with the addition of Toby Murray this week, who will play alongside Darcy Fogarty and Taylor Walker.
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The absence of the Adelaide forward is a boost for the Eagles, who have a weak back line with Reuben Ginbey and Harry Edwards dealing with quad injuries and concussion respectively.
Dowling, who was warming up at Optus Stadium on Friday night, has not played at AFL level this season and has made 10 career appearances having found good form in the SANFL in recent weeks.
West Coast vs Adelaide, Optus Stadium, 6:10pm AEST.
LATE CHANGES
West Coast: zero
Adelaide: Riley Thilthorpe (illness), replaced in selected team by Billy Dowling.
West Coast relinquished some of their recent gains, allowing Carlton to crash out of the blocks and concede by more than 100 points for the first time in a promising eight-week period.
The Eagles were crushed by the Blues at the stoppage, losing the run battle 48-34 and contesting possession 142-114, but now need to get back on their feet for an ominous stretch of games against the Crows, Dogs, Lions and Dockers.
Adelaide failed to secure a win against Port Adelaide and paid for it with a costly defeat, especially after a run of three impressive wins.
The Crows were humiliated by Power’s side at the brink as they lost 42-22, but can set an impressive record against the Eagles with seven straight wins in their meetings by an average score of 55 points.
Matthew Nix made one change to the match, dropping Isaac Cumming and bringing in Toby Murray.
The Eagles have Tim Kelly back along with debutants Oliver Francou and Jack Williams, with Ryan Maric and Elijah Hewitt ruled out and Cooper Duff-Tytler out with a calf injury.
Also on Friday night, Sydney will look to bounce back from a humiliating defeat to the reigning premiers when they host the Western Bulldogs in a huge evening double-header.
The Swans returned from the break to face a rejuvenated Brisbane but produced a performance that was alarming in both the cracks exposed and the defeat.
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The stronger opposition teams were able to score lineouts and open the Swans up on the rebound, while they had lost all three of their meetings to the other five teams before even facing the red-hot Dockers.
The Western Bulldogs got their campaign back on track with five wins from seven matches and now return with the opportunity to make a big statement against a faltering Sydney side.
Sydney v Western Bulldogs at SCG, 7:40pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
The Dawgs are one of the few visiting teams to have a good record on the Swans’ home turf after winning the last two years, and they have built on that away form by going 3-1 away from Victoria this season. Luke Beveridge made just one change, with Cody Weightman returning to replace the sacked Riley West.
The Swans made six changes for the clash, losing Sam Wicks, Joel Amartey, Peter Ladhams and Logan McDonald to injury, while Riley Buys and Malcolm Rosas Jr were missed. Among those included are Dane Ramp and Hayden McLean.