Key tall Stephen Staunton returns after hamstring tightness forced him out as a late withdrawal last round.

Sam Crawley, Gus Bourke and Nathan Sargeant will join Staunton in the Bloods’ best 21 for their celebration game, which will pay hommage to the Mortlake Cats, at DC Farran Oval on Saturday.

Unavailable duo Alex Moloney and Joel Moloney and omitted pair Zac Newson and Tyson Densley are out.

“Steve will help cover Alex and Jason is hard to cover but we have blokes who have played in the midfield like Jess Budarick and Nick Couch,” Bloods coach Michael Sargeant said.

Camperdown made one change with VFL-listed defender Jack Williams replacing injured key forward Nick Bateman. Magpies mentor Phil Carse said Bateman’s shoulder injury prognosis was promising.

“It’s a compression AC joint. The scan came up well, there’s no break and it wasn’t out of the socket,” he said.

“In terms of shoulder injuries, it’s as good as you could hope for.”

Koroit will bring in injury-prone Tom Mugavin for his first senior game of the season following knee troubles. Mugavin replaces defender Todd McLean (rolled ankle) for the Saints’ clash against North Warrnambool Eagles.

Daniel Watson will return from injury and Ryleigh McVilly will debut when Cobden faces Port Fairy.

Forward Nick Harding (knee) and teenager Lachie Davis (omitted) make way.

Bombers coach Levi Dare will meet a surgeon about his injured knee on Friday.

Portland will be without star duo Luke Crane (unavailable) and Jay Moody (police exam) against Warrnambool. Tom Sharp and debutant Jordi Withers come in. The Blues welcome back Andrew McCarthy (calf) in place of the omitted Jed Turland. Zac Sandow replaces Tim Brown (hamstring) at South Warrnambool, while ruckman Jack Pertzel is one of three inclusions for Hamilton Kangaroos.