Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

AFL Round 16 team selection has thrown up some big calls, with Fremantle Dockers axing Mason Cox in favour of the returning Sean Darcy ahead of Sunday's home clash against Gold Coast Suns in Perth.

Carlton Blues will also be without key defender Jacob Weitering for a third consecutive match as the competition heads into another action-packed weekend.

Stay across all the latest AFL injury and selection news ahead of Round 16

Dockers Ruck Change Shakes Things Up

Sean Darcy began 2026 as Fremantle Dockers' preferred ruck partner alongside Luke Jackson before being sidelined with concussion and calf problems.

Mason Cox, a premiership winner with Collingwood Football Club who crossed to Fremantle Dockers at the end of last season, played nine games during their current 13-match winning streak. His averages of 6.5 possessions and 13.8 hitouts per game weren't enough to keep his spot, with Sean Darcy's strong recent WAFL form tipping the scales.

Blues Play It Safe With Weitering

Carlton Blues interim coach Josh Fraser is taking no chances with Jacob Weitering's calf injury before Saturday's match against West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium.

"We're more than comfortable (with how we've approached the injury)," Fraser said before teams were released on Thursday night.

Key Ins and Outs Across the Competition

West Coast Eagles have lost midfielder Tim Kelly to hamstring tightness, while Jack Graham returns from shoulder surgery. Willem Duursma, Tom McCarthy, and Jack Hutchinson also come back in.

Port Adelaide Power have dropped Todd Marshall again and lost Esava Ratugolea to a serious knee injury. Ollie Wines and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher are among the ins, while Adelaide Crows welcome back Josh Worrell and Isaac Cumming but lose Wayne Milera.

Essendon Bombers have named Andrew McGrath, Darcy Parish, Isaac Kako, Jye Caldwell, Tom Edwards, and Saad El-Hawli as possible ins against North Melbourne Kangaroos, whose ruckman Tristan Xerri is out with a broken jaw.

Collingwood Magpies welcome back games record-holder Scott Pendlebury against Richmond Tigers, while GWS Giants have replaced Jesse Hogan with Max Gruzewski for Friday night's MCG clash with Hawthorn Hawks.

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