AFL

The 253-game veteran - who won three premierships with Geelong - is one of several quality additions to the side from GWS' first outing, with co-captains Phil Davis and Callan Ward, Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw, Ryan Griffen and Jeremy Cameron among the other inclusions.

But with 26 possessions, 10 clearances and two goals, the Brownlow medallist was the difference between his side winning and losing. Of those touches, 17 were contested.

The Dockers kicked six goals to the Crows' four after half time to earn them a 1.9.6 (69) 8.19 (67) win — two late goals from the boot of Nick Suban sealing the victory.

While decision-making and control were aspects of the Blues' game in short supply in their 60-point loss to Essendon at Ikon Park, Weitering was singled out by his coach after shining in his first competitive hit-out with the club.  

It was a performance that charmed the crowd of more than 18,000 and should all but seal the No.1 draft pick's place in the Blues' backline when they take on Richmond in round one.

Now the athletic defender is on the fringes of breaking into Alastair Clarkson's powerhouse team and becoming the first born-and-bred Kiwi to play AFL.

It's no small achievement, although the 21-year-old is impatient to make his debut just like any other footballer.

Franklin, who withdrew from the Swans' finals side last year to deal with a mental health issue, has been selected in the club's 29-man squad. 

The champion forward will be joined in Sydney colours by first-year midfielder Callum Mills and new recruits Callum Sinclair and Michael Talia. 

Wells tore apart the Kangaroos' intra-club match on Friday, slotting four first-half goals and displaying the poise of years gone by to warm the hearts of several hundred supporters at Arden Street.

The 31-year-old has seemingly overcome a nightmare run of injuries after frustrating foot and Achilles complaints restricted him to just 12 games in the past two seasons as the Roos reached back-to-back preliminary finals.

The VFL/AFL coaching games record holder said training in isolation, as Saad did when suspended for an anti-doping violation, was risky as it could give players "a false dawn".

Malthouse told radio station SEN that Saad, who played just four senior games in 2015, could never return to where he was before his suspension because of his time away from the game. 

The 23-year-old missed all of 2015 after suffering an ACL injury in last year’s NAB Challenge but looked in excellent shape, winning plenty of the ball and dominating around the stoppages.

Liberatore won the Dogs' best and fairest in 2014 and came second in 2013.

The dual Brownlow medalist missed Gold Coast’s intra-club clash on Saturday morning. Their NAB Challenge campaign begins on Sunday, February 21 against the Brisbane Lions.

The Blues will make a call on whether to stick with Murphy before new coach Brendon Bolton's 'reset' club is tested in battle by his former team Hawthorn in the NAB Challenge opener in Launceston next Thursday.

Tuohy said the Blues have "a lot of leadership density", particularly among their senior players, but Murphy was the standout candidate in the Irishman's eyes.