Staker makes AFL return for Lions
Brent Staker will make a remarkable comeback from a knee reconstruction when Brisbane host Geelong in their round-17 AFL clash at the Gabba on Sunday.
Staker suffered a major knee injury in round one against Fremantle on March 26.
Yet the former West Coast Eagle has emerged fit again following LARS surgery and two games in the reserves to be one of two inclusions for the game against the Cats.
Key forward Mitch Clark also returns after three weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
The 15th-placed Lions have dropped Rohan Bewick and Bryce Retzlaff.
Geelong made four changes as they regained star midfielder Joel Selwood from a four-game suspension.
Andrew Mackie, Simon Hogan and big man Tom Hawkins also return, with Hawkins to fill the key post at centre-half forward in the absence of suspended ruckman Brad Ottens.
Nathan Vardy, a 20-year-old with seven games to his credit, will play first ruck against Brisbane's rising talent Matthew Leuenberger.
The Cats omitted Mitch Duncan, Daniel Menzel and David Wojcinski.
Western Bulldogs, on a four-game winning streak, named an unchanged side for Sunday's game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
North Melbourne promoted Ben Warren, Ben Speight and James MacMillan for Liam Anthony, Lindsay Thomas and Shaun Atley (knee).
Fremantle's Adam McPhee and Michael Barlow, who has been out for two games because of soreness since making a comeback from a broken leg, will return for Sunday's SCG clash with Sydney.
The Swans regain Jesse White and Craig Bird.
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