Geelong have named forward Paul Chapman as an emergency for Friday night's showdown against St Kilda at the MCG.
A groin injury affected Chapman's pre-season campaign as he and skipper Cameron Ling (hamstring) were the major names missing from new coach Chris Scott's first-ever team.
A decision on the two-time premiership player's fitness will be made prior to the match and he may yet come in to play what would be his 200th AFL game.
Also reaching the double-century milestone is defender Corey Enright, while the Cats have included teenager Cameron Guthrie for his AFL debut.
The 18-year-old, who was taken with the 23rd pick at the 2010 AFL draft after a stellar season for the Calder Cannons, will wear the No.29 jumper vacated by Gary Ablett.
Former Cat Ryan Gamble will play his first game for St Kilda against his old club after being named at full-forward.
Gamble, who kicked 31 goals in 24 games during five seasons for Geelong, will line-up on Matthew Scarlett with key forward Justin Koschitzke out with an ankle injury.
Hawthorn star Luke Hodge was the notable absentee from the Hawks side to face Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
Hodge, who eased his way through a VFL practice match for Box Hill last weekend, is set to return for Round 2.
The Hawks named new recruits Cameron Bruce and David Hale, while as expected for Adelaide key forward Kirk Tippett (ankle) and ruckman Sam Jacobs (hamstring) weren't selected.
Former Tiger Richard Tambling will make his first appearance in a Crows jumper on the wing and Andy Otten returns to the AFL scene after his serious knee injury last year.
Essendon coach James Hird has handed top draft pick Dyson Heppell his AFL debut after being named on the half-back flank for the Bombers season-opener against the Western Bulldogs.
The teenager from Leongatha was outstanding during the Bombers NAB Cup campaign and is the only new face in Hird's maiden line-up.
The new coach has also elevated forward Stewart Crameri from the rookie list, while David Hille has been named in the ruck.
Speaking of the Western Bulldogs, they have named sons of guns Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis in an extended squad for the clash against the Bombers.
Liberatore, the son of 1990 Brownlow medallist Tony, was picked as the rover, while Wallis is on a seven-man interchange bench boasting three off-season recruits in Justin Sherman (Brisbane), Nathan Djerrkura (Geelong) and Ed Barlow (Sydney).
Lukas Markovic has also been named for his AFL debut at fullback in place of injured All Australian defender Brian Lake, while rebounding backman Lindsay Gilbee (hamstring) also misses.
Collingwood have included Andrew Krakouer and Chris Tarrant, along with ex-Melbourne defender Simon Buckley for Saturday's clash against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
Krakouer has been in blazing form for the Pies since being recruited from Swan Districts, while Tarrant begins his second spell at the club following 72 games for Fremantle.
Buckley, who notched up 21 games for the Demons between 2007 and 2009, plays his first game in the black and white after being unable to break into the senior line-up last year.
Port Adelaide will hand AFL debuts to three teenagers in Jarrad Irons, Jasper Pittard and Cameron O'Shea against the defending premiers, but there was no place for Chad Cornes.
Speaking of debuts, Rohan Bewick, the nephew of former Essendon premiership Darren, and Ryan Lester will make theirs for the Brisbane Lions against Fremantle on Saturday night.
Joel Patfull will play his 100th game for the Lions alongside captain Jonathan Brown, who was named at full-forward.
Jayden Pitt will debut for Fremantle, who are fielding star performers Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands.
Melbourne are set to unveil a new player in Luke Tapscott against the Sydney Swans on Sunday.
Tapscott, who was drafted at No.18 in the 2009 national draft, missed the bulk of his first year at the Demons with a hip injury, but comes into a line-up missing Tom Scully (knee).
Another highly-rated young gun in Jack Trengove will be given until game time to prove he has overcome an ankle injury.
Sydney coach John Longmire's debut as an AFL coach may coincide with the first game of Byron Sumner.
Sumner, who hails from Woodville-West Torrens in South Australia, is on an extended interchange bench.
Former Bulldog Andrejs Everitt has been named for his first game in the red and white on the half-back flank, with Adam Goodes at centre half-forward.
North Melbourne may field up to three new men in Sunday's match against West Coast in Perth.
Key position prospect Cameron Pedersen, former North Ballarat ball magnet Cameron Richardson and the club's top draft pick Shaun Atley feature in a 25-man squad.
West Coast have two new players of their own with highly-rated midfielder Andrew Gaff and Jack Darling named for their debuts, but there is no place for Daniel Kerr.
Gaff was taken at No.4 in the 2010 national draft and Darling is an athletic forward, who is regarded as a player of the future.