However the AFL will hope they have returned to form by the time they play the Cats,who have also been underwhelming in their three wins so far this season.

Geelong will also be without star midfielderPatrick Dangerfield who is out indefinitely with a syndesmosis injury but have only lost to the Saints once in their last 11 matches.

Collingwood will play Sydney at the SCG in the early Saturday timeslot with the Western Bulldogs to play Port Adelaide in a huge match at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. Melbourne will also play Carlton in the mid-afternoon Sunday slot at the MCG.

The AFL will resume with a Friday night blockbuster when last year’s preliminary finalists,the Brisbane Lions and Richmond,play at the Gabba in a rematch.

It will be the first time the Tigers will return to the venue since they won the flag against Geelong in late October.

The Western Bulldogs play St Kilda on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium in round 10 while the Magpies will host Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The fixture for rounds 11 and 12 will be released next week before the AFL moves to releasing matches in four-week blocks,subject to continued stability in the number of COVID-19 cases in Australia.

Marcus King,the AFL’s head of broadcasting and scheduling,said rounds nine and 10 offered a good spread of competitive clashes.

“We have a few weeks until rounds nine and 10 are upon us,but they appear to be a potential nightmare for tipsters,” King said.

“Looking ahead,we plan on releasing rounds 11 and 12 next week,followed by,subject to any COVID setbacks,a minimum four-week block to provide further certainty for clubs and fans.”