Dylan Buckley will make his return for the Northern Blues from suspension after being named in the Bertocchi 23 for this Saturday’s clash with Box Hill. 

While he has been named on the extended bench, Buckley is confirmed to play for the VFL side this weekend and will add some zip and grunt on what shapes up to be a wet, windy match against the Hawks.

Buckley, who was suspended for two matches against Williamstown, is one of 22 Carlton-listed players named in the side, although that is due to change.

Tyler Roos is also a confirmed inclusion and will play the last of his three game-quota as 23rd man, taking the place of the Northern Knights’ Matt Perry. 

All seven members of Carlton’s extended bench have been named in a very extended squad of 31, with the side to be cut down tomorrow in conjunction with the final AFL team announcement. 

Dennis Armfield, Ciaran Byrne, Daniel Gorringe, Nick Graham and Simon White are the others ins, and are joined by Andrew Phillips and Jack Silvagni as potentially fronting up for Northern pending AFL selection. 

There have been nine inclusions into the side with Perry the only confirmed exclusion, with eight members of the squad to make way prior to the game at Box Hill City Oval.

The Northern Blues' extended Round 10 squad. (Graphic by the Northern Blues Football Club)

After his impressive game last week, Mark Whiley has again been named in the starting midfield for the Blues this weekend in similar conditions to last week’s game against Frankston where he was named best afield.

Tom Wilson joins Whiley in the middle after making successful returns from injury in the Round 9 win over the Dolphins, potentially at the feet of Phillips who also made a return from injury at Ikon Park on Sunday. 

Kristian Jaksch has been named down back ahead of the clash with the Hawks after kicking 13 goals in the opening eight games, while the in-form Jason Tutt is joined by Dillon Viojo-Rainbow on the wings. 

Meanwhile, Liam Jones will lead the line for the Blues up forward after the side came away with the win in his 50th VFL game, as he also nears a century of VFL career goals.

The match with the Hawks starts at 2pm on Saturday afternoon at Box Hill City Oval.