Melbourne have dropped former No.1 draft pick Jack Watts among five changes as they seek to ignite their AFL season after a horror start.

Along with Watts, David Rodan, Sam Blease and Daniel Nicholson were dumped from the side that lost to Essendon by 148 points last round.

Tom Gillies (groin) was forced out for Saturday’s clash with West Coast at the MCG.

The Eagles welcomed back stars Mark LeCras and Daniel Kerr from injury.

Collingwood have named veteran ruck recruit Ben Hudson to make his Magpies debut in Sunday’s big MCG clash with Hawthorn, after losing Darren Jolly to a rib injury.

The Magpies will also be without captain Nick Maxwell (wrist) but regain Dale Thomas.

The Hawks have lost midfield gun Brad Sewell (hamstring).

Winless Carlton have made four changes for Saturday night’s meeting with Geelong.

Heath Scotland returns from a club-imposed suspension, tall forward Shaun Hampson from an appendix complaint, while father-son recruit Dylan Buckley will make his AFL debut.

Geelong star forward-midfielder Steve Johnson will play his first game of the season, after recovering from knee surgery, but midfielder James Kelly (calf) is out.

Fremantle welcome back Hayden Ballantyne from suspension for Friday night’s match against Essendon in Perth.

The Bombers made two changes, losing Mark Baguley (ankle) and dropping Jackson Merrett despite their huge win over the Demons.

St Kilda have lost premiership players Adam Schneider (hamstring) and Sean Dempster (hand) for their Canberra clash with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night.

They’ve been replaced by debutants Tom Lee and Nathan Wright.

Brisbane have made three changes as they seek their first win of the season against Gold Coast on Saturday night.

Claye Beams is out with a serious knee injury, but Patrick Karnezis and Ryan Lester have both been dropped.

The Suns lost Tom Murphy (shoulder) and Dion Prestia (hip).

Former Gold Coast player Taylor Hine will play his first game for North Melbourne against Sydney in Hobart on Saturday, while the Swans have lost Rhyce Shaw (abdominal strain).