Melbourne have dumped ex-captain Brad Green for Saturday’s crunch AFL clash with Richmond at the MCG.
The 31-year-old, who was stripped of the captaincy this season, is among the casualties from the winless Demons’ 108-point whipping from West Coast in Perth last round.
Ricky Petterd, Jamie Bennell and Joel Macdonald were also dropped, with recalled fellow veteran Aaron Davey among the replacements.
The Tigers’ only change was replacing the injured Jake King (knee) with Addam Maric.
Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell and Carlton fullback Michael Jamison will both play their first games of the AFL season in Friday night’s MCG blockbuster.
The Magpies, who lost backman Chris Tarrant (calf), have also regained midfielder Sharrod Wellingham from a club-imposed suspension, while ruckman Cameron Wood has been recalled.
Fellow defender Nick Duigan joins Jamison in returning from injury for the Blues.
Brisbane skipper Jonathan Brown will make his return from facial fractures, among five inclusions for Saturday night’s Patersons Stadium meeting with Fremantle.
However the Lions will be without star on-baller Simon Black because of a fractured hand.
The Dockers also have a big-name inclusion, midfielder David Mundy, the club’s 2010 best and fairest, returning from the lower leg injury which ruined the second half of his 2011 season.
West Coast have cited injury for leaving out some of their best players for Sunday’s Blacktown encounter with Gold Coast.
While veteran Andrew Embley will miss up to four months with a shoulder injury, captain Darren Glass (groin) and midfield star Matthew Priddis (quad) are also among the omissions.
Gold Coast will be strengthened by the return of key defender Nathan Bock from a gambling-related suspension, among four changes for Saturday night’s Metricon Stadium clash with Essendon.
The Bombers have lost five players – David Hille (calf), Mark McVeigh (soreness), Nathan Lovett-Murray (hamstring), David Myers (hamstring) and Sam Lonergan (suspension).
Sydney ruckman Shane Mumford will return from a back injury for the Swans’ meeting with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
The Power welcome back talented forward Robbie Gray from a hamstring injury.
Tough North Melbourne midfielder Jack Ziebell will boost the Kangaroos in Sunday’s daunting encounter with Geelong at Etihad Stadium, after serving a suspension stemming from last year.
Hawthorn remain without injured skipper Luke Hodge for Sunday’s clash with Adelaide at the MCG and have lost running player Isaac Smith (back), while the Crows have lost Richard Douglas (hamstring).
