Hawthorn have lost one star and regained another, with Sam Mitchell taking Cyril Rioli’s place for the Friday night AFL match against North Melbourne.

Mitchell has been out of action since round seven with a hamstring injury.

Rioli suffered his seventh hamstring injury last weekend and it will put him out of action for eight to 10 weeks, meaning his season could be over.

The Kangaroos reacted to last Saturday night’s shock loss to Brisbane by axing three players for their crucial match against the top side.

Jack Ziebell has a knee injury, while Aaron Mullett, Brad McKenzie and Max Warren were dropped.

The Hawks recalled Scott McMahon, Lachie Hansen, Liam Anthony and Sam Wright.

Essendon have left out veteran Dustin Fletcher and lost fellow in-form defender Michael Hibberd to an ankle injury for Saturday night’s away match against Port Adelaide.

Jason Winderlich and Mark Baguley will return for the Bombers.

Sam Gray joins key defenders Alipate Carlile (hamstring) and Jackson Trengove (ankle) as the outgoing Port players.

Dom Cassisi, Cam O’Shea and Aaron Young will take their spots.

A week after his five-week club suspension ended, Greater Western Sydney midfielder Toby Greene is back in the senior team for Saturday’s home game against Adelaide.

Meanwhile, Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito will finally return to the AFL, 1394 days since his last match.

Morabito has endured three reconstructions on his left knee since he played in the Dockers’ 2010 semi-final loss to Geelong.

After having to wait for several weeks, Morabito found out on Thursday morning that he will make his senior comeback in Saturday night’s match against Melbourne in Darwin.

“After training, (coach) Ross Lyon called everyone in,” Morabito told the club website.

“His last point was that I was in. I was a little bit shocked.

“All the boys were really happy, they embraced me. I was quite emotional at the time and I will cherish that moment.”

The 22-year-old also made his debut in 2010 and played 23 games.