HAWTHORN will go into Sunday's clash with Essendon at the MCG without key midfielder Sam Mitchell, who is nursing a corked calf.

The 32-year-old was a late withdrawal from the match, replaced by half-forward debutant James Sicily.

Sicily will start in the red vest in his first AFL game after being selected by the Hawks in the third round of the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

Hawthorn will also be without defender Josh Gibson, who pulled out of the selected side on Saturday because of general soreness.

He was replaced by Taylor Duryea. 

The Bombers will enter the match unchanged, meaning ruckman Tom Bellchambers will take his place in the side despite reportedly pulling up sore from last Saturday's loss to the Sydney Swans.

Jason Ashby will be their starting substitute in his sixth AFL game. 

Athletic recruit Rhys Stanley will make his debut for Geelong against Fremantle on Sunday after being named as a late replacement for veteran defender Jared Rivers, who has a knee injury.

It will be a tough initiation for Stanley, as he will be expected to support Dawson Simpson in the ruck battle with the game's dominant ruckman in Aaron Sandilands.

He may also have to play in defence depending on match-ups, with Fremantle naming young key forward Matt Taberner as a late inclusion for Tendai Mzungu, who was always an uncertain starter after suffering a pre-season hamstring injury that kept him out of round one.

Stanley was traded to Geelong from St Kilda in exchange for pick No.21 during the 2014 trade period.

He played 58 games for the Saints, kicking 40 goals playing mainly as a key forward or defender. Geelong believes the 24-year-old can use his athleticism to become a mobile ruckman.

Stanley comes into the game after just one VFL practice match against Footscray last week, returning to football gradually after his pre-season was interrupted after a hot spot was detected in his tibia.

Rivers has had an ongoing knee issue, which caused him to have a delayed start to the pre-season.

North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm AEST

LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Jamie Macmillan replaced in selected side by Sam Wright
Brisbane Lions:
Nil

FINAL INTERCHANGES
North Melbourne: Shaun Higgins, Jack Ziebell, Brent Harvey
Substitute: Mason Wood
Brisbane Lions: Mitch Robinson, Claye Beams, Lewis Taylor
Substitute: Zac O'Brien

Essendon v Hawthorn at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST

LATE CHANGES
Essendon: Nil
Hawthorn: Sam Mitchell (corked calf) replaced in selected side by James Sicily 

FINAL INTERCHANGES
Essendon: Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Ben Howlett
Substitute: Jason Ashby
Hawthorn: Taylor Duryea, Will Langford, Jed Anderson
Substitute: James Sicily 

Geelong v Fremantle at Simonds Stadium, 1.10pm AEST

LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Jared Rivers (knee) replaced in selected side by Rhys Stanley
Fremantle:
Tendai Mzungu replaced in selected side by Matt Taberner

FINAL INTERCHANGES
Geelong: Josh Caddy, George Horlin-Smith, Billie Smedts
Substitute: Nakia Cockatoo
Fremantle: Garrick Ibbotson, Lachie Neale, Michael Barlow
Substitute: Matt De Boer