HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has resisted "catastrophic change" after last week's stunning capitulation against St Kilda, only axing Will Langford and Kaiden Brand for Sunday's clash with Melbourne. 

Premiership stars Cyril Rioli and Grant Birchall return for the under-siege Hawks in their first meeting against club great Jordan Lewis since his bombshell trade to the Demons. 

Melbourne welcomes back spearhead Jesse Hogan following his father's passing, with Josh Wagner also into the side as the Dees aim for their fourth win this season.

Full round seven teams here

Alex Neal-Bullen and former Bombers hard nut Jake Melksham have been dropped. 

Winless Sydney welcomes back former skipper Jarrad McVeigh for the first time this year amongst five inclusions for the bout with the Brisbane Lions at the SCG.

Persistent calf issues have sidelined McVeigh and the veteran's return will be a boost after last week's listless defeat to Carlton.

Defender Aliir Aliir, draftee Oliver Florent, Dean Towers and Sam Naismith also come into the 22.

Gary Rohan (concussion) and Jeremy Laidler (Achilles) miss out through injury, while Nic Newman, Brandon Jack and James Rose have been axed.

The Lions have replaced injured skipper Dayne Beams (quad) and Tom Cutler (hamstring) with Marco Paparone and Jake Barrett. 

Fremantle has rewarded Cam Sutcliffe for super WAFL form, bringing him in alongside tall forward Matt Taberner for Sunday's home clash with Essendon.

Top draftee Griffin Logue makes way after a quiet Western Derby, while Tommy Sheridan has also been omitted. 

Both the Dockers and Dons have the chance to go 4-3 and stay firmly in the race for the top eight at Domain Stadium, and Essendon has made six changes following last week's deflating loss to Melbourne. 

Ben Howlett (omitted) has followed Jobe Watson (rested), Andy McGrath (rested), Tom Bellchambers (omitted), Ben McNiece (rested) and Mitch Brown (ankle) out of the side. 

Veteran midfielder Brent Stanton, James Kelly, Matthew Leuenberger, Aaron Francis, Michael Hartley and David Myers – in for his first game since round 20, 2015 – are the new faces into the 22.

Sunday, May 7

Sydney v Brisbane Lions at the SCG, 1.10pm AEST

SYDNEY
In: J.McVeigh, A.Aliir, D.Towers, S.Naismith
Out: J.Laidler (achilles), G.Rohan (concussion), B.Jack, J.Rose

BRISBANE LIONS
In: M.Paparone, J.Barrett
Out: D.Beams (quad), T.Cutler (hamstring)

Melbourne v Hawthorn at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST

MELBOURNE
In: J.Wagner, J.Hogan
Out: J.Melksham, A.Neal-Bullen

HAWTHORN
In: G.Birchall, C.Rioli
Out: W.Langford, K.Brand

Fremantle v Essendon at Domain Stadium, 2.40pm AWST

FREMANTLE
In: C.Sutcliffe, M.Taberner
Out: G.Logue, T.Sheridan

ESSENDON
In: J.Kelly, B.Stanton, M.Leuenberger, D.Myers, M.Hartley, A.Francis
Out: J.Watson (rested), T.Bellchambers, , B.Howlett, M.Brown (ankle), B.McNiece (rested), A.McGrath (rested)