GEELONG coach Mark Thompson has reacted strongly to his team's narrow loss to St Kilda by axing premiership players Andrew Mackie and Mark Blake.

The Cats have brought back rookie revelation James Podsiadly from suspension, while defender Tom Lonergan also comes into the 22 for Friday night's cutthroat semi-final against Fremantle.

It's not the first time ruckman Blake has been dropped this season, however half-back Mackie has missed just seven matches during the Cats' dominant run of the last four seasons.

Fremantle will head into Friday night with an unchanged side, with Aaron Sandilands named in the ruck despite suffering a knee injury in last week's win over Hawthorn.

Kepler Bradley, Des Headland and Rhys Palmer are emergencies for Freo's inaugural final at the MCG.

The Western Bulldogs hope debutant Andrew Hooper can reinvigorate their campaign as they try to stave off elimination against the Sydney Swans on Saturday night.

Hooper will become the first finals debutant in 25 years, with the lively forward one of two changes made by Rodney Eade.

Defender Easton Wood appears to be over a hamstring injury and will return, with Tim Callan and Shaun Higgins making way.

And the Sydney Swans have received some added potency with goalkickers Daniel Bradshaw and Ben McGlynn coming in to face the Bulldogs.

Bradshaw has struggled with a knee injury since his last AFL game in round nine, while McGlynn has been sidelined for a month with a fractured cheekbone.

Paul Bevan and Jesse White are the unlucky pair to depart the side that beat Carlton.

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