MELBOURNE skipper Kate Hore will miss this weekend with a neck injury, North Melbourne has dropped tall Emma King, while a winless Essendon has lost patience, dropping four players.

The Demons will be without Hore (neck) and Shelley Heath-Barker (calf) for its match against Collingwood, while the Roos have already confirmed King won't face Sydney, despite the fact they don't play till Sunday.

After suffering some pain in the area, scans have revealed superstar Hore has suffered an injury to a disc in her neck, and a timeline for her return will be set in a few days as the region settles.

Essendon has dropped Bess Keaney, Maggie MacLachlan, Chloe Adams and Nalu Brothwell, with Zoe Prowse (foot) sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Daria Bannister (knee), Sophie Alexander (back), Maggie Johnstone (managed), Taya Chambers and Brooke Walker all return.

Greater Western Sydney best and fairest Zarlie Goldsworthy will make her long-awaited return from a broken leg, along with Grace Martin (concussion), with Poppy Boltz (ankle) and Georgia Clark missing out.

A beleaguered St Kilda has made two changes and named two top-ups as emergencies, as well as fielding top-up Zoe Barbakos for a second straight game.

Shining light Jade McLay will miss with injury, as will Sophie Butterworth (concussion), but Nicola Xenos will make a long-awaited return from a torn ACL, along with star midfielder Tyanna Smith (returning from suspension).

Geelong has named Bryde O'Rourke (illness) in place of Lexi Gregor (concussion), while Richmond has made four forced changes, losing Katie Brennan (managed) and injured trio Aoibhín Cleary, Georgia Stubs and Baia Pugh.

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The Western Bulldogs have opted to hold skipper De Berry back for a second week. Having recovered from her collarbone injury, the Dogs are wary of her lengthy injury history given her time off, and are giving her a few extra weeks of conditioning.

Alice Edmonds (back), Dom Carruthers (calf) and Mizuki Brothwell have all been named, with Keeley Hardingham, Sarah Poustie and Brit Gutknecht (foot) making way.

Gold Coast will regain Lucy Single (concussion) for the QClash, alongside youngster Mikayla Nurse (broken nose and hand), but Annabel Kievit has suffered a torn ACL.

Opponent Brisbane has been boosted by the return of speedster Lily Postlethwaite (hamstring), taking the place of Ruby Svarc (broken jaw).

Adelaide will hand a debut to Alice Tentye for the AFLW Showdown, with Brooke Tonon recalled, while Olivia Gorman and Lucy Waye have been omitted.

Port Adelaide has dropped veteran Kirsty Lamb and Jas Evans, with Lucy Boyd concussed, with Olivia Crane, Ella Boag and Katelyn Pope all recalled.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

Richmond v Geelong at Ikon Park, 7.15pm AEST

RICHMOND

In: M.Shevlin, P.Kelly, E.Yassir, R.Miller
Out: K.Brennan (managed), A.Cleary (ankle), G.Stubs (injured), B.Pugh (shoulder)

GEELONG

In: B.O'Rourke 
Out: A.Gregor (concussion)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

Greater Western Sydney v Essendon at Henson Park, 1.05pm AEST

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

In: G.Martin, Z.Goldsworthy
Out: P.Boltz (ankle), G.Clark (omitted)

ESSENDON

In: T.Chambers, D.Bannister, B.Walker, M.Johnstone, S.Alexander
Out: Z.Prowse (foot), N.Brothwell (omitted), B.Keaney (omitted), M.MacLachlan (omitted), C.Adams (omitted)

Western Bulldogs v St Kilda at Mars Stadium, 3.05pm AEST

WESTERN BULLDOGS

In: A.Edmonds, M.Brothwell, D.Carruthers
Out: B.Gutknecht (foot), K.Hardingham (omitted), S.Poustie (omitted)

ST KILDA

In: N.Xenos, T.Smith
Out: J.McLay (injured), S.Butterworth (concussion)

Brisbane v Gold Coast at Brighton Homes Arena, 5.05pm AEST

BRISBANE

In: L.Postlethwaite
Out: R.Svarc (jaw)

GOLD COAST

In: M.Nurse, L.Single
Out: A.Kievit (ACL), B.Parker (omitted)

Port Adelaide v Adelaide at Alberton Oval, 6.45pm ACST

PORT ADELAIDE

In: O.Crane, E.Boag, K.Pope
Out: K.Lamb (omitted), L.Boyd (injured), J.Evans (omitted)

ADELAIDE

In: A.Tentye, B.Tonon
Out: O.Gorman (omitted), L.Waye (omitted)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

North Melbourne v Sydney at Arden Street Oval, 1.05pm AEDT

NORTH MELBOURNE

In: B.Eddey, T.Boyd, M.Torpey, A.Favell
Out: E.King (omitted)

SYDNEY

In: D.Moloney, J.Grierson, I.Williams
Out: Nil

Collingwood v Melbourne at Victoria Park, 3.05pm AEDT

COLLINGWOOD

In: C.Brewer, G.Knight, A.Smith, K.Howarth
Out: D.Carbone (ankle)

MELBOURNE

In: A.Horisk, L.Pearce, T.Fellows, S.Taylor, J.Hose
Out: K.Hore (neck), S.Heath-Barker (calf)

West Coast v Fremantle at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, 2.05pm AWST

WEST COAST

In: S.Gerardi, E.Slocombe, Z.Wakfer
Out: Nil

FREMANTLE

In: E.Parker, G.Brisbane, L.Pugh
Out: Nil