NORTH Melbourne has received mixed news ahead of its top-of-the-table clash with Melbourne, with some significant ins but also losing players to illness.

Libby Birch (knee), Emma Kearney (managed), Kate Shierlaw (concussion) and Taylah Gatt (groin) will all return to face the Dees, but Bella Eddey and Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner have been sidelined with the flu, and impressive young defender Claire Mahony squeezed out.

West Coast midfielder Courtney Rowley will return from a torn ACL, with Abby Bushby recovering from a dual adductor/suspension sidelining. They will take the place of Zoe Wakfer (concussion) and omitted small Sienna Gerardi.

Veteran Maddi Gay has made a speedy recovery from a shoulder injury, Essendon dropping Madi Ibrahim and opting to keep Brooke Walker in the emergencies.

Melbourne has restructured somewhat, with small forward Alyssia Pisano recalled in place of key back Lauren Clifton (foot), while opting to name recovered ruck Lauren Pearce (knee) as an emergency.

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Carlton has dropped veteran Tara Bohanna for the second time this year, with fellow forward Lila Keck also sidelined with a foot injury.

Draftee Tayla McMillan will debut, with freshly re-signed Irish recruit Aisling Reidy recalled.

Port Adelaide will finally get the chance to unveil recruit Ellie Hampson, having overcome her pre-season hip injury, with Grace Parsons (ankle) missing out.

Richmond will welcome back Paige Scott (foot) for the first time this year, as well as debuting Irish recruit Ana Mulholland, with Montana McKinnon recalled after suspension.

Ruck Poppy Kelly will miss with concussion, key back Bec Miller has been dropped, while small forward Emelia Yassir has been managed.

There's been three forced changes at the Kennel, with Alice Edmonds (back), Lou Stephenson (managed) and Dom Carruthers (injured) coming out of the team, and youngsters Keeley Hardingham, Analea McKee and Sarah Poustierecalled.

St Kilda has named a possible returnee in Nicola Xenos (ACL) for its Sunday game, while also being forced to name top-up and former Hawk Zoe Barbakos in its extended squad.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Essendon v West Coast at Windy Hill, 12.05pm AEST

ESSENDON

In: M.Gay
Out: M.Ibrahim (omitted)

WEST COAST

In: C.Rowley, A.Bushby
Out: Z.Wakfer (injured), S.Gerardi (omitted)

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide at Mission Whitten Oval, 2.05pm AEST

WESTERN BULLDOGS

In: K.Hardingham, S.Poustie, A.McKee
Out: A.Edmonds (injured), L.Stephenson (managed), D.Carruthers (injured)

PORT ADELAIDE

In: E.Hampson
Out: G.Parsons (injured)

Carlton v Richmond at Ikon Park, 4pm AEST

CARLTON

In: T.McMillan, A.Reidy
Out: T.Bohanna (omitted), L.Keck (injured)

RICHMOND

In: M.McKinnon, P.Scott, A.Mulholland
Out: R.Miller (omitted), P.Kelly (injured), E.Yassir (managed)

Melbourne v North Melbourne at Ikon Park, 7.15pm AEST

MELBOURNE

In: A.Pisano
Out: L.Clifton (injured)

NORTH MELBOURNE

In: L.Birch, E.Kearney, K.Shierlaw, T.Gatt
Out: C.Mahony (omitted), A.Favell (omitted), B.Eddey (illness), K.Weston-Turner (illness)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Adelaide v Fremantle at Unley Oval, 12.35pm ACST

ADELAIDE

In: L.Tarlinton, A.Stewart, J.Kelly
Out: Nil

FREMANTLE

In: I.Strom, L.Johnson, E.Parker
Out: Nil

Collingwood v Greater Western Sydney at Victoria Park, 1.05pm AEST

COLLINGWOOD

In: C.Brewer, B.Davey, A.Smith 
Out: Nil

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

In: K.Yerbury, M.Evans, E.Brown, S.Gaukrodger
Out: G.Martin (injured)

Sydney v Brisbane at Henson Park, 3.05pm AEST

SYDNEY

In: A.Martin, D.Moloney, I.Williams
Out: Nil

BRISBANE

In: C.Mullins, L.Baker, M.Evans 
Out: Nil

Gold Coast v St Kilda at People First Stadium, 5.05pm AEST

GOLD COAST

In: L.Quigley, E.Barwick, R.Ingram, E.Veerhuis
Out: M.Salisbury (injured)

ST KILDA

In: S.Butterworth, N.Xenos, C.Sutton, Z.Barbakos, E.Fiedler
Out: T.Smith (suspension), S.Lally (concussion)