PREMIERSHIP midfielder Toby McLean is among four Western Bulldogs who have been dropped by coach Luke Beveridge as the Dogs prepare for Essendon on Friday night.

Among the other notable changes ahead of round seven include the Giants welcoming back reigning best and fairest winner Tim Taranto, North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell returning from injury, and Port Adelaide speedster Xavier Duursma overcoming his hamstring strain to be included.

ALL THE TEAMS Check 'em out

The Bombers have recalled Mason Redman and will blood first-gamer Ned Cahill, replacing suspended star Dylan Shiel and also Martin Gleeson, who has been managed. 

Conor McKenna has been named to play after having finger surgery on Tuesday and will be given until the last minute to be passed fit for the Metricon Stadium clash. 

Brisbane has made no change to its side despite last week's loss to Geelong, but the inclusion of Taranto will help the Giants against the Lions as one of three changes for Leon Cameron's men with NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Tom Green making way. 

Sydney's tall stocks have received an important boost with the inclusions of Callum Sinclair, Aliir Aliir and Tom McCartin, while exciting youngster Elijah Taylor will make his AFL debut against Gold Coast at the SCG on Saturday.

Wil Powell has been brought back for the Suns, who have dropped midfielder Brayden Fiorini.

Richmond will take an unchanged lineup into Saturday night's clash with North Melbourne, who welcome back skipper Ziebell but will be without Jed Anderson again.

Zac Fisher has been named in Carlton's extended squad to take Port Adelaide on Sunday, while the Power have included Duursma, Tom Rockliff, Sam Mayes, Riley Bonner, Peter Ladhams and Mitch Georgiades in their squad. 

Shaun Burgoyne is back for the Hawks against Melbourne, while West Coast skipper Luke Shuey has been named to face Fremantle, who will be without their injured skipper Nat Fyfe (hamstring) for Sunday's derby at Optus Stadium.

The squads for Monday night's Adelaide-St Kilda clash will be released on Friday evening.

Thursday, July 16

Geelong v Collingwood, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST

GEELONG
In: J.Steven, J.Clark
Out: M.Duncan (hamstring), Q.Narkle (hamstring)

COLLINGWOOD
In: J.De Goey, J.Daicos
Out: M.Scharenberg (ribs), W.Kelly (elbow)

Friday, July 17

Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Metricon Stadium, 7.50pm AEST

ESSENDON
In: M.Redman, N.Cahill
Out: D.Shiel (suspension), M.Gleeson (managed)
New: Ned Cahill

WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: H.Crozier, C.Weightman, M.Suckling, La.Young
Out: J.Schache (omitted), R.West (omitted), T.McLean (omitted), L.Butler (omitted)
New: Cody Weightman

Saturday, July 18

GWS v Brisbane, Giants Stadium, 1.45pm AEST

GWS
In: Z.Langdon, J.Caldwell, T.Taranto, B.Hill
Out: T.Green (omitted), C.Ward (knee), T.Greene (knee), D.Lloyd (managed)

BRISBANE

No change 

Sydney v Gold Coast, SCG, 4.35pm AEST

SYDNEY
In: A.Aliir, T.McCartin, E.Taylor, C.Sinclair
Out: H.McLean (omitted), S.Gray (omitted), I.Heeney (ankle), J.Kennedy (knee)
New: Elijah Taylor

GOLD COAST
In: W.Powell
Out: B.Fiorini (omitted)

Richmond v North Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 7.40pm AEST

RICHMOND

No change 

NORTH MELBOURNE

In: J.Ziebell, A.Bonar, M.Wood
Out: P.Ahern (hamstring), T.Campbell (omitted), T.Thomas (ankle)

Sunday, July 19

Carlton v Port Adelaide, Gabba, 1.05pm AEST

CARLTON

In: Z.Fisher, M.Cottrell, S.Philp, C.Moore
Out: None
New: Matthew Cottrell, Callum Moore

PORT ADELAIDE

In: S.Mayes, T.Rockliff, X.Duursma, R.Bonner, P.Ladhams, M.Georgiades
Out: C.Sutcliffe (hamstring), B.Ebert (suspension)
New: Sam Mayes

Hawthorn v Melbourne, Giants Stadium. 3.35pm AEST

HAWTHORN

In: S.Burgoyne, D.Minchington, M.Lewis, J.Scrimshaw, H.Jones
Out: J.Patton (hamstring)

MELBOURNE

In: N.Jones, L.Jackson, A.Tomlinson, A.Neal-Bullen, J.Smith
Out: T.McDonald (eye)

Fremantle v West Coast, Optus Stadium, 4.35pm AWST

FREMANTLE

In: B.Cox, L.Meek, M.Frederick, C.Blakely, B.Matera, T.Watson
Out: N.Fyfe (hamstring), H.Young (ankle)
New: Lloyd Meek, Michael Frederick, Tobe Watson

WEST COAST

In: L.Shuey, N.Vardy, X.O'Neill, J.Rotham
Out: None
New: Xavier O'Neill

Monday, July 20

Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST

Squads to be announced Friday evening with teams finalised on Saturday afternoon.