R9 Teams, Tigers v Bulldogs: Daniel Rioli has been dropped, while former Tiger Sam Lloyd is back for the Bulldogs. Pictures: AFL Photos

RICHMOND has axed premiership players Daniel Rioli and Jack Graham for the second time this year among four changes for Wednesday night's crunch clash with the Western Bulldogs.

Coach Damien Hardwick already revealed that skipper Trent Cotchin would return from his hamstring injury and that Sydney Stack would be recalled to play a midfield role.

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The Tigers also promoted Oleg Markov – for his first senior appearance since round three last season – and Jack Ross but dumped Patrick Naish and lost Nick Vlastuin to a calf injury.

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Rioli and Graham, who won only six possessions against the Giants, were also dropped after round three.

Richmond sits in ninth spot and is still missing prominent members Bachar Houli, Dion Prestia, Shane Edwards, David Astbury, Toby Nankervis and Josh Caddy.

THE FULL INJURY LIST Who is racing the clock?

As flagged earlier on Tuesday, Sam Lloyd and Toby McLean will bolster the Bulldogs' line-up at the expense of Lachie Young and the injured Callum Porter (AC joint), who made his debut last week.

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McLean starred in a weekend scrimmage game, while Lloyd was active with two goals in the same contest after missing four games with a broken collarbone that required surgery.

The Dogs have won five of their past six games – the only blip being the 52-point defeat to Carlton three weeks ago – to surge into sixth position on the ladder.

Wednesday, July 29

Western Bulldogs v Richmond, Metricon Stadium, 7.10pm AEST

WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: T.McLean, S.Lloyd
Out: La.Young (Omitted), C.Porter (AC joint)

RICHMOND
In: S.Stack, T.Cotchin, O.Markov, J.Ross
Out: P.Naish (Omitted), D.Rioli (Omitted), J.Graham (Omitted), N.Vlastuin (calf)