ESSENDON has lost patience with its run of form, making seven changes for its Dreamtime clash with Richmond on Saturday night at TIO Stadium. 

Jake Stringer will make his return from his ankle injury for the Darwin clash while Devon Smith and Tom Bellchambers have also been recalled. Livewire small forward Irving Mosquito will debut. 

ALL THE TEAMS Check 'em out

Tom Cutler, Josh Begley, Shaun McKernan, Jacob Townsend, Kobe Mutch and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher have all been dropped while Conor McKenna will miss with injury. The Bombers have won only one of their past six games. 

Bachar Houli has replaced Nathan Broad as the Tigers' only change in what will be Houli's first game since round five after recently rejoining Richmond in Queensland. 

Hawthorn has been decimated by injury ahead of its meeting with Port Adelaide on Saturday with James Sicily, Jaeger O'Meara, Jack Gunston and James Frawley all ruled out. 

Former Giants Tom Scully and Jon Patton will be back, while ex-Bomber Michael Hartley also comes in as one of six inclusions. Justin Westhoff is one of four additions for Port Adelaide. 

Melbourne will head into its important game with the Western Bulldogs unchanged from last week, but the Bulldogs have been boosted by the recall of Jason Johannisen and Hayden Crozier, while Josh Bruce has also been brought back after being managed last week. 

Midfield star Josh Kennedy replaces Dane Rampe for the Swans against Fremantle, who will blood exciting first-round pick Liam Henry for the Saturday night contest at Optus Stadium. 

Saturday, August 22

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 1.45pm AEST

WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: H.Crozier, J.Bruce, L.Vandermeer, J.Johannisen
Out: B.Dale (omitted), S.Lloyd (omitted), R.West (groin), R.Smith (managed)

MELBOURNE
No change

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval, 4.05pm ACST

PORT ADELAIDE
In: R.Bonner, J.Westhoff, B.Ebert, J.Lienert
Out: X.Duursma (omitted), K.Farrell (omitted), D.Houston (suspension), P.Ladhams (suspension)

HAWTHORN
In: M.Hartley, D.Howe, J.Patton, J.Cousins, T.Scully, O.Hanrahan
Out: H.Morrison (omitted), C.Nash (omitted), J.Sicily (knee), J.O'Meara (hand), J.Gunston (back soreness), J.Frawley (thumb)

Essendon v Richmond, TIO Stadium, 7.15pm ACST

ESSENDON
In: A.Francis, B.Ham, I.Mosquito, J.Stringer, T.Bellchambers, M.Redman, D.Smith
Out: T.Cutler (omitted), J.Begley (omitted), S.McKernan (omitted), J.Townsend (omitted), K.Mutch (omitted), B.Zerk-Thatcher (omitted), C.McKenna (hip)
New: Irving Mosquito

RICHMOND
In: B.Houli
Out: N.Broad (omitted)

Fremantle v Sydney, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST

FREMANTLE
In: L.Henry
Out: B.Bewley (managed)
New: Liam Henry

SYDNEY
In: J.Kennedy
Out: D.Rampe (hand)