ESSENDON coach James Hird has swung the axe as he looks to arrest a three-game losing run with ruckman David Hille one of five unforced changes to the team defeated by Fremantle.
Andrew Welsh, Travis Colyer, Alex Browne and Henry Slattery have also been dropped from the team to take on the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Tayte Pears is in for his first game of the season after recovering from a foot injury and Heath Hocking is back after serving a three-match ban for striking the Lions' James Polkinghorne.
Brent Stanton, Tom Bellchambers and Sam Lonergan have earned recalls.
North Melbourne has recalled Sam Wright and Nathan Grima to replace Ben Speight (omitted) and Lachie Hansen (concussion).
The Western Bulldogs regain Adam Cooney from a knee complaint for the clash against the Crows on Friday night and have also included Lindsay Gilbee and Jayden Schofield, who will make his AFL debut.
Adelaide has recalled Ricky Henderson and Chris Schmidt while Brent Reilly is out with knee bruising and James Sellar has been dropped. The availability of Kurt Tippett (shoulder) and Patrick Dangerfield (thumb) was in some doubt, but both have been named.
Hawthorn has made four injury-related changes to the team defeated by Geelong with Jarryd Roughead (Achilles), Brent Renouf (gall bladder), Brent Guerra (ear) and Clinton Young (hamstring) all unavailable to take on the Suns in Launceston.
David Hale, Isaac Smith, Rick Ladson and Max Bailey come into the team to replace the quartet.
Gold Coast has lost David Swallow and Zac Smith to ankle injuries and has dropped Steven May and Seb Tape. Karmichael Hunt returns to the team along with Daniel Gorringe, Matt Shaw and Jack Hutchins.
Leigh Montagna returns to the St Kilda line-up after missing one week with knee soreness as does Jason Blake who also missed last Friday night's win against the Bulldogs. Inexperienced duo Tom Ledger and Tom Simpkin make way.
Geelong has made one forced change to the team that defeated the Hawks with David Wojcinski replacing Joel Selwood who will miss the next four games after being suspended for striking the Hawks' Brent Guerra.
Ricky Petterd has been named in the starting 18 of the Melbourne team that hosts Freo at the MCG in the early game on Sunday.
Lynden Dunn, Dan Nicholson and Colin Garland are named on an extended bench.
Fremantle onballer Michael Barlow has been named for his first AFL game since badly breaking his leg against Port Adelaide in round 14 last season.
Barlow has been named on the field, while fellow inclusions Ben Bucovaz, Josh Mellington, Jay van Berlo and Rhys Palmer have been named on a seven-man bench.
David Mundy (ankle) and Hayden Ballantyne (hamstring) are out injured.
Carlton has added Ryan Houlihan, Mark Austin and Dennis Armfield to an extended squad for its clash with the Sydney Swans who have added Shane Mumford, Jarred Moore and Paul Bevan that defeated Richmond. Both clubs are yet to drop any players ahead of Sunday's match.
