SYDNEY and Hawthorn have welcomed back key names for their blockbuster clash at the SCG on Saturday night, but the Hawks will be without premiership defender James Frawley.
Out-of-contract Swans backman Heath Grundy, who took time away from the game to focus on his mental health, returns for just his second match since round 16 at Robbie Fox's expense.
Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead headlines three inclusions for his side – along with David Mirra and Ricky Henderson – after a fortnight out with an ankle issue.
But Jon Ceglar's continued calf-related absence did not spare Marc Pittonet from the axe, with Conor Glass (omitted) and Frawley (back) also going out.
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Elsewhere, Zac Williams (Achilles) may play his first match of the season for the Giants, who also regain Jake Kelly (concussion) for their key match-up with Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
Richmond brought back Trent Cotchin and fellow premiership stars Dion Prestia and David Astbury ahead of its September bid to win back-to-back flags for the first time since 1973-74.
The Tigers took a precautionary measure in not playing Cotchin (hamstring), Prestia (hamstring) and Astbury (Achilles) last week, along with Kane Lambert (ankle), who is due back for finals.
Sam Lloyd, Liam Baker and Ryan Garthwaite make way for Richmond, which faces the Western Bulldogs on Saturday at the MCG, where the Tigers have won a record 20 straight matches.
The Bulldogs welcome back Bailey Williams and Roarke Smith, but lost Tory Dickson and Lin Jong to injury.
Young ruckman Billy Frampton will make his long-awaited AFL debut for Port Adelaide on Friday night as the Power tries to keep alive its unlikely finals hopes against Essendon.
Jake Neade and Sam Powell-Pepper round out Port's additions, replacing Tom Rockliff (shoulder) and omitted pair Riley Bonner and Aidyn Johnson.
The Bombers selected Matthew Leuenberger and Jayden Laverde to cover for Matt Dea (dropped) and Tom Bellchambers (shoulder).
Collingwood has backed in its 22 from last week as it takes aim at a top-two place and the double chance against Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
The Dockers haven't given the retiring Danyle Pearce a farewell match alongside Michael Johnson.
But Joel Hamling, Stephen Hill, Sam Switkowski and Darcy Tucker come in for the injured Michael Walters and dropped trio Bailey Banfield, Ryan Nyhuis and Stefan Giro.
Oscar McInerney, Cedric Cox and Sam Mayes are among the Lions bidding to replace Alex Witherden (hamstring) for Brisbane's final-round clash with West Coast at the Gabba.
Lewis Jetta (calf soreness) is the Eagles' sole confirmed out, with Will Schofield, Jackson Nelson and Oscar Allen jockeying for a spot.
Geelong made just one change – Jed Bews replaces Jackson Thurlow – against an unchanged Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
Sam Kerridge is Carlton's only inclusion for its season-closing game against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
Kerridge comes in for the injured Paddy Dow, while the Crows picked Alex Keath and first-gamer Elliot Himmelberg to replace Kyle Cheney (omitted) and Tom Doedee (collarbone).
Melbourne could be unchanged for its clash with Greater Western Sydney, but Jay Kennedy Harris and Cam Pedersen are among the players trying to force their way in.
Ryan Griffen (hamstring) is out for the Giants, who have brought back Sam Reid (hamstring).
Luke Davies-Uniacke, Paul Ahern and Ben McKay could all return for North Melbourne in Jarrad Waite's farewell game against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Will Walker (knee) is the only Kangaroo out at this stage.
The Saints could make as many as four changes, with Jake Carlisle, Luke Dunstan, top-10 draft pick Hunter Clark and Maverick Weller the potential inclusions.
Friday, August 24
Port Adelaide v Essendon at Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm ACST
Port Adelaide
In: B.Frampton, J.Neade, S.Powell-Pepper
Out: R.Bonner, A.Johnson, T.Rockliff (shoulder)
New: Billy Frampton (South Fremantle)
Essendon
In: M.Leuenberger, J.Laverde
Out: T.Bellchambers (shoulder), M.Dea
Saturday, August 25
Geelong v Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
Geelong
In: J.Bews
Out: J.Thurlow
Gold Coast
No change
Richmond v Western Bulldogs at the MCG, 2.10pm AEST
Richmond
In: D.Astbury, T.Cotchin, D.Prestia
Out: L.Baker, R.Garthwaite, S.Lloyd
Western Bulldogs
In: B.Williams, R.Smith
Out: T.Dickson (hamstring soreness), L.Jong (sternum)
Fremantle v Collingwood at Optus Stadium, 2.35pm AWST
Fremantle
In: J.Hamling, S.Hill, S.Switkowski, D.Tucker
Out: M.Walters (injured), B.Banfield, R.Nyhuis, S.Giro
Collingwood
No change
Carlton v Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
Carlton
In: S.Kerridge
Out: P.Dow (bruised knee)
Adelaide
In: A.Keath, E.Himmelberg
Out: K.Cheney, T.Doedee (collarbone)
New: Elliot Himmelberg (Redland)
Sydney v Hawthorn at the SCG, 7.25pm AEST
Sydney
In: H.Grundy
Out: R.Fox
Hawthorn
In:D.Mirra, J.Roughead, R.Henderson
Out: M.Pittonet, C.Glass, J.Frawley (back)
Sunday August 26
Brisbane v West Coast at the Gabba, 1.10pm AEST
Brisbane
In: O.McInerney, C.Cox, S.Mayes, C.Ballenden, C.Lyons
Out: A.Witherden (hamstring)
New: Connor Ballenden (University of QLD), Corey Lyons (Sandringham U18)
West Coast
In:W.Schofield, J.Nelson, O.Allen, M.Allen, J.Waterman
Out: L.Jetta (calf soreness)
New: Matthew Allen (Glenelg)
Melbourne v Greater Western Sydney at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST
Melbourne
In: J.Kennedy Harris, C.Pedersen, T.Bugg, J.Wagner
Out: -
Greater Western Sydney
In: J.Kelly, S.Reid, I.Cumming, D.Buckley, Z.Williams
Out: R.Griffen (hamstring)
St Kilda v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm AEST
St Kilda
In: J.Carlisle, L.Dunstan, H.Clark, M.Weller
Out: -
North Melbourne
In: L.Davies-Uniacke, P.Ahern, B.McKay, T.Murphy, D.Mountford
Out: W.Walker (knee)
