THREE-time premiership midfielder Liam Shiels has returned to bolster Hawthorn's line-up ahead of Sunday's blockbuster clash with the Western Bulldogs.

Shiels missed the opening two rounds of the season after fracturing his wrist in the NAB Challenge against North Melbourne, but has been declared 100 per cent fit. Shiels replaces youngster Daniel Howe as the only change from the side that beat West Coast last week.

Western Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong has been named for his first game of the season, replacing youngster Josh Dunkley as the Dogs' only change.

Teams: this round's full line-ups

Melbourne has made four changes for Sunday's clash against North Melbourne in Hobart with injured forward Jeff Garlett (ankle) joining omitted trio Angus Brayshaw, Colin Garland and Cameron Pederson following the shock loss to the Bombers

Mature-age rookie Josh Wagner will make his debut with Lynden Dunn, Sam Frost and Billy Stretch also included.   

The Kangaroos regain defender Scott Thompson for the clash with the Demons after he was a late withdrawal last week with general soreness. Lachie Hansen has been omitted.

The Brisbane Lions have named midfielders Mitch Robinson and Daniel Rich for Sunday's clash against Geelong at Simonds Stadium after both men passed fitness tests on Friday.

Captain Tom Rockliff (calf) is the only out from the side that lost to the Kangaroos.

The Cats lose Jordan Murdoch to soreness and have omitted Cory Gregson.

Daniel Menzel will play his first game of the season and rookie Tom Ruggles has been elevated and will make his AFL debut on Sunday. 

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has swung the axe after his team's round two shocker against Collingwood, calling on youth for Saturday's crunch game against Adelaide.  

On Thursday, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has swung the axe after his team's round two shocker against Collingwood, calling on youth for Saturday's crunch game against Adelaide.  

The Magpies also swung the axe, West Coast welcomes back a gun midfielder for the derby and a key Hawk returns for the big clash against the high-flying Bulldogs.

The Tigers, who will be missing ruckman Ivan Maric for another week, have dropped tall forward Ben Griffiths, recruit Jacob Townsend and defender Taylor Hunt.

Hardwick has called on first-year forward Daniel Rioli and Ben Lennon, with important half-forward Shane Edwards also returning from a hand injury.

Experienced defender Troy Chaplin has been given the nod to replace injured backman Dylan Grimes, who will miss two weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Tigers had hoped to regain Maric from a back injury that has held him back for more than a month, but he will be missing again. 

The Crows have made no changes to the side that demolished Port Adelaide last week.

Collingwood has also made four changes following its last-gasp win over the Tigers last Friday night, with ex-Demon Jeremy Howe named to play his first game for the club against St Kilda on Saturday.

Tyson Goldsack has also been named for his first game this season, with midfielder Matthew Goodyear set to make his debut.

Half-back Brayden Maynard was the other inclusion, with Jackson Ramsay (knee) now sidelined and Brent Macaffer, Jack Frost and Corey Gault all omitted.

The Saints have dropped draftee Jade Gresham, with Darren Minchington named after booting five goals for Sandringham in a VFL practice game against Williamstown.

Port Adelaide has made three changes ahead of Friday night's clash against Essendon at Adelaide Oval, with Paul Stewart and Karl Amon returning and Darcy Byrne-Jones in for his debut. 

The Power have lost star forward Chad Wingard (hamstring) and defender Alipate Carlile (wrist) to injury, with Dougal Howard omitted.

Essendon is unchanged after its breakthrough win against Melbourne in round two.

The Sydney Swans have recalled midfielder Ben McGlynn after one NEAFL match, replacing versatile forward Dean Towers for Saturday's derby against Greater Western Sydney at the SCG on Saturday. 

GWS has made one change, replacing injured defender Caleb Marchbank (ankle) with veteran Joel Patfull, who has spent the past two weeks in the NEAFL.   

Gold Coast has recalled wingman Matt Rosa after one game sidelined with a calf injury, replacing forward Callum Ah Chee (illness) for Saturday night's match against Carlton at Metricon Stadium.

The Blues have lost Andrejs Everitt and Jed Lamb to injury, with defender Simon White omitted, recalling Dylan Buckley, Mark Whiley and Ciaran Byrne.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has opted not to swing the after his team's 0-2 start to the season, making just one change for the Western Derby, with Matt de Boer replacing the injured Clancee Pearce (hamstring).   

West Coast has also taken the conservative route, with Chris Masten replacing Jamie Bennell just in time for a grudge match against Docker Nick Suban after the Eagle's controversial biting case at the Tribunal last season.  

All the ins and outs for round three

Friday, April 8

PORT ADELAIDE v ESSENDON at the Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm ACST

Port Adelaide
In: P.Stewart, K.Amon, D.Byrne-Jones
Out: A.Carlile (wrist), C.Wingard (hamstring), D.Howard
New: Darcy Byrne-Jones (Oakley U18)

Essendon
No changes

Saturday, April 9

ST KILDA v COLLINGWOOD at the MCG, 1.45pm AEST

St Kilda
In: D.Minchington
Out: J.Gresham

Collingwood
In: T.Goldsack, M.Goodyear, J.Howe, B.Maynard
Out: J.Ramsay (knee), B.Macaffer, J.Frost, C.Gault

RICHMOND v ADELAIDE at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm AEST

Richmond
In: T.Chaplin, S.Edwards, B.Lennon, D.Rioli
Out: B.Griffiths, D.Grimes (hamstring), T.Hunt, J.Townsend

Adelaide
In: J.Lyons
Out: B.Crouch (hamstring)

SYDNEY SWANS v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY at the SCG, 4.35pm AEST

Sydney Swans
In: B.McGlynn
Out: D.Towers

Greater Western Sydney
In: J.Patfull
Out: C.Marchbank (ankle)

GOLD COAST v CARLTON at Metricon Stadium, 7.25pm AEST

Gold Coast
In: M.Rosa
Out: C.Ah Chee (illness)

Carlton
In: D.Buckley, M.Whiley, C.Byrne
Out: A.Everitt (injured), S.White, J.Lamb (injured)

WEST COAST v FREMANTLE at Domain Stadium, 5.40pm AWST

West Coast
In: C.Masten 
Out: J.Bennell 

Fremantle
In: M.De Boer, T.Mzungu
Out: C.Pearce (hamstring), D.Mundy (calf)

Sunday, April 10

NORTH MELBOURNE v MELBOURNE at Blundstone Arena (Hobart), 1.10pm AEST

North Melbourne
In: S.Thompson
Out: L.Hansen

Melbourne
In: L.Dunn, S.Frost, J.Wagner, B.Stretch
Out: C.Garland, A.Brayshaw, J.Garlett (ankle), C.Pedersen
New: Josh Wagner (Aspley)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN at Etihad Stadium, 3.20pm AEST

Western Bulldogs
In: L.Jong
Out: J.Dunkley 

Hawthorn
In: L.Shiels
Out: D.Howe 

GEELONG v BRISBANE LIONS at Simonds Stadium, 4.40pm AEST

Geelong
In: D.Menzel, T.Ruggles
Out: J.Murdoch (soreness), C.Gregson
New: Tom Ruggles (Geelong VFL)

Brisbane Lions
In: M.Robinson
Out: T.Rockliff (calf)