MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin has sent a strong message to his team, dropping four players for Sunday's season-defining clash with fellow finals aspirants St Kilda at the MCG.
The Dees were no match for GWS last round and Jack Watts, Christian Salem, Sam Frost and Corey Maynard have been axed for the Saints contest.
Midfielder Angus Brayshaw has been recalled for his first senior game since round two after battles with concussion, alongside tall forward Sam Weideman, Josh Wagner and Mitch Hannan.
St Kilda has made the solitary change to the side which overran West Coast, replacing retiring champion Nick Riewoldt (concussion) with veteran Sam Gilbert.
The Saints and Demons are both on 10 wins and vying to break their respective finals droughts this year. The loser of Sunday's clash will be facing an uphill battle to reach the top eight.
Port Adelaide's hopes of a top-four berth took a hit in last week's embarrassing 84-point Showdown loss and the Power will be aiming to bounce back against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval.
Port has also swung the changes, bringing in five new faces – most notably star Chad Wingard after an ankle issue.
Dan Houston, Dougal Howard, Jake Neade and Brendon Ah Chee also come into the line-up.
NAB AFL Rising Star contender Sam Powell-Pepper has been rested, Jack Hombsch (hip) is injured, while Aaron Young, Jackson Trengove and Angus Monfires have been dropped.
The Pies have been forced into three changes after Brodie Grundy's suspension and injuries to Daniel Wells (quad) and Levi Greenwood (knee).
Giant American Mason Cox has been recalled for his seventh game this year, with Callum Brown and James Aish also into the line-up.
Josh Daicos, son of Pies great Peter, has missed out on a much-anticipated debut but is an emergency.
Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge will play his final game in Tasmania against North Melbourne after returning from suspension, with Brendan Whitecross making way in the Hawks' only change.
The Kangaroos have added small forward Kayne Turner and Jy Simpkin, with the duo replacing Nick Larkey and Josh Williams for what is effectively a dead rubber between two sides out of finals contention.
The Hawks have won seven of the past eight clashes between the sides.
Melbourne v St Kilda at the MCG, 1.10pm AEST
MELBOURNE
In: J.Wagner, A.Brayshaw, S.Weideman, M.Hannan
Out: S.Frost, C.Salem, J.Watts, C.Maynard
ST KILDA
In: S.Gilbert
Out: N.Riewoldt (concussion)
Hawthorn v North Melbourne at UTAS Stadium (Launceston), 3.20pm AEST
HAWTHORN
In: L.Hodge
Out: B.Whitecross
NORTH MELBOURNE
In: J.Anderson, K.Turner
Out: N.Larkey, J.Williams
Port Adelaide v Collingwood at Adelaide Oval, 4.10pm ACST
PORT ADELAIDE
In: B.Ah Chee, C.Wingard, J.Neade, D.Howard, D.Houston
Out: A.Monfries, J.Trengove, A.Young, J.Hombsch (hip), S.Powell-Pepper (managed)
COLLINGWOOD
In: J.Aish, M.Cox, C.Brown
Out: D.Wells (quad), L.Greenwood (knee), B.Grundy (suspension)
