ESSENDON will take a vastly stronger team into Saturday's do-or-die clash against Carlton at the MCG, with David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton and Patrick Ryder all selected after recovering from injuries.
The Blues have been boosted by the return of their captain Chris Judd, who has served his four-match suspension for his infamous 'chicken wing' tackle on North Melbourne midfielder Leigh Adams.
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Defender Nick Duigan is also back in the Carlton team, while the axe has fallen on Rhys O'Keefe and Matthew Watson.
Zaharakis (quad) hasn't played for the Bombers since he gathered 30 possessions in their shock loss to Melbourne in round 10, while Ryder (calf) has been sidelined since round 15.
Stanton (hamstring) has missed the past two matches.
Scott Gumbleton (soreness), Travis Colyer (omitted) and Mark Baguley (omitted) are out of the Essendon side.
Geelong key forward Tom Hawkins has recovered from his bout of concussion and will line up against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
The Cats also have some big ins, with premiership players Joel Corey (hamstring), Paul Chapman (calf), Josh Hunt (quad), James Kelly (groin) and Trent West all back to full fitness.
Ruckman Orren Stephenson is out with a broken hand, while Allen Christensen is being given the weekend off to recover from groin soreness.
Youngsters Jackson Sheringham, Cameron Guthrie and veteran David Wojcinski have been dropped.
The Saints, who are likely to have to win their last three games to make the finals, have lost skipper Nick Riewoldt to a knee injury. Youngsters Tom Ledger and Sam Dunell have been axed.
Jason Blake, Adam Schneider and Farren Ray return in their place.
Collingwood has named Dale Thomas in its team to play North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Thomas was subbed out of last weekend's win over the Sydney Swans, and he looked proppy at training on Wednesday.
The Kangaroos have lost Daniel Wells (calf), Nathan Grima (hamstring) and Leigh Adams (shoulder) to injuries, with Lindsay Thomas, Luke Delaney and Jack Ziebell returning in their place.
It will be Ziebell's first appearance since a four-match suspension for a high bump on Carlton defender Aaron Joseph.
Despite the furore over his contract, Adelaide has named Kurt Tippett to play the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Tippett hasn't played since he suffered concussion during the Crows' win over West Coast in round 17.
Coincidentally, much of the speculation about Tippett's future has centred around him joining the Lions for next season.
The Crows have also brought in Chris Knights and Luke Brown. They have replaced Lewis Johnston (omitted), Aidan Riley (omitted) and Brodie Smith (calf).
The Lions, who suffered a big loss to Carlton last weekend, have dropped Todd Banfield and Stephen Wrigley, replacing them with Matt Maguire and Jack Crisp.
Fremantle has regained midfielder Nat Fyfe and defender Luke McPharlin for its meeting with Richmond at Patersons Stadium on Saturday, but ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who was expected to return, has been named as an emergency.
Fyfe missed last weekend's loss to Adelaide after suffering an ankle injury when he tripped over a suitcase before the match.
McPharlin missed the clash with the Crows due to suspension.
Dylan Roberton (omitted) and Lachie Neale (quad) are out of Fremantle's line-up.
The Tigers made just one change, with Brett O'Hanlon replacing Reece Conca, who will miss the rest of the season with a broken toe.
Greater Western Sydney has made five changes for its clash with Melbourne at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday.
Taylor Adams, Dom Tyson, Nick Haynes, Toby Greene and James McDonald are in and Adam Treloar (omitted), Tom Bugg (omitted), Adam Tomlinson (kidney), Jake Hombsch (omitted) and Jeremy Cameron (hip) are out.
The Demons have recalled James Frawley, Tom Couch and Jack Watts.
They have replaced Brent Moloney, Matthew Bate and James Magner, who have all been omitted.
