Essendon's finals hopes already hanging by a thread have been rocked by the loss of four of their best players due to injury for Sunday's trip to Perth to face West Coast.

The Bombers, whose shock five-point loss to lowly Richmond last week left them hanging in eighth spot by just percentage from Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, have lost captain Matthew Lloyd (heel) as well as Mark McVeigh (leg), Alwyn Davey (knee), Jason Winderlich (back) for the trip west.

It is a huge blow for the Bombers who are guaranteed to slip from the top eight if they lose to the struggling Eagles given that Port and Hawthorn face each other this week with the winner to automatically take Essendon's spot in the eight should the Bombers lose.

The Bombers have yet to finalise their inclusions with Sam Lonergan, Heath Hocking, Jay Neagle, Hayden Skipworth, Bachar Houli, Leroy Jetta and Michael Quinn all named in the 25.

The Eagles, who have won just once in their past 10 games and will miss out on a priority draft pick before the first round of this year's draft if they win one of their remaining five matches, dropped big men Ash Hansen and Mark Seaby and named first gamer Callum Wilson at full-forward and also recalled last year's leading goalkicker Ben McKinley, who booted a career-best seven goals against Essendon at Subiaco last year.

Carlton, the only other team in the top eight that is vulnerable to the challengers below, reacted strongly to last week's nine-goal loss to Collingwood in a game in which they kicked just four goals.

The Blues lost Chris Johnson to a hamstring injury and dropped five players; Greg Bentley, Brad Fisher, Shaun Grigg, Adam Hartlett and Chris Yarran for Friday night's clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

Heading the list of inclusions is vice-captain Nick Stevens, who returns having spent the past month in the VFL, while Andrew Walker comes in for his first game of the season following shoulder problems as Dennis Armfield, Michael Jamison, Setanta O'hAilpin and Mitch Robinson were also named.

The Kangaroos, who will be desperate to win in what will be retiring former skipper Adam Simpson's last game, welcomed back experienced defender Daniel Pratt but dropped underperforming big man David Hale.

Geelong welcomed back two of its big guns for Saturday's home clash against Adelaide with skipper Tom Harley back from a knee injury while 2007 Norm Smith Medalist Steve Johnson is back from the hip injury that caused his late withdrawal from the Round 14 blockbuster against St Kilda and has sidelined him since.

And the Cats, who will be without key defenders Matthew Scarlett (groin) and Harry Taylor (groin) for at least this week, received more good news with No.1 ruckman Brad Ottens set to return in the VFL having been sidelined since Round 2 with continual knee problems.

The Crows welcomed back veteran Tyson Edwards after he suffered a slight hamstring strain at training two weeks ago.

Brisbane surprised many by naming spearhead Daniel Bradshaw for Saturday night's MCG clash against Collingwood even though he has missed just one match with a hamstring injury.

The Pies made no change.

Unbeaten league leaders St Kilda lost in-form defender Sam Gilbert to injury for Saturday night's trip to Sydney while key forward Justin Koschitzke returns from suspension but is still no certainty to play due to a hand injury.

The Swans bought in Jared Crouch for Kristin Thornton.

The Western Bulldogs regained star defender Lindsay Gilbee, who missed last week due to personal reasons, for Saturday's home clash against Fremantle for a game in which skipper Brad Johnson will break Chris Grant's club record of 341 games.

However the third-placed Dogs will be without star trio Shaun Higgins (hamstring), Scott Welsh (ankle) and Robert Murphy (hamstring)

The Dockers lost Brett Peake to an ankle injury but regained Des Headland from a hamstring strain.

Port Adelaide dropped star pair Brett Ebert and Steven Salopek for Sunday's mini elimination final against Hawthorn as Dean Brogan (cork thigh) and Hamish Hartlett (hamstring) return from injury while the Hawks added Cameron Stokes, Travis Tuck and Brendan Whitecross to the 22 that lost by a point to Geelong last week.

Richmond named key defender Kelvin Moore and experienced midfielders Shane Tuck and Mark Coughlan in its 25 for Sunday's MCG clash against Melbourne as veteran spearhead Matthew Richardson makes a welcome return in the VFL following three months out with a hamstring tendon injury.