- Banned Giant returns for first game of season

- Dogs without inspirational skipper for trip west

- Star Pie ruled out of clash against former club

COLLINGWOOD star Adam Treloar will miss Saturday's clash with Greater Western Sydney due to an ankle injury, with the Pies also swinging the axe after last week's loss to Carlton.

After a week of conjecture about Treloar's fitness, the ex-Giant has succumbed to the concern and he will miss facing his former side at Spotless Stadium.

He is one of four changes for the Pies, with coach Nathan Buckley dumping Tim Broomhead, Jackson Ramsay and Mason Cox. Captain Scott Pendlebury is also on standby as he awaits the birth of his first child.

See the full teams for round eight

Silky midfielder Daniel Wells returns to the side after being managed last week, while Jarryd Blair, Henry Schade and James Aish come into the Pies' line-up.

In an interesting night of selections, other notable changes included the Western Bulldogs resting skipper Bob Murphy for their Friday night clash with West Coast, and Essendon regaining former captain Jobe Watson and No.1 pick Andy McGrath.

The Giants will welcome back midfielder Lachie Whitfield from his seven-match AFL ban, with the injury-hit club choosing to bring back the 2012 No.1 choice without any NEAFL games under his belt.

Joining Whitfield in the Giants' side will be Sam Reid and debutant Daniel Lloyd.

The promoted rookie will start his career as a 25-year-old and can play through the midfield and in attack. Matt Kennedy was omitted, joining Adam Kennedy (knee reconstruction) and Jacob Hopper (finger) on the sidelines.

Joining Murphy on the sidelines for the Bulldogs will be injured pair Jake Stringer (knee) and Josh Dunkley (shoulder). Key forward Jack Redpath returns for his first senior game since rupturing his ACL in round 18 last year, with Lukas Webb and Bailey Dale also back in the team for the important meeting.

West Coast has made two changes, dropping Jonathan Giles and Mark Hutchings and including Fraser McInnes and classy third-year player Liam Duggan.

Hawthorn has turned to Jack Fitzpatrick for ruck support against the Brisbane Lions in Tasmania on Saturday. The elevated rookie has come into the side along with former Crow Ricky Henderson, replacing injured backman Grant Birchall and James Sicily, who has been cut.

Brilliant forward Cyril Rioli has also been selected, having missed the Hawks' previous four games across the Bass Strait.

The Lions have rested No.3 pick Hugh McCluggage as well as losing Mitch Robinson (foot) and Dan McStay (hand) through injury. Rohan Bewick, Josh Walker and Tom Bell are in for Chris Fagan's side as he takes on his old club for the first time.

Important forward Mav Weller is back for the Saints to face Carlton at the expense of Nathan Wright, and Luke Dunstan has been recalled to St Kilda's midfield to replace the suspended Koby Stevens.

The Blues have also made two changes for Saturday's Etihad Stadium clash, bringing back Jack Silvagni and Zac Fisher from injury concerns and dropping more experienced pair Billie Smedts and Sam Kerridge.

Essendon will welcome back Watson and McGrath after resting the pair for last week's loss to Fremantle, and have also picked former Giants forward James Stewart for his first game in Bombers colours.

Veteran Brent Stanton has been dropped for the second time in three weeks, as one of three omissions by coach John Worsfold. Martin Gleeson and youngster Aaron Francis have also been left out of the side to face Geelong.

The Cats have reacted savagely to their disappointing loss to Gold Coast by axing four players – Aaron Black, Jackson Thurlow, Jordan Murdoch and Darcy Lang.

Zac Smith returns, defenders Tom Stewart and Jake Kolodjashnij come in, and Irishman Mark O'Connor will make his debut.

Adelaide will be without important defender Jake Lever (hamstring) when it hosts Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, while a corked glute has seen Riley Knight left out of the side.

Troy Menzel and exciting forward Wayne Milera have been brought into the Crows' line-up.

The Dees have made just one change, with Jay Kennedy-Harris making way for Dean Kent.

As indicated by coach Damien Hardwick earlier this week, the Tigers have named Shane Edwards in their 25-man squad for Sunday's clash with Fremantle at the MCG. Richmond is expected to make a decision on whether Edwards is ready to play at AFL level after a five-week hip injury in coming days, while ruckman Toby Nankervis is back after serving his suspension.

Ben Lennon and Jake Batchelor are also in the extended squad, with Nick Vlastuin (shoulder) the only out at this stage.

Harley Balic's illness will see the Dockers make at least one change, with 250-gamer Danyle Pearce in the frame to make his return to the side for the first time since round two.

First-year defender Griffin Logue, Nick Suban and Tom Sheridan are also in Fremantle's extended squad.

Gold Coast has been forced into making changes for its historic clash with Port Adelaide in Shanghai, losing Matt Rosa (concussion), David Swallow (knee) and Callum Ah Chee (back) to injury.

Key defender Rory Thompson is set to return, however, as one of six inclusions in the extended squad.

Port Adelaide has left out Dan Houston despite his impressive start to the season, with Brendon Ah Chee, Karl Amon, Aidyn Johnson and Dougal Howard in line to replace him.

North Melbourne will welcome back Aaron Mullet after missing just one week with a broken hand. Taylor Garner, Sam Durdin, Jy Simpkin and Declan Mountford are also in the mix to face Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Jarrad Waite will miss with suspension and Corey Wagner has been ruled out with an ankle injury.

The Swans will welcome back Kurt Tippett after a two-week absence due to a hip injury, and speedster Gary Rohan has returned following his sickening head knock in round six. Nic Newman is also in the extended squad.

Friday, May 12

West Coast v Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium, 6.10pm AWST

WEST COAST

In: F.McInnes, L.Duggan

Out: J.Giles, M.Hutchings

WESTERN BULLDOGS

In: J.Redpath, L.Webb, B.Dale

Out: R.Murphy (general soreness), J.Stringer (knee), J.Dunkley (shoulder)

Saturday, May 13

Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions at University of Tasmania Stadium (Launceston), 1.45pm AEST

HAWTHORN

In: J.Fitzpatrick, R.Henderson

Out: G.Birchall (knee), J.Sicily

BRISBANE LIONS

In: J.Walker, T.Bell, R.Bewick

Out: D.McStay (hand), M.Robinson (foot), H.McCluggage (rested)

St Kilda v Carlton at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm AEST

ST KILDA

In: M.Weller, L.Dunstan

Out: K.Stevens (suspension), N.Wright

CARLTON

In: J.Silvagni, Z.Fisher

Out: B.Smedts, S.Kerridge

Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood at Spotless Stadium, 4.35pm AEST

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

In: D.Lloyd, L.Whitfield, S.Reid

Out: A.Kennedy (knee), J.Hopper (finger), M.Kennedy

New: Daniel Lloyd (Killarney Vale)

COLLINGWOOD

In: D.Wells, J.Blair, H.Schade, J.Aish

Out: A.Treloar (ankle), T.Broomhead, J.Ramsay, M.Cox

Essendon v Geelong at the MCG, 7.25pm AEST

ESSENDON

In: J.Watson, J.Stewart, A.McGrath

Out: B.Stanton, M.Gleeson, A.Francis

New: James Stewart (GWS)

GEELONG

In: Z.Smith, T.Stewart, J.Kolodjashnij, M.O'Connor

Out: A.Black, J.Thurlow, J.Murdoch, D.Lang

New: Mark O'Connor (County Kerry - Ireland)

Adelaide v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST

ADELAIDE

In: T.Menzel, W.Milera

Out: R.Knight (corked glute), J.Lever (hmstring)

MELBOURNE

In: D.Kent

Out: J.Kennedy-Harris

Sunday, May 14

Richmond v Fremantle at the MCG, 1.10pm AEST

RICHMOND

In: B.Lennon, S.Edwards, N.Batchelor, T.Nankervis

Out: N.Vlastuin (shoulder)

FREMANTLE

In: D.Pearce, G.Logue, N.Suban, T.Sheridan

Out: H.Balic (illness)

Gold Coast v Port Adelaide at Jiangwan Sports Stadium (Shanghai), 3.15pm AEST

GOLD COAST

In: R.Thompson, M.Shaw, K.Brooksby, B.Fiorini, J.Bowes, J.Schoenfeld

Out: M.Rosa (concussion), D.Swallow (knee), C.Ah Chee (back)

PORT ADELAIDE

In: B.Ah Chee, K.Amon, A.Johnson, D.Howard

Out: D.Houston

North Melbourne v Sydney at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm AEST

NORTH MELBOURNE

In: A.Mullett, T.Garner, S.Durdin, J.Simpkin, D.Mountford

Out: J.Waite (suspension), C.Wagner (ankle)

SYDNEY

In: K.Tippett, G.Rohan, N.Newman

Out: -