Hawthorn key defender Zac Dawson will be out of the side for the first time this AFL season after weeks of debate over his team role.

The Hawks reacted to last week's 75-point loss to Melbourne by dropping Dawson, Tim Boyle and Harry Miller for their Saturday night match at the MCG against Sydney.

Jordan Lewis also came in for Richie Vandenberg after the captain's appeal against his four-match suspension failed.

But Hawthorn regained key position players Trent Croad and Lance Franklin in a boost to their lineup, while young ruckman Simon Taylor was the other inclusion.

Croad is back from a wrist injury and this will be Franklin's first senior game of the season after five games in the reserves.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson has strongly defended Dawson this season after the second-year player took on some of the game's premier forwards, including Anthony Rocca and David Neitz.

While Dawson kept Geelong's Kent Kingsley quiet in round three, he has often struggled in a key defensive role.

The Swans brought in Ben Mathews for Craig Bolton, who has a hamstring injury.

Another team to lose badly last weekend was Carlton, which made five changes for Saturday's AAMI Stadium game against Adelaide.

After St Kilda belted them by 92 points, the Blues left out Eddie Betts, Andrew Carrazzo, Adrian Deluca and Jason Saddington.

Jarrad Waite is also out with a knee injury and Carlton recalled Barnaby French, Luke Livingston, Ian Prendergast, Trent Sporn and David Teague.

Adelaide recalled Chris Knights for Ben Hart, who has a broken arm.

Richmond made some important changes for Saturday's Skilled Stadium match against Geelong, recalling captain Kane Johnson and Ray Hall from injury for Danny Jackson and Brent Hartigan.

The Tigers also hoped to regain full-back Darren Gaspar, but he was named as an emergency.

The Cats had to leave out captain Steven King (calf) and Kane Tenace (knee), while David Johnson was omitted.

David Wocjinski, Shannon Byrnes and Andrew Mackie will come into the side.

Injury-plagued Port Adelaide had three forced changes for Saturday night's Telstra Dome game against Essendon.

Peter Burgoyne (hamstring), Chad Cornes (eye) and Adam Kingsley (hamstring) will miss along with Fabian DeLuca, who was dropped.

Dean Brogan, Troy Chaplin, Stuart Dew and Adam Thomson were named to take their places.

Andrew Lovett's unsuccessful appeal meant three changes for the Bombers.

As expected, Essendon dropped out-of-form midfielder Jason Johnson and also left out Damien Peverill, with Courtenay Dempsey and Jason Winderlich winning recalls.

The Bombers will decide on Friday on who will take Lovett's place.

Shaun Higgins, drafted at No.11 last year, will make his AFL debut on Friday night for the Western Bulldogs against Collingwood.

He will come in for Mitch Hahn, who has a hamstring injury, while the Magpies have not made any changes.

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