West Coast loaded up on four key players and extra height for its AFL semi-final against the Western Bulldogs, after axing strugglers from last week's one-point loss to Sydney.

Onballers Daniel Kerr and Andrew Embley and forward Ashley Hansen have recovered from injuries suffered prior to the finals and were named to play at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night, along with ruckman Mark Seaby, who was left out of the side beaten by the Swans.

Veteran Drew Banfield, crumber Mark LeCras, backman Jaymie Graham and forward Brent Staker were all dumped.

Fremantle and Melbourne, as expected, both made two forced changes for Friday night's other semi, also at Subiaco.

Melbourne gave Jeff White ruck support with Nick Smith and also recalled Nathan Brown, while the Dockers named Ryan Murphy and Graham Polak as Fremantle aims to win its first final.

Kerr and Embley narrowly missed selection for the qualifying final against Sydney, but have now completely recovered from respective calf and shoulder injuries.

Hansen will play his first game since round 19, when he was troubled by a cyst behind his knee.

But with Seaby (200cm), Hansen (198cm) and Embley (190cm) all added to a side already containing Quinten Lynch (194cm), Adam Hunter (190cm) and Dean Cox (204cm) as forward options, it is clear the Eagles plan to test the Bulldogs out aerially.

The Bulldogs retained the same side which beat Collingwood in last Sunday's elimination final.

Banfield's axing jeopardises the 263-game veteran's chances of winning another premiership medal, having played in the Eagles' 1994 flag side.

The 32-year-old was axed after he managed only 13 disposals against the Swans, while LeCras (two touches) and Staker (nine) were also dropped after poor games.

Graham was beaten by Sydney's Michael O'Loughlin.

Melbourne named Smith for his first game since 2003 after the Demons stuck with their season-long plan of playing two ruckmen.

Melbourne assistant coach Mark Riley agreed it was "probably" too tough for White to ruck all night against Aaron Sandilands and Justin Longmuir without support, given Mark Jamar (foot) won't play again this season.

"White rucked here a couple of years ago against three ruckmen and did well and he's done that most of his career at Melbourne," Riley said.

"We've given him a lot of rest this year with Mark.

"(Ben) Holland rucked a fair bit before this year, he's played forward and back and Smithy's been in super form (in the VFL), so we've got three options there."

Brown replaced Matthew Whelan, who injured his right shoulder last Friday night against St Kilda, and can expect to guard dangerous Docker Jeff Farmer.

The Demons have no concerns over fullback Nathan Carroll's hamstring.

"There's no concerns over Nathan, he'll definitely play," Riley said.

Murphy and Polak replaced midfielder Paul Hasleby and defender Antoni Grover, who were injured in Fremantle's qualifying final loss to Adelaide last Saturday.

Only 2,500 tickets remain for Friday night's clash, while the Eagles-Bulldogs clash sold out.

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