Collingwood will enter Sunday's big Anzac Day AFL clash with Essendon without their four most experienced players after dumping Tarkyn Lockyer and Leigh Brown.

The Magpies had already lost veteran fullback Simon Prestigiacomo to a groin injury.

The club's other 200-plus gamer, Shane O'Bree, remains out of the 22 after being dropped for last round's clash with Hawthorn.

Collingwood instead included Nathan Brown, 21, Chris Dawes, 21 and Ben Reid, 20, who have just 56 games between them.

While the Magpies shed experience, Essendon made some important gains, with Mark McVeigh, Brent Stanton and Angus Monfries all named to return from injury.

The Bombers lost Mark Williams to a foot injury and dropped Sam Lonergan and Bachar Houli.

Hawthorn will take on North Melbourne without skipper Sam Mitchell in Launceston on Sunday due to hamstring tightness.

But the Hawks have notable inclusions, with tough midfielder Brad Sewell to play his first game of the season after a pre-season collarbone injury.

Star forward Lance Franklin is back from suspension, along with youngster Liam Shiels.

The Kangaroos will give Ben Cunnington his AFL debut and have also added Levi Greenwood, in place of Leigh Harding and Sam Wright.

Winless Richmond made five changes for Sunday's match against Fremantle at Subiaco, including the return of captain Chris Newman from a hamstring complaint.

Nathan Foley will play his first game of the season after recovering from an ankle injury, Ben Cousins and Luke McGuane return from club-imposed suspensions, with Robin Nahas the other inclusion.

Daniel Jackson and Tom Hislop are injured, while Mitch Morton, Jayden Post and Matthew White were dropped from the team soundly beaten by Melbourne last round.

Fremantle decided to delay the return of young midfielder Rhys Palmer from a knee injury which has kept him out for the past year.

Instead, they included small forward Nathan Fyfe for his debut, in place of the injured Des Headland (knee).

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