Hawthorn have made five changes, including axing ruckman Simon Taylor, for Sunday's crucial AFL clash with Melbourne at the MCG.

Taylor was among four players dropped, after playing his first AFL game of the year in last round's bad loss to Sydney, having worked his way back from a broken leg.

Rick Ladson, Garry Moss and Matt Suckling were the others axed, while Clinton Young was left out with soreness.

Tough defender Campbell Brown returned from suspension, with Wayde Skipper replacing Taylor. Rhan Hooper, Carl Peterson and Brendan Whitecross were the other inclusions.

The Demons named an unchanged side, after posting their third straight win, against Richmond, last weekend.

Melbourne will draw level on premiership points with the eighth-placed Hawks if they win on Sunday and could overtake them on the ladder with a sizeable victory.

Ninth-placed North Melbourne, also vying for eighth spot, were boosted by the return of forward Ben Warren from a back injury for Sunday's Etihad Stadium clash with St Kilda.

The Saints are still missing injured fullback Zac Dawson and lost ruckman Michael Gardiner (hamstring).

Adelaide regained forward Patrick Dangerfield and added James Sellar and Phil Davis for Sunday's Gabba meeting with Brisbane, who replaced Aaron Cornelius with James Polkinghorne.

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