Port Adelaide veteran Chad Cornes is among the casualties as the Power, Melbourne and Gold Coast all reacted to uncompetitive losses with mass AFL team changes on Thursday.

The Power made five changes, the Suns six and the Demons four, with the possibility of more to come.

As the pressure rises on Melbourne coach Dean Bailey after last round's dismal loss to West Coast, the Demons dumped Cale Morton, Stefan Martin and Jamie Bennell for Sunday's MCG clash with Adelaide.

Experienced defender Jared Rivers (ankle) was forced out through injury and there could be more cuts on Friday, when their 25-man squad is trimmed to 22.

Matthew Bate and Ricky Petterd are among the inclusions.

The Crows have lost tall defender Phil Davis (shoulder) and running player Richard Tambling (suspension), with Rory Sloane among their inclusions.

Cornes was axed by the Power, the second time this season the 31-year-old, 235-game's form has not warranted selection after he was overlooked in round one.

Port also dropped Jacob Surjan and Mitchell Banner after losing badly to North Melbourne, with Matt Thomas (back) and Cameron O'Shea (shoulder) out injured for Friday night's meeting with Hawthorn.

The axings come after assistant coach Dean Laidley admitted earlier this week there was a cultural problem within the playing group.

Key forward Jay Schulz and midfielder Travis Boak return from injury, with Danyle Pearce and Daniel Stewart recalled and former Sydney player Simon Phillips to make his Power debut.

The Hawks have lost Cyril Rioli (hamstring), Cameron Bruce (knee) and Matt Suckling (knee) to injury, with mature-aged recruits Paul Puopolo and Isaac Smith to both make AFL debuts.

The Suns lost big men Josh Fraser (back) and Charlie Dixon (calf) for Saturday night's inaugural all-Queensland clash with Brisbane, but dropped four other players after their uncompetitive performance against Essendon.

Nathan Bock is back from suspension and Nathan Krakouer was recalled.

The Western Bulldogs and Sydney have each named debutants for Saturday's clash in Sydney, high-leaping Northern Territory recruit Zeph Skinner for the Dogs and Nathan Gordon for the Swans.

As forecast, the Bulldogs dropped Brian Lake, among four changes, with ruckman Ben Hudson and forward Daniel Giansiracusa back from injury.

The Swans have lost midfielder Kieren Jack (ankle).

Geelong regained key forward Cameron Mooney from a knee injury for Saturday's Skilled Stadium meeting with unchanged North Melbourne, but lost captain Cameron Ling (hamstring) and Taylor Hunt (knee).

The Kangaroos retained Lachie Hansen despite the key forward going to hospital after crashing head-first into the Etihad Stadium fence last weekend.

Essendon have regained veteran backman Dustin Fletcher for Sunday's Etihad Stadium match against West Coast.

Richmond welcomed back midfielder Daniel Jackson from suspension to play Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday.

St Kilda lost the suspended Zac Dawson for Monday night's match against Carlton, with tall forward Justin Koschitzke among their squad additions.

The Blues regained running defender Chris Yarran.

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