Collingwood premiership ruckman Darren Jolly will miss Saturday night's big AFL clash with his former club Sydney, as five other teams regained or recalled ruckmen.

The biggest inclusion, literally and figuratively, is Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands, who will return from four games out with a foot injury against Brisbane on Saturday night.

Melbourne's Mark Jamar, Essendon's David Hille, Carlton's Robert Warnock and Gold Coast's Zac Smith are other big men making returns.

Jolly, who has been out since round five and recently spent 12 days training in Arizona to try to aid his recovery from knee surgery, expressed confidence this week of being ready to face the Swans, with whom he shared the 2005 premiership.

He will instead make his comeback through the VFL, meaning both Sydney and Collingwood will be missing their No.1 ruckmen, with the Swans' Shane Mumford out suspended.

But the Magpies will be boosted by the return of midfield stars Dane Swan and Dale Thomas from injury and suspension respectively.

Sandilands was one of six changes for the Dockers for Saturday night's clash with Brisbane, five unforced, after last weekend's thrashing by Melbourne.

They include an AFL debut for 18-year-old forward Josh Mellington.

The Lions have been hurt by the loss of ruck-forward Mitch Clark, goalsneak Todd Banfield and rebounding defender Josh Drummond to injury.

Niall McKeever will make his debut, joining fellow Irishman Pearce Hanley in the side.

Jamar was included for Saturday's crunch game with Richmond, his first match since injuring his knee in round seven, while key defender Colin Garland kept his spot, despite an ankle injury.

The Tigers will give tall defender David Gourdis his first game this season.

Essendon will seek to exploit a height-strapped Hawthorn on Friday night, recalling ruckman David Hille to join fellow big men Tom Bellchambers and Paddy Ryder, although they lost tall defender Cale Hooker (hamstring).

The Hawks' injury crisis has been compounded by the suspension of star forward Lance Franklin, but they regained midfielder Chance Bateman and rebounding defender Brent Guerra.

Warnock returned to Carlton's squad to replace injured fellow ruckman Shaun Hampson against West Coast on Sunday, with the Blues also losing defender Nick Duigan.

The Western Bulldogs regained key forward Barry Hall for Saturday's clash with Gold Coast, whose five changes include regaining Smith, Charlie Dixon and David Swallow.

Geelong lost Josh Hunt and Mathew Stokes to suspension for Sunday's meeting with Adelaide, with Nathan Vardy (soreness) and Darren Milburn (calf) also forced out.

Gun midfielder Jimmy Bartel was in the squad, despite health concerns after he was concussed last round.

The Crows will give an AFL debut to 28-year-old Ian Callinan.

Port Adelaide dropped erratic forward Daniel Motlop for Sunday's meeting with North Melbourne.

The `Roos' Scott McMahon will skip the trip to be with his heavily-pregnant wife.

Ruckman Todd Goldstein was named, despite an ankle injury.

St Kilda have the bye, but ruckman Michael Gardiner will play his first game this year, in the VFL, after overcoming knee and hamstring injuries.

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