Geelong ruckman Brad Ottens' one-game suspension for striking has opened the door for Tom Hawkins to resume his AFL career.

Hawkins, who hasn't played since round 14, has been named at centre half-forward for Sunday's round-17 clash with Brisbane at the Gabba.

The second-placed Cats named 20-year-old Nathan Vardy in the ruck to take on Lions big man Matthew Leuenberger.

Geelong dropped David Wojcinski, Mitch Duncan and Daniel Menzel while Ottens will serve a one-match ban for striking West Coast's Mark Nicoski last weekend as the Cats suffered their second successive defeat to lose top spot.

Future Cats skipper Joel Selwood returns from a four-match suspension for striking.

Selwood's fellow midfielder Simon Hogan, a 21-game player whose season at VFL level has been interrupted by depression, was named in a seven-man interchange bench.

Shannon Byrnes, Trent West and Darren Milburn are also possible inclusions after being named on the extended bench.

The 15th-placed Lions named Amon Buchanan in a seven-man bench.

Collingwood recalled premiership player Ben Johnson for Saturday's MCG blockbuster against Carlton.

The competition leaders made one change, naming Johnson for his first game since round six at the expense of Simon Buckley.

Collingwood chose not to recall two-time All-Australian Alan Didak, who will miss his third consecutive game with a calf injury.

The fourth-placed Blues picked debutant Wayde Twomey, 25, and recalled Ed Curnow and Matthew Watson for Ryan Houlihan and injured pair Jordan Russell and Jarrad Waite.

Victoria-born midfielder Twomey played alongside Collingwood's Andrew Krakouer in Swan Districts' victory in last year's WAFL grand final in Perth.

Eighth-placed Essendon recalled Henry Slattery for Michael Hibberd (soreness) for Friday night's game against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Skipper Jobe Watson remains on the sidelines for Essendon with a hamstring strain.

The Crows will be without injured duo Richard Douglas and Ian Callinan, with Ricky Henderson and Brodie Smith coming into the side.

Gold Coast's star midfielder Gary Ablett, who didn't play in the second half of last week's loss to Sydney because of a knee injury, has been named on the half-forward line for Saturday's game in Cairns against Richmond.

The Suns have made four changes, resting high-profile rugby league recruit Karmichael Hunt and dropping Luke Russell, Brandon Matera and Daniel Gorringe.

Former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser is among the inclusions for the Suns and has been named at full-forward.

Richmond recalled Matt White and ruckman Andrew Browne for Tom Hislop and Jayden Post.

St Kilda named an unchanged side for Saturday night's clash with West Coast at Etihad Stadium. The Saints declined to recall big man Justin Koschitzke to provide support for Ben McEvoy against Eagles ruck duo Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox.

The Eagles regain key forward Quinten Lynch from suspension but lose rover Daniel Kerr (soreness) and have dropped Tom Swift and Patrick McGinnity.

Melbourne regain Addam Maric and Luke Tapscott for Saturday night's clash with Port Adelaide in Darwin, while the Power have recalled Michael Pettigrew and Steven Salopek.

Port skipper Dom Cassisi failed to travel with the team to Darwin on Thursday because his wife is due to give birth.

North Melbourne dropped small forward Lindsay Thomas for Sunday's clash with the Western Bulldogs, who named ruckman Will Minson in a seven-man bench.

Sixth-placed Sydney named Craig Bird, Jesse White and Andrejs Everitt in a seven-man bench for Sunday's SCG clash with Fremantle.

The seventh-placed Dockers recalled Adam McPhee to their forward-line for his first game since round eight. The ex-Bombers has been battling a knee injury.

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