Essendon's key position stocks have been boosted for what could be a must-win AFL clash with Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Michael Hurley returns from injury, to offset the loss of the Bombers' leading goal-kicker this season, Stewart Crameri.

Tall defenders Tayte Pears and Cale Hooker will also make their returns.

Hooker will play his first match in 10 weeks, after recovering from hamstring complaints.

Hurley and Pears both skipped last weekend's trip to Perth to play West Coast because of soreness.

As well as losing Crameri for the season with a shoulder injury, the Bombers lost midfielder Heath Hocking (suspension) and dropped ruckman Tom Bellchambers.

The Power dropped Daniel Stewart and Cameron Hitchcock and lost Ben Jacobs (ankle), with Brett Ebert, Matthew Broadbent and Cameron O'Shea their inclusions.

Melbourne named tall defender Tom McDonald to make his AFL debut, among four changes for Sunday's MCG meeting with Gold Coast.

Luke Tapscott and Neville Jetta return from injury, with Tom McNamara the other inclusion.

Colin Sylvia (suspension), Aaron Davey (suspension) and Ricky Petterd (quad) were forced out, with Joel MacDonald axed.

Gold Coast continued their pattern of heavy late-season team rotations, making four unforced changes.

They included the return of talented young ruckman Zac Smith and a debut for Josh Caddy, which will take the number of players the Suns have fielded this season to 45.

Richmond and Adelaide, both enjoying late-season form surges after mostly poor seasons, both named unchanged sides for Sunday's encounter at AAMI Stadium.

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