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Geelong ruckman Mark Blake must again prove his form ahead of the AFL finals after the Cats dropped him for Saturday night's clash with Sydney
Blake was one of three big omissions for the ANZ Stadium match, with star midfielder Jimmy Bartel (ankle) and key forward James Podsiadly (soreness) sidelined.
Trent West took Blake's No.2 ruck spot, while key forward Tom Hawkins returns from a foot injury and small forward Shannon Byrnes is back after one week off because of soreness.
Blake was dropped for Geelong's 2007 grand final win and the Cats also sent him to the VFL after round 15 last season for four weeks.
He returned to the seniors and finally played in a premiership team, having been part of the losing 2008 grand final side.
Sydney surprisingly made no changes after Sunday's 73-point hiding from Melbourne.
Carlton key forward Brad Fisher will play his first senior game of the home-and-away season on Saturday when the Blues take on arch-rivals Collingwood.
Fisher needed a knee reconstruction after his injury in round one of this year's NAB Cup and he underwent the new LARS surgical technique.
The Blues dropped David Ellerd as Collingwood regained key forward Travis Cloke from suspension and dropped veteran Tarkyn Lockyer.
Defender Heath Shaw could not force his way back into the Magpies lineup and Josh Fraser is again an emergency.
St Kilda named 19-year-old key position player Tom Lynch for his senior debut in Friday night's Etihad Stadium match against Essendon.
Lynch was their first-round pick in the 2008 draft and he will come in for Andrew McQualter.
As expected, Essendon regain star ruckman David Hille from his hamstring problems and also promoted Sam Lonergan, with Leroy Jetta dropped and Jason Winderlich out because of hand surgery.
Former St Kilda defender Xavier Clarke was named for his Brisbane debut on Saturday night against Melbourne, one of four changes as the Lions try to end their seven-game losing streak.
Clarke had a knee reconstruction last year and was traded to the Lions at the end of the season.
Brisbane also recalled Brownlow Medallist Simon Black, Ashley McGrath and Cheynee Stiller.
Amon Buchanan has a quad muscle injury while Matt Maguire, James Hawksley and Aaron Cornelius were dropped.
Melbourne regained captain James McDonald after six games out with a hamstring injury and dropped Addam Maric.
Port Adelaide made two changes for Saturday's home game against Hawthorn, bringing in Nathan Krakouer and Jackson Trengove for Tom Logan (concussion) and Josh Carr (retired).
Rick Ladson replaced suspended utility Campbell Brown in Hawthorn's side.
