Carlton has lost patience with out-of-form vice-captain Nick Stevens.
The 29-year-old has been axed for Sunday's must-win clash against Fremantle in Perth, along with fellow experienced midfielder Heath Scotland, following the Blues' disastrous loss to Essendon last week.
Stevens has not gathered more than 21 touches in his past three matches, well below his usual standard, and the Blues' 2004 and 2005 best and fairest runner-up will instead play in the VFL this weekend.
Blues coach Brett Ratten also dropped Jordan Bannister and Steven Browne following a loss which saw the Blues slump to eighth on the ladder, while defender Paul Bower is out with a knee injury.
But the struggling Dockers will be without injured skipper Matthew Pavlich (calf) and Dean Solomon, who was suspended by the club this week following a drinking session in Melbourne.
St Kilda has suffered a massive blow ahead of Sunday's much-anticipated clash against Geelong, in a battle of the competition's two unbeaten teams, with veteran full-back Max Hudghton ruled out.
The Saints' only survivor from their last grand final team in 1997 landed heavily on his ankle in a marking contest during last week's win over Richmond to continue his wretched run with injury in recent times.
After missing half of the 2007 season, the 32-year-old also missed the first half of this season due to a lingering calf injury but had played the last three games and was just beginning to get valuable match time under his belt.
The Saints will finalise Hudghton's replacement on Friday with Raph Clarke likely to get the nod.
The Cats have also been forced to make one change with defender David Johnson ruled out with a calf injury with David Wojcinski expected to take his spot.
There was contrasting fortunes at the selection table for Collingwood and Essendon ahead of this weekend's other big clash, at the MCG on Friday night.
While the Pies welcomed back star pair Leon Davis from illness and Scott Pendlebury, who has made a miraculous recovery after missing just one match with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, the Bombers have ruled out their top ball winner Jobe Watson due to an ankle injury.
It is a double blow for the revitalised Bombers, after the experienced Mark McVeigh was suspended by the club earlier in the week for missing a training session but at least Adam McPhee is back from a calf injury while for the Pies, Shannon Cox and Chris Dawes made way for Davis and Pendlebury.
Embattled reigning premier Hawthorn dropped three players for Saturday night's must win game against the third-placed Western Bulldogs in Beau Muston, Ryan Schoenmakers and Brendan Whitecross while Mark Williams was ruled out with a knee injury as key defender Stephen Gilham returns for only his second game of the season and his first since Round 3 following knee problems.
The Dogs bought in second gamer Sam Reid for injured forward Daniel Giansiracusa, who will miss six weeks with a knee injury.
Melbourne left out No.1 draft pick Jack Watts because of illness for Saturday's MCG clash against West Coast in what will the club's first game since it was revealed on Thursday that club president Jim Stynes is battling cancer.
The Dees also dropped experienced trio Paul Johnson, Matthew Whelan and Brad Miller as captain James McDonald, Mark Jamar, Paul Wheatley and Matthew Bate all return.
The Eagles lost Daniel Kerr to general soreness and surprisingly dropped the promising Tom Swift while Brett Jones and Chad Fletcher come in.
Sydney, which will be without the suspended Barry Hall, has welcomed back some experience for Sunday's home game against North Melbourne with Luke Ablett, Craig Bolton, Nick Malceski and Jarrad McVeigh all named in the 25-man squad while for North, Sam Power is expected to replace the injured Ben Warren.
Port Adelaide regained Steven Salopek for Saturday's home game against Brisbane, which bought in Travis Johnstone for Jason Roe while Richmond and Adelaide both named first gamers for their match on the Gold Coast.
The Crows, who dropped young gun Taylor Walker, bought in 18-year-old big man Shaun McKernan - the younger brother of former North Melbourne and Carlton star Corey - while the Tigers also bought in a young giant in 194cm Jayden Post, the club's second round pick in last year's draft.