Geelong has finally lost patience with underperforming ruckman Mark Blake, dumping him for Saturday's clash against lowly Melbourne at Skilled Stadium.
As the Cats welcomed back a number of star players, who sat out last week's loss to Brisbane at the Gabba - the first time in more than two years that the Cats had lost successive games - coach Mark Thompson made a major statement by dumping Blake even though No.1 ruckman Brad Ottens is still yet to resume from the knee injury that has sidelined him since Round 2.
The decision means that Shane Mumford, who has played just 15 games and who until recently was considered the club's third-choice ruckman, will carry the Cats' rucks on his own for the first time on Saturday.
Blake, who played 22 games in 2007 before being dumped for the grand final in favour of Steven King, has played every game since then as King left for St Kilda.
But after being criticised for his performance in last year's grand final loss to Hawthorn, when he had just four touches, Blake has again been criticised for his lack of impact this season.
And two weeks ago he was widely blamed for the Cats losing to St Kilda in the battle of the unbeaten teams when his direct opponent Michael Gardiner won the game for the Saints in the final minute, following a pack mark from a contest that Blake failed to even get to.
Blake was one of four players dumped by the Cats following the loss to Brisbane with Ryan Gamble and last week's first-gamers Jeremy Laidler and Tom Gillies also dropped while 2007 Brownlow Medalist Jimmy Bartel (hip) and Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh) are out injured.
But the Cats' ins are all significant as star players Gary Ablett, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie, Travis Varcoe, Cameron Ling and Darren Milburn return after missing due to minor injuries last week.
The Demons brought in Clint Bartram for the injured Daniel Bell (shoulder).
Meanwhile the Bulldogs and Essendon both named unchanged sides for their big Friday night clash as Hawthorn and Collingwood both lost their No.1 ruckmen due to injury for their Saturday night MCG clash.
For the Pies, Josh Fraser is out with a knee injury as Cameron Wood and Nathan Brown return while the Hawks have not only lost Robert Campbell to injury but also Rick Ladson as Brent Renouf and Ryan Schoenmakers return.
Carlton recalled veteran Heath Scotland, after two weeks in the VFL, but not vice-captain Nick Stevens for Saturday's home game against Sydney which named a first gamer in Dan Hannebery, who is still attending high school in Melbourne.
Adelaide will be without Tyson Edwards for the first time in more than three years, due to injury, for Sunday's game against the unbeaten Saints but forgotten forward Brett Burton has been named in the preliminary 25-man squad for what will be his first game this season following a knee reconstruction.
The Saints named former Geelong skipper King following his four-game suspension as young ruckman Ben McEvoy made way.
North Melbourne also went for experience with Aaron Edwards and Daniel Pratt named in a 25-man squad for Sunday's Eureka game against Richmond, which lost key defender Kelvin Moore to a calf injury.
Port Adelaide dumped experienced pair Josh Carr and Peter Burgoyne for its home clash with West Coast, which is still without Daniel Kerr and lost No.1 ruckman Dean Cox to a groin injury as young sensation Nic Naitanui was named in the squad.
And Fremantle dropped Ryan Murphy, who kicked their only goal during last week's embarrassing 117-point loss to Adelaide, for its home game against Brisbane which regained Bradd Dalziell and Jared Brennan but has lost Jed Adcock to a season-ending knee injury.