Big, bad, bustling Barry Hall is back and, according to Sydney coach Paul Roos, ready to put his recent poor on-field behaviour behind him.

Hall is not the only big name forward to return in Round 17 with Matthew Richardson and Jason Porplyzia named for Richmond and Adelaide while Hawthorn and Geelong made few changes for their Friday night showdown at the MCG.

Hall has been given the all-clear to resume his troubled career by Swans psychologist Grant Brecht after he was stood down indefinitely after aiming a punch at Collingwood's Shane Wakelin in Round 14.

That came in just his third game back following his seven-match ban for knocking out West Coast's Brent Staker and came amidst Hall battling problems in his private life.

Interestingly Hall's return to the side comes when the injury-hit Swans are without their other champion forward Michael O'Loughlin due to an ankle injury while full-back Leo Barry is out with a hamstring injury.

But Roos maintains that Hall's quicker than expected return is not linked to the loss of O'Loughlin but rather his improved outlook.

"Hopefully 'Hally' now understands, which we think he does, the implications of what he has done this year and he is looking forward to getting back and helping the footy club win some games," Roos said on Thursday.

The Crows - battling a five-game losing streak which has seen them drop from the eight - received a much-needed boost with the exciting Porplyzia back after missing just one game with his shoulder injury.

Meanwhile the return of Richardson after two games out with knee and hamstring problems is a huge boost for the Tigers as they attempt to maintain their finals push against Brisbane.

The Lions made two changes with Jed Adcock and Justin Sherman in for Rhan Hooper and Scott Harding.

Geelong, as expected, named an unchanged side for its clash with Hawthorn with Gary Ablett (ankle), David Wojcinski (achilles) and Cameron Ling (cheekbone) to all miss again while the Hawks replaced Jarryd Morton with Cameron Stokes.

But Morton could return if vice-captain Luke Hodge is a late withdrawal due to the imminent birth of his first child while former skipper Shane Crawford was again ruled out due to knee tendonitis.

Former West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner will take on his former club for the first time after being promoted by St Kilda in place of the suspended Justin Koschitzke while the injury-hit Eagles lost captain Darren Glass to a