Melbourne has dumped veteran ruckman Jeff White from its line-up to take on the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Sunday.

The 31-year-old, who has not missed a game since Round 21, 2003, was named among the emergencies when the Demons' 25-man squad was trimmed to 22 on Friday.

The Melbourne selectors have opted to make three changes in all with Simon Buckley, elevated rookie Shane Valenti and first-gamer Stefan Martin coming in for the injured James McDonald and White and James Frawley, both omitted.

White has played 265 games including 233 for Melbourne since making his debut for Fremantle in 1995.

The Brisbane Lions welcome back Daniel Bradshaw and Travis Johnstone from hamstring strains along with Justin Sherman.

They replace Lachlan Henderson, Cheynee Stiller and James Polkinghorne.

Fremantle has made three changes for Sunday's clash with Essendon at Subiaco, including Clayton Hinkley, Steven Dodd and Scott Thornton for the injured Michael Johnson and Jeff Farmer and Ryan Murphy who've been dropped.

The Bombers have made just the one change, bringing in Ricky Dyson for Henry Slattery who suffered a broken cheekbone against Carlton last Sunday.

Meanwhile, Port Adelaide, already decimated by injury to key senior players, is bracing itself to be without yet another superstar in Kane Cornes for the clash with the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Cornes has traveled to Darwin with the squad that will take on the Bulldogs but with his wife due to give birth any day now, he wants to be by her side should she enter labour - even if that means sitting out the Top End clash.

Untried youngster Marlon Motlop has headed north as insurance should Cornes' wife begin to give birth in the lead-up to the match.