A member of the third generation of the most famous family in Hawthorn's long and proud history will make his AFL debut against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

Josh Kennedy, the son of four-time Hawthorn premiership player of the 1980s John Kennedy and the grandson of the Hawks' first premiership coach and former AFL chairman John Kennedy senior, will become the first ever third generation player to represent the Hawks when he runs out against the Demons on Sunday.

And Kennedy could create his own slice of history straight away by being part of the first Hawthorn team to ever win the first nine matches of the season, with the Hawks having already equalled their previous best start to a season of eight straight wins in 2001.

Kennedy, a strongly-built 186cm midfielder, was taken under the father-son rule by the Hawks at pick 40 in the 2006 national draft but has had to wait patiently to make his debut given the strength of the current Hawks line-up.

"Josh has been outstanding on the training track and has consistently been one of the best players at Box Hill for the last six to eight weeks," Hawthorn football operations manager Mark Evans said of Kennedy on Thursday night.

"It's a great occasion for the Kennedy family and for the Hawthorn Football Club, with Josh joining a line of history which goes back generations."

"That said Josh has earned his call-up and he is his own man and he is another exciting prospect for Hawthorn supporters to watch come Sunday afternoon."

The Hawks also named two other possible first gamers in 20-year-old ruckman Brent Renouf and 19-year-old Jarryd Morton - the brother of Richmond's Mitch and Melbourne's Cale - as the Hawks prepare to face Melbourne without suspended pair Shane Crawford and Ben McGlynn and the injured Brent Guerra.

The bottom-placed Demons dropped Mark Jamar with veterans Ben Holland and Adem Yze named in the 25.

Struggling Essendon has dropped experienced pair Adam Ramanauskas and Mal Michael and ruckman Jason Laycock for Saturday night's 'Dreamtime at the G' clash against Richmond, with Jobe Watson back from injury while Nathan Lovett-Murray and Adam McPhee return from suspension.

The Tigers added height with Adam Pattison and Jay Schulz in for Mitch Morton and Luke McGuane.

Collingwood has named number one ruckman Josh Fraser for Friday night's much-anticipated preliminary final re-match against Geelong at the MCG but coach Mick Malthouse says Fraser is still not certain to play.

Fraser missed last week's win over St Kilda with the knee injury sustained while playing for Victoria and was named at the expense of Cameron Wood, who will almost certainly come in should Fraser be a late withdrawal.

The unbeaten Cats regained goalsneak Mathew Stokes following suspension while Trent West returns in place of Shane Mumford as the back-up ruckman as premiership defender Max Rooke was dropped.

St Kilda welcomed back skipper Nick Riewoldt from a knee injury for Sunday's crucial clash against Brisbane at the Gabba in a game which pits together the teams in eighth and ninth place on the ladder.

Riewoldt's return bolsters an attack now missing veteran spearhead Fraser Gehrig, who has been placed on the long-term injury list because of his arthritic hands, while Raphael Clarke and Charlie Gardiner were dropped.

The Lions are so far unchanged.

North Melbourne regained defender Daniel Pratt for Sunday's match against the unbeaten Western Bulldogs, who are still without the injured Scott West but have promoted Tim Callan.

The struggling Eagles have named their sixth and seventh debutants respectively this season in Tim Houlihan and Beau Wilkes for their home clash against Adelaide.

They replace omitted pair Mark Nicoski and Jaymie Graham.

Adelaide regained key pair Richard Douglas and Brent Reilly from injury with Jarrhan Jacky and Luke Jericho omitted.

Carlton has made three changes for Saturday's home game against Fremantle with key defender Bret Thornton back, along with Jake Edwards and Shaun Hampson, for injured pair Richard Hadley and Michael Jamison while Cain Ackland was dropped.

Fremantle bought in Antoni Grover and Chris Mayne for injured pair Roger Hayden and Marcus Drum.

Sydney included Tim Schmidt for knee victim Tadgh Kennelly for its trip to Port Adelaide while for the Power veteran Michael Wilson comes in for his first game for the season, following the Achilles injury sustained in last year's preliminary final, while Chad Cornes returns after missing three matches with a finger injury.