Melbourne veteran Adem Yze's hopes of becoming only the second Demons player to reach 300 games are again in jeopardy after the 30-year-old was one of three players dumped by Demons' coach Dean Bailey on Thursday night following last week's 104-point loss to Hawthorn.
Yze, who has played 266 games to be third on the Demons' all-time list, managed just 14 disposals against the Hawks and it is the second time in a year the man who once racked up 226 consecutive matches has found himself back in the VFL.
The star forward did not miss a single game from round eight, 1997 until being dropped for round two of last season - the second longest streak of successive matches in league history behind his former teammate Jim Stynes, who played 244 in a row between 1987 and 1998.
Just two weeks after reclaiming his place in the side last year Yze had a career-high 38 possessions against Fremantle but then missed most of the second half of the season with a serious groin injury.
This latest omission cast serious doubt over Yze's immediate future, particularly whether he can go on and join skipper David Neitz as the only Melbourne players to play 300 games.
The Demons also dropped Brent Moloney and Ricky Petterd with Clint Bartram, Colin Sylvia and Lyndon Dunn coming into the side.
The Bulldogs made no change after their thrilling first-up win over Adelaide.
Fremantle and West Coast each named two debutants for their respective matches against Hawthorn and Adelaide.
The Eagles named last year's top draft pick Chris Masten as well as Brad Ebert - the cousin of Port star Brett - replacing the injured Mark LeCras and Matt Rosa.
The Crows also made two changes with Luke Jericho and Kris Massie in for Brent Reilly (wrist) and Robert Shirley (calf).
The Dockers' new boys are the highly-rated Rhys Palmer, pick seven in last year's national draft, and Chris Mayne, pick 40 last year, while Garrick Ibbotson was also named as Fremantle lost three experienced players in Dean Solomon to suspension and Heath Black and Shaun McManus to injury.
Their opponents Hawthorn were able to significantly strengthen the side which humiliated Melbourne last week with stars Campbell Brown and Luke Hodge returning from suspension but they lost Trent Croad (wrist) and Tim Clarke (calf).
Collingwood skipper Scott Burns will lead the Magpies for the first time after returning from injury for Friday night's big clash against Brisbane at the Gabba while Ben Johnson returns from suspension in place of the injured Sean Rusling and Irishman Martin Clarke, who was dropped.
The Lions made three changes with Albert Proud, Justin Sherman and first gamer Lachlan Henderson in for Robert Copeland (ankle), Troy Selwood and Cheynee Stiller.
St Kilda welcomed back spearhead Fraser Gehrig from a calf injury and regained Jason Blake from illness for Saturday night's Dome clash against Carlton with Charlie Gardiner and Clint Jones dropped.
The Blues made three changes with Brad Fisher and Shaun Hampson back from injury, along with Jordan Russell, in place of Shaun Grigg, Ryan Jackson and the suspended Adam Hartlett.
Essendon has named Courtney Johns as the likely replacement for knee victim Scott Lucas while opponents Geelong have lost Andrew Mackie to a strained quad.
The Kangaroos have included untried 19-year-old Ben Ross in their squad for Sunday's MCG clash against Richmond, who have named former Eagle Mitch Morton and veteran Greg Tivendale as possible replacements for suspended pair Kane Johnson and Cam Howat.
And Sydney and Port Adelaide are likely to name unchanged sides for their clash at the SCG on Sunday.