Kennedy has been ruled out of the MCG fixture because of a corked thigh while Jack Carroll has been dropped and Brodie Kemp won't play, with the Blues saying his workload is being managed.

Paddy Dow and Jack Newnes return for the third-placed Blues while Collingwood, sitting in 10th spot, have dumped Beau McCreery.

St Kilda axed Jack Billings and Ryan Byrnes and recalled Mitch Owens for their Sunday encounter against struggling North Melbourne, who have dumped Atu Bosenavulagi for the 250th game of their captain Jack Ziebell.

And Port Adelaide have confirmed the return of spearhead Charlie Dixon, who will front against Essendon in Sunday's twilight fixture.

Dixon hasn't played since preseason ankle surgery but returns alongside Riley Bonner with the 11th-placed Power dropping Mitch Georgiades, Lachie Jones and Martin Frederick.

Essendon, with just two wins this year, summoned four players for the Adelaide Oval match, with Andrew Phillips, Harrison Jones, Jordan Ridley and Jye Caldwell returning to the side.

The Bombers axed Aaron Francis, Nick Bryan and Tom Cutler while Mason Redman is suspended and Matt Guelfi was unavailable because of a hamstring strain.

Meanwhile, Geelong have made a late change to their side to host Adelaide on Saturday with Gary Rohan ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Rohan joins Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield (calf) on the sidelines for the Cats, who will debut 202cm-tall Shannon Neale, a 19-year-old recruited in the 2020 national draft.

Australian Associated Press