A possible six-day break and a determination to maximise the depth of the side for the finals prompted Hawthorn's overhaul of their AFL side.

The Hawks made eight changes for Saturday's dead rubber against second-bottom Gold Coast.

Captain Luke Hodge, Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli lead the omissions, with Max Bailey, Shaun Burgoyne, Brad Sewell, Grant Birchall and Jordan Lewis also to miss the trip.

All are in the Hawks' best 22.

Sam Mitchell will return after a week out with knee soreness, while Ben Stratton, Chance Bateman and Xavier Ellis are back after extended injury layoffs during the season.

Rick Ladson, Paul Johnson, Kyle Cheney and Jordan Lisle will also return.

"Fundamentally, it's too good an opportunity to pass up," said Hawks football manager Mark Evans.

"All those guys are handy 'ins' - there's nothing disrespectful about the squad that's going to Queensland."

Evans added the Hawks suspect their qualifying final against Geelong will be scheduled for Friday of next week.

"The possibility of having a six-day turnaround, off travel, from conditions up on the Gold Coast - it's also protecting for that," he said.

"But fundamentally, it's about the opportunity to get some of those guys up to speed."

Of the players omitted for this Saturday, only Bailey will have a genuine rest.

"Some of the guys who aren't playing have had pretty big campaigns," Evans said.

"When we say 'rested', we mean train the living lights out of them, it's not a holiday for them.

"It's a good top-up of fitness for them."

The Suns named Jacob Gillbee for his senior debut among four changes, while Nathan Ablett was dropped.

They also recalled Josh Fraser, Joel Tippett and Josh Toy for Sam Iles, Seb Tape and Tom Hickey.

Cameron Mooney is available after suspension, but Geelong left him out of their side for Friday night's blockbuster against Collingwood.

The Cats named Mitch Duncan and Darren Milburn for Shannon Byrnes and Tom Lonergan, who has a quad muscle injury.

Collingwood lost Leon Davis with a hamstring injury and dropped Tom Young, while Dale Thomas is suspended.

They regained Luke Ball, Sharrod Wellingham and Chris Tarrant.

Sydney co-captain Jarrad McVeigh has returned from his family bereavement for Saturday night's home game against Brisbane, coming in for Brett Meredith.

St Kilda ruckman Michael Gardiner will play his first senior game of the season on Saturday night in the crucial match against Carlton.

Injury has cruelled his year and he will come in on the eve of the finals for David Armitage (suspended).

The Blues have named Setanta O'hAilpin, Kane Lucas and Zach Tuohy for Bret Thornton (soreness), David Ellard and Marcus Davies.

West Coast named Sam Butler and Jack Darling for Saturday night's home game against Adelaide, losing Will Scholfield (cheek) and dropping Ashley Hams.

Injury-ravaged Fremantle have lost Garrick Ibbotson (shoulder), Peter Faulks (jaw), Rhys Palmer (groin) and Nathan Fyfe (shoulder) for Saturday's Etihad Stadium game against the Western Bulldogs.

Nick Lower was also suspended and the Dockers have included Ben Bucovaz, Alex Silvagni, Justin Bollenhagen, Jayden Pitt and Antoni Grover.

Ben Hudson was named for his retirement game as the Bulldogs also recalled Easton Wood and Mitch Wallis, while leaving out Dylan Addison, Josh Hill and Ayce Cordy (hand).

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