Hawthorn premiership captain Luke Hodge has been named to return less than three weeks after breaking his arm.

And Collingwood's 211cm American Mason Cox could make his debut this weekend, while Ryan Crowley and Michael Jamison have both been dropped from their struggling sides.

Hodge, 31, has been selected to face St Kilda in Saturday's clash at Launceston's Aurora Stadium, just 19 days after he broke his arm against Geelong on Easter Monday. Tim O'Brien and Daniel Howe join Hodge as inclusions, with Ryan Schoenmakers (groin soreness) and Josh Gibson (hamstring tightness) spared the trip. Jono O'Rourke has been dropped.

The Saints have named key forwards Nick Riewoldt and Paddy McCartin after their concussion scares last weekend. However Dylan Roberton (knee), Jimmy Webster (quad) and Luke Dunstan (hamstring) are all forced out of Alan Richardson's team. In their place come Tom Lee, Eli Templeton and Blake Acres.

Cox was elevated from the Magpies' rookie list on Thursday, and has been picked on the Pies' extended bench for their encounter with Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday. Alan Toovey, Travis Varcoe and Steele Sidebottom return, while Brent Macaffer is also in the squad. Marley Williams (foot) and Brayden Maynard (hamstring) are unavailable. The Demons will hand a debut to Jayden Hunt, while Angus Brayshaw, Cameron Pedersen, Alex Neal-Bullen and Jeff Garlett have been named on the seven-man bench, Aaron vandenBerg (hamstring) joins the suspended Bernie Vince on the outer.

Veteran Crowley has been dumped alongside Nick Kommer and Jackson Merrett for Essendon's clash with Geelong at the MCG on Saturday. Craig Bird, Jayden Laverde and upgraded Irishman Conor McKenna are included to face the Cats, who have dropped Lincoln McCarthy and Jake Kolodjashnij. Veteran Corey Enright will also miss the game, with Geelong managing his workload. Tom Lonergan, Cory Gregson and Jordan Murdoch return.

Experienced defender Jamison has been cut from the Carlton team to meet the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. Mark Whiley has also been dropped, while Blaine Boekhorst is out with a hamstring complaint. Ex-Greater Western Sydney pair Lachie Plowman and Liam Sumner will make their first appearances for the Blues, joining fellow former Giant Jed Lamb as inclusions.

Robert Murphy's place in the Dogs' side is set to be filled by former Brisbane Lions captain Jed Adcock, who was named after being elevated from the rookie list.

Richmond midfielder Anthony Miles will be made to wait for his 50th game, axed from the Tigers' team for Friday night's match against West Coast at Domain Stadium. Jayden Short has also been dropped. Richmond have named former Port Adelaide utility Andrew Moore for his first game since being acquired by the Tigers. Taylor Hunt also regains his place in the Richmond side. The Eagles enter the match unchanged.