St Kilda small forward Dan Butler is heading a list of players that could be axed after the team's embarrassing 111-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs last weekend.
In his post-match press conference, Saints coach Brett Ratten revealed significant changes would be made to the side ahead of Saturday afternoon's match against North Melbourne.
Butler - who was arguably unlucky to miss All Australian selection last season - has kicked 10 goals in 10 matches in 2021, but has had less than 10 possessions in each of his last two matches and his tackle average of three a game is a career low.
Prodigious full forward Max King could also be a victim of the player cull, struggling with his accuracy in front of goal - kicking 13.19 - and failing to have an impact on the match against the Bulldogs, taking only one mark among his six possessions.
With Luke Dunstan and Mason Wood banging the door down for selection with good performances for St Kilda's VFL affiliate Sandringham, Jack Bytel and Shaun McKernan could find themselves as like-for-like players axed from the team.
The Saints have also confirmed that tall defender Oscar Clavarino will make his AFL debut.
Premiership contenders Melbourne face tough decisions at the selection table with star recruit Ben Brown trying to find his way into the team ahead of Friday night's blockbuster against the Bulldogs.
Sam Weideman was preferred to Brown up forward during the one-point defeat to Adelaide on Saturday night, but only had nine possessions and a goal as he failed to lock in his position in the senior team.
The likely return of rebounding star Christian Salem should see Neville Jetta make way, while Jayden Hunt is also struggling for consistency in his utility role.
There has been a fall from grace for match-winning Port Adelaide forward Connor Rozee, with talk he could be axed after two poor games against the Bulldogs and Collingwood.
Talented Sydney utility Will Hayward is also failing to live up to expectations and could find himself in the gun after the Swans' narrow defeat against Fremantle.
The senior position of Gold Coast livewire Izak Rankine will be again up for discussion after another quiet game versus Geelong, while Rory Atkins didn't have much impact on his club debut last weekend.
