Young defender Rhett Bazzo will return to senior action and play in his first RAC Derby against Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

While credited with a game when deployed as the medical substitute last week he did not manage to take the field but will start in the back pocket in this finals-shaping contest.

The inclusion of Bazzo is one of four changes the Eagles match committee has made with experienced defenders Jackson Nelson and Josh Rotham and forward Hugh Dixon returning to the line-up.

The Eagles were forced to make three changes following the retirement of champion forward Josh Kennedy, the suspension of star midfielder Tim Kelly and the absence of Willie Rioli, who is on personal leave.

Kennedy retired after 271 games, content with an eight-goal haul against Adelaide, while Kelly received a one-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Crows midfielder Sam Berry.

The selectors also left out developing tall Bailey Williams as they continue to experiment with the big man mix.

The presence of Rotham and Dixon offers the coaches box a couple of options as they look to support champion big man Nic Naitanui.

The match committee was again unable to select midfield ace Elliot Yeo (calf) or half-forward Jack Petruccelle (hamstring) because of injury.

While the Eagles cannot improve from their ladder position of 17^th they could make life difficult for the finals-bound Dockers who are sizing up a top-four finish.