The Brisbane Lions have made five changes at the selection table this week, with the return of some welcome names and a first-gamer sure to delight Lions fans.

Jonathan Brown, Josh Drummond, Billy Longer, Ryan Harwood and Andrew Raines will all play their first games for the year this weekend against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium - and in Longer’s case, his first senior AFL game.

Longer, who was taken at Pick No.8 in the 2011 AFL National Draft, showed outstanding form in the NAB Cup with an ability to play both ruck and forward and has impressed with his performances in the Lions’ Reserves so far this year.

Longer’s first opponent in the AFL is likely to be three-time All-Australian Aaron Sandilands - no easy task for any ruckman, but the Lions have shown confidence in Longer’s ability and believe he is well up to the task.

Brown, who was medically cleared to play late last week after sustaining a pre-season facial injury, will be a welcome return up forward for the Lions, while Drummond, who was a couple of weeks behind his teammates in match fitness following a hip injury in the off-season, will strengthen the Lions’ backline.

Ryan Harwood has been brought in to fill the midfield gap left by the injured Simon Black (hand), while tagger Andrew Raines (knee) returns from injury.

Veteran ruckman Ben Hudson, midfielder Rohan Bewick and defenders Niall McKeever and Cheynee Stiller have been omitted from this week’s side.

The Lions full Round 3 team is below:

B: Ash McGrath (9), Matt Maguire (36), Josh Drummond (39)
HB: Mitch Golby (41), Daniel Merrett (21), Joel Patfull (24)
C: Jed Adcock (7), Tom Rockliff (38), Daniel Rich (10)
HF: Claye Beams (17), Jonathan Brown (16), Todd Banfield (18)
F: Ryan Harwood (2), Matthew Leuenberger (23), Ryan Lester (35)
Foll: Billy Longer (5), James Polkinghorne (31), Jack Redden (30)
Int: Pearce Hanley (11), Jesse O’Brien (34), Jared Polec (4), Andrew Raines (29)
Emer: Rohan Bewick (43), Elliot Yeo (26), McKeever (40)

In: Jonathan Brown, Billy Longer, Josh Drummond, Ryan Harwood, Andrew Raines
Out: Simon Black (hand), Ben Hudson, Rohan Bewick, Cheynee Stiller, Niall McKeever (omitted)
Milestones: Billy Longer (1st AFL match)