Macdonough will continue his season with Essendon Doutta Stars in the Essendon District league.

He was one of five left out of the Sunbury line-up in a shake-up after its loss to Redan in round three.

Prized recruit Ben Brennan was also among them.

Sunbury coach Travis Hodgson said the Lions had a lot of quality talls.

"You can't play them all.

"Pat lost his place in the side owing to team balance."

Hodgson said like anyone in that situation he would have had to work to regain his spot.

MacDonough had played in every senior game for the past two seasons.

While MacDonough has already been cleared, Brennan remaines in the reserves to Bacchus Marsh at Maddingley Park on Saturday.

Ballarat Swans went through a similar experience earlier in the season, when two of their recruits left after missing senior selection in round one.

Other BFL senior fixtures: Sebastopol v Redan, Lake Wendouree v Ballarat, Darley v North Ballarat City, East Point v Melton South.