Essendon will invite all of its past players to attend its first home game of the season as the club looks to send a message of support to its suspended players. 

The Bombers open their season by playing Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium in round one, but return to Victoria to meet Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday, April 2.

Essendon's Chief Marketing Officer Justin Rodski said the club has a number of plans centered around the match against the Demons, including asking all of its past players to attend. 

"Ahead of our round two game we'll be launching our 2016 membership campaign which will build up to an opportunity at our first home game for all Essendon people, supporters and fans to come together and make a stand for the future of our club," Rodski told AFL.com.au. 

"There'll be a range of initiatives and activities taking place in the lead-up to the game and then on match day and in the pre-match, including a march from Federation Square to the ground.

"Every Essendon past player will be invited to attend the match and we really hope it's an opportunity for everyone to make a stand for the club and for the future."

Essendon has called on some of its past legends to be a part of its membership campaign, and hopes some will also be able to take part in the fans' pre-match march to the ground. 

The club is also organising a chance for the crowd to acknowledge the banned players before the game. 

"We think it will be important to show our support for the players who aren't able to be out there on the day and indeed for the season," Rodski said. 

"We want the fans to be given that opportunity too to be able to demonstrate their support for the players, so there'll be an opportunity for that on the day as well."

It is unclear at this stage whether any of the 34 past and present suspended players (including 12 still with the club) will attend the game, but the club is hopeful as many as possible will be there. 

"There's still a little bit of water to go under the bridge until we get to that point, but if there were to be any number of the players in the stands obviously that would be a fantastic outcome for everyone involved," Rodski said. 

Despite looking set for another challenging year without many of its key players, Essendon supporters have remained firm believers in the Bombers, with more than 47,000 already signing as members.

Last year the club achieved a membership record by signing 60,818 fans.