Essendon has nominated 16 players through the AFL’s Playing List Guidelines to support the club in the situation that AFL COVID health and safety protocols impact its ability to field a team.

The AFL implemented the guidelines to provide clubs with the ability to be flexible with the heightened COVID-19 risk while also ensuring the strength of the nation’s second-tier competitions, such as the VFL.

Clubs have been told by the AFL that all scheduled matches will go ahead as planned even if impacted by COVID-19.

Former AFL players Shaun McKernan and Joe Atley will headline the Bombers’ top up list.

Atley, who is Essendon’s VFL captain and heading into his second season at the club, was drafted by Port Adelaide in 2016 and played four games across his four years on the Power’s list. 

Joining Atley is former Bomber McKernan, who throughout his 13-year career, played 91 games across Adelaide, Essendon and St Kilda, with the 196cm ruck lining up for Essendon 53 times.

After training with the AFL squad over summer for a potential SSP spot, Ronald Fejo Jnr will play for Essendon’s VFL side and will be on standby should the Bombers need him at AFL level.

Other inclusions to the Bombers’ top up list include 20-year-old Sam Conforti, who played six VFL games last year, and former Calder Cannon Dylan Landt who achieved SANFL premiership success last year with Glenelg.

Essendon COVID-19 2022 top-up list