First-year midfielder Ben Hobbs will make his AFL debut on Sunday, with the Bombers revealing their final 22 to face the Dockers at Marvel Stadium.

The prized No.13 draft pick joins Nik Cox as inclusions, with Will Snelling (calf) and omitted pair Brayden Ham and Tex Wanganeen making way from the side that defeated Adelaide.

A competitive, natural ball-winner from the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, Hobbs has slotted in seamlessly to Essendon's VFL side, averaging 23 disposals, eight clearances and six tackles across its opening two games.

The 18-year-old didn't play in the VFL Bombers' loss to Frankston on Sunday, having been held over as an AFL emergency, but has shown enough to warrant a spot in senior coach Ben Rutten's starting 22.

Hobbs will become the 1,185th player to don the sash and the Bombers' fourth AFL debutant this season after Nic Martin, Kaine Baldwin and Tex Wanganeen.

ROUND FIVE TEAM:

Backs: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Jayden Laverde, Jake Kelly
Half-backs: Nick Hind, Jordan Ridley, Dyson Heppell (C)
Centreline: Sam Durham, Andrew McGrath, Nic Martin
Half-forwards: Nik Cox, Alec Waterman, Archie Perkins
Forwards: Devon Smith, Peter Wright, Matt Guelfi
Followers: Andrew Phillips, Darcy Parish, Jye Caldwell
Interchange: Mason Redman, Dylan Shiel, Ben Hobbs, Sam Draper
Emergencies: Tom Cutler, Brayden Ham, Kaine Baldwin, Tex Wanganeen

In: Hobbs, Cox

Out: Snelling (calf), Wanganeen (omitted), Ham (omitted)

Last week's medical sub: Smith (replaced Snelling)