Essendon has been forced to make five late changes ahead of its clash with Hawthorn tonight.

Jordan Ridley, Jake Kelly, Matt Guelfi, Alec Waterman and Sam Durham have succumbed to illness, replaced by the four emergencies Brayden Ham, Kaine Baldwin, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Aaron Francis.

Despite not being initially listed as emergencies, Devon Smith and Alastair Lord have also been included in tonight's squad, with the latter making his AFL debut as medical sub.

General manager of football Josh Mahoney explained the situation.

"Late in the week we had a handful of players succumb to illness, and we’ve given them every opportunity to be fit for tonight’s game. As a result, we’ve had to make five forced changes, which includes debutant Alastair Lord being named as medical sub," Mahoney said.

"Devon Smith, who wasn’t originally listed as an emergency, has also come into the side after putting his hand up to be available. The plan for Dev was for him to complete a mini-preseason to build up the muscles around his knee. Given the situation, Dev put his hand up to play and we are looking forward to him contributing tonight."

Lord, who was taken from Norwood at pick No.46 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, is a running defender who has impressed in his six VFL games this season.

See the Bombers' final team below.

Backs: Jayden Laverde, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Zach Reid
Half-backs: Nick Hind, Dyson Heppell (C), Mason Redman
Centreline: Andrew McGrath, Dylan Shiel, Brayden Ham
Half-forwards: Archie Perkins, Nic Martin, Ben Hobbs
Forwards: Aaron Francis, Peter Wright, Kaine Baldwin
Followers: Sam Draper, Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett
Interchange: Tom Cutler, Jye Caldwell, Nick Bryan, Devon Smith
Medical sub: Alastair Lord
Emergencies: Garrett McDonagh, Tom Hird

In: Bryan, Hind, Ham, Zerk-Thatcher, Smith, Francis, Lord

Out: Stringer (hamstring), Cox (ankle), Guelfi (illness), Kelly (illness), Ridley (illness), Waterman (illness), Durham (illness)