Essendon VFL has selected a strong squad ahead of Saturday’s qualifying final against Richmond at the Swinburne Centre.

AFL mid-season draftee Will Snelling returns to the line-up at ruck rover, with Josh Begley at full-forward and Michael Hartley at full-back. 

After announcing his retirement earlier in the week, Mark Baguley will start in the forward pocket.

Essendon’s defensive 50 will be missing in-form youngster Jordan Ridley, but will have Ben McNiece, Matt Dea, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Josh Tynan and Bruno Laguda rounding out the back six.

Leadership group member Liam McKenna also returns to the squad, named on the half-forward flank in his first match back since round nine, alongside vice-captain Danny Younan and Daniel Guccione. 

Raining hard, training hard pic.twitter.com/YxAPcQ3YxA

— Essendon VFL (@essendonvfl) August 28, 2019

Skipper Aaron Heppell will begin on the bench with vice-captain Heath Hocking, while Matthew Day retains his spot as the 23^rd player. 

A win against the Tigers means the VFL Dons will progress to a preliminary final in two weeks' time, while a loss will see them face either Box Hill or Werribee in a semi-final.

The team will be finalised before the first bounce at 2:10pm on Saturday.

Live updates will be available via Essendon VFL’s Twitter, with the match to also be televised on Channel 7.