Essendon will field a young side for its opening NAB Challenge game of 2014 against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Monday night with four youngsters in line to Don the Sash for the first time.

Zach Merrett, Orazio Fantasia, Kurt Aylett and Fraser Thurlow are all in line to play their first game in the red and black since being drafted to the club in the off-season.

Merrett and Fantasia were taken with selections 26 and 55 respectively in the national draft, Thurlow taken with the first pick in the rookie draft and Aylett traded to the Bombers from GWS.

The Bombers will be without a number of stars for their first pre-season hit out with Jobe Watson, Brendon Goddard, Paul Chapman, Dustin Fletcher and Courtenay Dempsey among the big names to miss.

Brent Stanton, David Zaharakis, Dyson Heppell, Heath Hocking, Michael Hurley and Patrick Ryder are among the more experienced players named in the squad to face the Suns.

The 29-man squad will be cut back to a final team of 26 ahead of the clash against the Suns on Monday night.

See the club’s 29-man squad below.

1. Michael Hibberd

5. Brent Stanton

6. Joe Daniher

7. Leroy Jetta

10. Nick O’Brien

11. David Zahrakis

12. Mark Baguley

14. Jason Ashby

18. Michael Hurley

20. Jackson Merrett

21. Dyson Heppell

22. Jake Carlisle

24. Alex Browne

25. Ariel Steinberg

26. Cale Hooker

27. Zach Merrett

28. Elliott Kavanagh

29. Cory Dell’Olio

30. Patrick Ryder

32. Travis Colyer

33. Dylan Van Unen

34. Kyle Hardingham

35. Martin Gleeson

36. Lauchlan Dalgleish

39. Heath Hocking

40. Ben Howlett

43. Kurt Aylett

44. Fraser Thurlow

46. Orazio Fantasia

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