Essendon has named its VFL side to face Southport this Saturday.

Midfielder Will Setterfield headlines seven changes for the Bombers this week, returning for his first game back from a foot injury sustained in round nine.

Setterfield and AFL draft prospect Harley Reid will look to bolster the Dons' stocks in the absence of Elijah Tsatas, who makes his AFL debut this week against the Eagles.

Defender Will Madden also comes back into the side, covering for AFL emergency Sam Weideman in defence.

Jake Moorhead, Jacob Brown, Bruno Laguda, and Maclayn Hallows round out the inclusions for the Dons. 

Defender Massimo D'Ambrosio will miss after suffering a season-ending knee injury in last week's defeat to the Swans.

The Bombers and Sharks will face off at Fankhauser Reserve in Southport, kicking off at 11:35am on Saturday.

Essendon round 20 VFL team

B A. Lord (28) K. Baldwin (26) C. McBride (41)
HB J. Fitzgerald (77) L. Hayes (18) R. Montgomerie (38)
C J. Moorhead (75) B. Cootee (57) T. Phillips (55)
HF T. Wanganeen (40) P. Voss (39) M. Hallows (72)
F A. McDonald-Tipungwuti (43) J. Jorgensen (56) A. Munkara (45)
R J. Hotchkin (64) W. Setterfield (12) H. Reid (82)
INT C. McCarty (79) W. Madden (66) M. Kiraly (78)
  J. Brown (61) B. Laguda (62)  
23rd Player H. Reid (82)
EMG C. Egan (52)    
     
       
INS J. Brown M. Hallows B. Laguda
W. Madden J. Moorhead H. Reid
W. Setterfield    
OUTS E. Tsatas S. Weideman M. D'Ambrosio
S. McKay H. Minton-Connell J. Stewart
M. Taha