Essendon will field an experienced side in its final pre-season hitout against Geelong in the JLT Community Series on Thursday.
Exciting forward Orazio Fantasia has recovered from a corked quad and leads six inclusions for the team following it’s clash with Carlton last week.
The important goalkicker is joined by ruck Tom Bellchambers and inside midfielder David Myers, adding 229 AFL games of experience to the team, while young Bombers Sam Draper, Dylan Clarke and draftee Brayden Ham have also been included.
Rookie Tom Jok has been unable to reclaim his spot in the side as he recovers from concussion, while Zac Clarke, Michael Hartley, Jayden Laverde, Jake Long and Shaun McKernan also make way for the inclusions.
Having previously flagged the possibility of utilising a pair of rucks following the Bombers’ narrow loss to the Blues, there will be plenty of interest in the effectiveness of Bellchambers and Draper, his promising apprentice, against the Cats on Thursday.
The first bounce is set for 7:10pm at GMHBA Stadium.
FINAL TEAM
B – Patrick Ambrose, Mitch Brown, Adam Saad
HB – Aaron Francis, Michael Hurley, Andrew McGrath
C – Dyson Heppell, Jake Stringer, Matt Guelfi
HF – Devon Smith, David Myers, David Zaharakis
F – Mark Baguley, Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
R – Tom Bellchambers, Dylan Shiel, Jordan Ridley
Interchange – Conor McKenna, Darcy Parish, Brayden Ham, Sam Draper, Kyle Langford, Dylan Clarke, Zach Merrett, Orazio Fantasia
Emergencies – James Stewart, Jayden Laverde, Shaun McKernan, Jake Long
IN – Bellchambers, D. Clarke, Draper, Fantasia, Ham, Myers
OUT – Z. Clarke, Jok, Hartley, Laverde, Long, McKernan
CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE WEEKLY BOMBER BULLETIN
