Jayden Laverde will make his long awaited return to the field in the VFL this Saturday against Richmond.

The 21 year old has been sidelined since March with an ankle injury.

Laverde has played 18 games for Essendon in his two and a half years with the Club in which he averaged 12 disposals, four marks and three tackles. 

He will be on modified playing time in the Dons clash with the Tigers.

 “It’s really exciting for him, he’s worked really hard and has been really diligent with his rehab,” Performance Coach Mark Corrigan said.

“He’s ready to go. He will probably play around three quarters and hopefully we get a little bit from him.”

Laverde’s return to the forward line is likely to see Aaron Francis continue his role in defence.

Francis played the first half of the season in attack for the Bombers but has proven effective in the back half.

He cut off multiple entries into Williamstown’s forward 50 last week and ended the match with eight marks and three tackles.

“Aaron has gone down there to give us that ability to come off and intercept mark but also defend really hard,” Corrigan said.

“When he’s composed he uses the ball really well. I thought he was really good for us last week.

“He will spend most of his time down there. It gives us some flexibility to have him go forward or back at this stage so he will start in defence but if we need him he might play a little bit forward.”

Essendon is looking to get one back on the Tigers, who claimed the four premiership points in the Dreamtime game earlier this season.

“It’s really important that we work around the contest, we probably got outdone a little bit around there,” he said.

“I think last time their pressure was really good. We probably didn’t handle it like we would like.

“Hopefully going into this game we will be a little more composed moving the ball forward and try and match their output around the contest.

“I’m sure they’ve changed some things since last time - the personnel might be a little different.

“Both their sides are in really good form so we are expecting another tough contest.”

Tiger Anthony Miles starred the last time the sides met. He finished with 29 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and a goal.

“He’s a quality player, he’s a very good clearance player and then he gets it out and his transition is really good as well,” Corrigan said.

“We are going to have to be mindful of him but in saying that – Myers last week was outstanding for us, then the other guys Hocking and Bird are class acts at VFL level.

“We will back our guys in to get the result we need around the footy.”

Richmond is seventh on the ladder while the Dons are in ninth place after ten rounds.

“We’ve been around that mark all year, it’s really important we start stringing some games together,” Corrigan said.

“If we win it gets us above the 50/50 mark, which is what we are striving to do and striving to play finals.”

Corrigan says the players have recovered well after their 15 point win over Williamstown.

“We got through that game relatively unscathed. We had a normal seven day break so they are ready to go again,” he said.

The round 11 clash will be televised on Channel 7 from 2:10pm.

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