Exciting young forward Jay Neagle- son of former Bomber Merv Neagle - has been named to play his second game for Essendon.

Neagle is one of seven Essendon players with 10-AFL-games or less to their name that will play against Port Power at the Dome on Sunday.

Bachar Houli is the veteran of that group with 10-games, followed by Leroy Jetta with seven-games and Tom Hislop with three-games.

Hislop will play his first senior game of the year after recovering from a wrist injury sustained in the VFL and Jetta returns from a hamstring injury.
 
Making their debuts will be 2007 recruits David Myers (pick 6), Darcy Daniher (father/son pick 39) and Jarrod Atkinson (rookie pick 21).

Adding to the youthfulness of the Essendon team is Courtney Johns who has played 20-games, Jay Nash with 27-games, Paddy Ryder with 36-games and Henry Slattery with 37-games.

On Sunday, half of Essendon's 22-players will have played 37-games or less.

Coach, Matthew Knights, said it's exciting for the club to see players of the future getting their chance and that they will be a big part of Essendon’s next period of sustained success and next premiership.

“I am a big believer that the game doesn’t know how old you are and these players have each earned their opportunity on Sunday,” Knights said.

“Whether you are 18-years-old or 34-years-old I expect each of our players to do their job and we are confident of a good showing against Port.”

Team manager, David Calthorpe, said the club will use its 35th player (of the 44 listed players) this weekend.

He said there are currently 13 players on Essendon's injury list.

""We are not using injuries as an excuse because they are part and parcel of footy and all 44 players on our list are here to play AFL footy. But the simple fact is we have had more than our fair share of injuries this year,” he said.

“That said, one door closes and another opens and this weekend is exciting because we have three quality players making their debut and another eight inexperienced players getting another game under their belt.

“I think our fans will enjoy seeing the exciting young talent that this club has and the improving depth we have on our playing list.”

Essendon injury list for round seven:

Jason Winderlich – groin 1 week

Kyle Reimers – foot 1 week

Sam Lonergan – hamstring 1 week

Adam Ramanauskas – virus 1 week

Mark McVeigh – hamstring 1-2 weeks

Dustin Fletcher – groin 2 weeks

Scott Gumbleton – knee 3-4 weeks

Damien Peverill – jaw 3-4 weeks

Scott Lucas – knee 4 weeks

Heath Hocking – groin 5-7 weeks

Courtenay Dempsey – leg 6-8 weeks

Andrew Lee – shoulder indefinite

Alwyn Davey – knee season