Essendon has named its squad for the first round of the JLT Community Series against Richmond, with the best of the old and the best of the new set to take the field at Norm Minns Oval in Wangaratta this Saturday.
Three of the biggest moves of the 2017 Trade Period will be unleashed against the Tigers. Former GWS forward Devon Smith will fit right in as a forward pocket, ex-Gold Coast defender Adam Saad will line up across half back.
Ex-Bulldog All Australian Jake Stringer has been named on a 12-man extended bench along with exciting draftees Jordan Houlahan and Matt Guelfi – who retains his place after an eye-catching AFLX performance.
After spending much of 2017 donning the red and black in the VFL, Sam Draper and Dylan Clarke will take a step closer to their senior debuts after being named at centre half forward and on the extended bench respectively. For the JLT Series, a squad can have up to 26 players on match day with an eight-man bench.
A strong spine has been retained to take on the reigning premiers. Ahead of a season in which he will look to spend more time in the midfield, Andrew McGrath will start in defence alongside Conor McKenna.
Midfielders Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish and forwards Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and David Zaharakis are all ready to kick-start their 2018 campaigns.
Skipper Dyson Heppell and veteran utility Brendon Goddard have been named on the extended bench, as has Jackson Merrett. Merrett will return from a broken leg sustained in last year’s round 15 VFL clash against Collingwood in one of the feel-good stories of the JLT Series.
Defensive lynchpin Michael Hurley is set to miss the hit-out against Richmond, as is power forward Cale Hooker and excitement machine forward Orazio Fantasia.
The Tigers have named a similarly strong squad, with only the injured Daniel Rioli and Dion Prestia and the suspended Nathan Broad to miss from their 2017 premiership team.
Essendon will take on the Tigers from 4:35 this Saturday at Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta. As with all JLT Series matches, the clash will be broadcast live on Fox Footy. Radio broadcast can be heard on Triple M, 3AW, SEN 1116, AFL Nation and FIVEaa and the official AFL website and the AFL Live Official App will have a live stream.
B: Andrew McGrath, Mitch Brown, Patrick Ambrose
HB: Adam Saad, Michael Hartley, Corey McKenna
C: Martin Gleeson, Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish
HF: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Sam Draper, David Zaharakis
F: Devon Smith, Joe Daniher, Shaun McKernan
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Josh Begley, Jake Long
Extended I/C: Mark Baguley, Dyson Heppell, Jordan Houlahan, Matt Dea, Kyle Langford, Matt Guelfi, Brendon Goddard, Josh Green, Dylan Clarke, Jake Stringer, Jackson Merrett, Ben McNiece
