It's all on the line for the Bombers when they meet Fremantle on Sunday.

A win will likely see the Comeback Story enter an exciting new chapter in the finals.

While a loss will also ikely end the Dons 2017 campaign.

Jobe Watson and Travis Colyer are back to cover the absences of Craig Bird and Josh Green (foot).

Fremantle has been boosted by the return of Lachie Neale, Shane Kersten, Jonathon Griffin, Tommy Sheridan and Sam Collins.

Sean Darcy (suspended) and Cam McCarthy are among the exclusions.

Click here to read Robert Shaw's match preview.

The History

R7, 2017, Fremantle Dockers 17.14 (116) d Essendon 11.13 (79) at Domain Stadium
R11, 2016, Fremantle Dockers 20.6 (126) d Essendon 6.11 (47) at Domain Stadium
R6, 2015, Fremantle Dockers 12.8 (80) d Essendon 7.10 (52) at Domain Stadium
R4, 2014, Fremantle Dockers 18.5 (113) d Essendon 9.6 (60) at Domain Stadium
R3, 2013, Essendon 10.12 (72) d Fremantle Dockers 9.14 (68) at Domain Stadium

Side note

Essendon will celebrate the careers of its retiring champions (Jobe Watson, James Kelly and Brent Stanton) throughout Sunday's match.

There will be 10,000 Jobe Watson face masks handed out to fans to use throughout the gam, and specifically at the 4th minute of each quarter.

For more details on the match day initiatives, click here. 

The Teams

Essendon

In: Jobe Watson, Travis Colyer

Out: Craig Bird, Josh Green (foot)

B: David Myers, Michael Hartley, Mark Baguley

HB: Andrew McGrath, Patrick Ambrose, Conor McKenna

C: James Kelly, Darcy Parish, Brendon Goddard

HF: Zach Merrett, Cale Hooker, Martin Gleeson

F: Josh Begley, Joe Daniher, James Stewart

R: Tom Bellchambers, David Zaharakis, Dyson Heppell

I: Jobe Watson, Travis Colyer, Jayden Laverde, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

E: Kyle Langford, Heath Hocking, Shaun McKernan

Fremantle

In:  Lachie Neale, Shane Kersten, Jonathon Griffin, Tommy Sheridan, Sam Collins

Tactical notes:

- Last week Richmond used Jacob Townsend (a medium sized player) on Fremantle key defender Michael Johnson.  The Dockers back man likes to run and zone off.  Townsend ended the game with six goals.  Could the Bombers used Jayden Laverde in a similar role?

- This is the first time in 2,702 days Fremantle will travel to Melbourne to play against Essendon.

- The Bombers are ranked fourth for total points this year, averaging 96 points a game, while the Dockers are managing 72 points per game (18th overall).

- Lachie Neale averages 30 possessions in his five games against Essendon.  He picked up 40 disposals last time the two sides met.

- Look for Essendon to use Michael Hartley on Shane Kersten, Patrick Ambrose on Matt Taberner and Mark Baguley on Hayden Ballantyne.

- Essendon needs 22,908 fans through the gate to record 1,000,000 spectators at its matches this season.