Essendon welcomes back Brent Stanton, Ben Howlett and Martin Gleeson for the match against GWS.
Darcy Parish and James Kelly miss through injury while Matt Dea was left out.
The Giants have brought in an extra runner (Tom Scully) in place of a key position player (Tim Mohr).
The Bombers are in 11th position on the ladder but just one win out of fourth. GWS could move to the top of the ladder with a win over the Dons.
Read Robert Shaw's match preview here.
The weather
Partly cloudy with a top of 19.
The history
R13, 2016, GWS 17.15 (117) d Essendon 12.18 (90) at Etihad Stadium
R19, 2015, GWS 14.9 (93) d Essendon 8.13 (61) at Spotless Stadium
R12, 2014, Essendon 11.15 (81) d GWS 9.12 (66) at Spotless Stadium
R17, 2013, Essendon 18.8 (116) d GWS 11.11 (77) at Spotless Stadium
R6, 2013, Essendon 17.18 (120) d GWS 12.9 (81) at Etihad Stadium
Special note
Brendon Goddard will play his 300th AFL game when the Dons take on the Giants.
He becomes just the second number one draft pick (after former teammate Nick Riewoldt) to play 300 games.
The 32 year old played 205 games with St Kilda before joining the Bombers ahead of the 2013 season.
In his 94 games for the Bombers, Goddard has averaged 26 disposals and kicked 52 goals.
Along the way he's captained the Club and won a Crichton Medal.
“Playing for Essendon and having such a loyal supporter group has been a credit to everyone involved.
“As players we’ve really appreciated the continued support.”
- Brendon Goddard
Teams
Essendon
In: Brent Stanton, Ben Howlett, Martin Gleeson
Out: James Kelly (groin), Matt Dea, Darcy Parish (calf)
Milestone: Brendon Goddard (300 games)
B: Martin Gleeson, Michael Hurley, Mark Baguley
HB: Orazio Fantasia, Michael Hartley, David Myers
C: Brent Stanton, Zach Merrett, Andrew McGrath
HF: James Stewart, Cale Hooker, Travis Colyer
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Joe Daniher, Ben Howlett
R: Tom Bellchambers, Dyson Heppell, Brendon Goddard
I: Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis, Josh Green, Conor McKenna
E: Kyle Langford, Heath Hocking, Matt Dea
GWS
In: Tom Scully
Out: Tim Mohr
B: Harry Perryman, Adam Tomlinson, Zac Williams
HB: Nathan Wilson, Phil Davis, Lachie Whitfield
C: Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Heath Shaw
HF: Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Josh Kelly
F: Sam J. Reid, Jonathon Patton, Matt de Boer
R: Shane Mumford, Tim Taranto, Dylan Shiel
I: Aidan Corr, Daniel Lloyd, Harrison Himmelberg, Matthew Kennedy
E: Dawson Simpson, Jeremy Finlayson, Tim Mohr
Key notes:
- Expect Michael Hurley to get the job on Jeremy Cameron and Michael Hartley to line-up on Jonathon Patton. The Bombers normally like to free Hurley up but with Matt Dea out of the side and Patrick Ambrose injured, Hurley will need to take the dangerous Cameron. The athletic forward averages more than three goals per game against the Dons.
- At the other end GWS Captain Phil Davis will line-up on Joe Daniher. Davis is 197cm so Daniher's usual height advantage won't be as pronounced but the Bomber spearhead's ability to roam around the ground this season has troubled his opponents. Daniher has booted 29 goals from his ten games in 2017.
- Toby Greene has become one of the best small forwards in the game. Mark Baguley shapes as the likely match-up with the Bombers defender often given the task of playing on the opposition's best small forward.
- Essendon has won three of the four games it has played at Spotless Stadium, but the Giants are undefeated at the venue this year.
