With injuries and suspension affecting some of its most seasoned players, Essendon will field an inexperienced line-up against St Kilda on Sunday. 

Just nine players in the 25-man squad have played more than 50 games.

Mark Jamar (suspension), Matthew Leuenberger (knee), Mathew Stokes (groin), David Zaharakis (suspension) and Jason Ashby make way for James Polkinghorne, Shaun McKernan, Sam Michael, Patrick Ambrose, Jayden Laverde, Kyle Langford, Aaron Francis and Conor McKenna.

The final 22 will be named on Friday night.

Coach John Worsfold said the absentees open the door for others to step up.

“It is an opportunity – that’s how we see it,” Worsfold said.

“We lose some serious experience out of our line up which we can’t really afford to.

“But it does open up opportunities for younger players and opportunities for our mid tier players to show strong leadership.

“With Leuenberger, Jamar, Zaharakis and Stokes all out, that’s a lot of games of footy, and we’ve been a pretty inexperienced group.

“It makes it a real challenge for this week but we’re excited about what we’re going to find out.”

Langford and Laverde have spent the last month in the VFL. 

Worsfold said the second year players have shown strong progress throughout their run of games at state level.

“They’ve both been outstanding really,” he said.

“Jayden more so just building fitness and form after a layoff and Kyle was more about more midfield time and we could get him that in the VFL.

“He’s developed a lot in just two weeks of full midfield time so that’s been great to be able to give him that time and he’ll get a good look in for this week.”