Essendon is backing Shaun McKernan to lead its ruck division against Port Adelaide on Saturday night.

Coach James Hird said the former Crow would get support from the Bombers key forwards. 

“Joe’s 200 centimetres and we’ve got Hooker and also Paddy Ambrose to also pinch hit in the ruck,” he said. 

“We just think we’re too tall if we have two ruckman, with the tall players we have at both ends of the ground.”

Todd Goldstein was instrumental in the Kangaroos victory over the Bombers last week. 

But Hird said McKernan deserves another chance to play in the senior side after displaying some good form in previous matches.

“It wasn’t a great game he had on the weekend.  We back him to bounce back," Hird said.

The Bombers recalled Alex Browne at the expense of Jason Ashby.

Browne played his first match in two and a half years against Melbourne a fortnight ago.

But the former Oakleigh Charger was subbed out after sustaining a head knock in a tackle.

He has since recovered and returns to an Essendon line-up that will again have a youthful flavor with ten players aged 22 or younger.