The Essendon defence has received a boost with Michael Hartley and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti named in the extended squad to take on the Giants on Sunday.

Hartley has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the Dreamtime at the G’ game against Richmond while McDonald-Tipungwuti was rested last week.

Jason Ashby and Shaun McKernan were also named in the extended squad that will be trimmed to 22 on Friday.

McDonald-Tipungwuti is averaging 17 possessions per game and his pace and skill in the Essendon defence has helped set up the Dons attack.

“Walla has been outstanding.  He hadn’t hit the wall as such as yet, but the risk is if he had have kept playing he wouldn’t have been able to perform at the level we needed him to for the remainder of the year,” Essendon Coach John Worsfold said.

“He’ll come in fresh and we’re confident he’ll be able to play at the exciting level he has been playing at.” 

Hartley has played nine games this season and is becoming a key component of the backline. 

“We’ve been really impressed with him throughout the course of the year,” Worsfold said.

“As he did his hamstring he was starting to fatigue a bit so this forced layoff for him has been good to freshen him up and he's back and ready to go.” 

Families are encouraged to attend the game with children under the age of 15 admitted free of charge. 

Some lucky kids will also be invited to participate in the guard of honour as the players run out and Skeeta will run a special ‘party room’ to keep all of the young fans entertained.