At this early stage of the season, Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy is thankful the club talked Paul Salmon out of retirement. Salmon's return has been seen as an insurance policy by some and a band-aid measure by others - either way Sheedy is certain the club has made the right call. ""Look he is really helping us out - hopefully everything goes right with this decision. With John Barnes retiring, it was really a situation where we needed another experienced ruckman. It's a risk but it is a risk worth taking,"" Sheedy said at training last night. Salmon will put on the Essendon guernsey for the first time in seven years this weekend in the third round of the Wizard Cup.

""We absolutely need him (Salmon) right now,"" Sheedy said. David Hille is out for a week and Alessio is also out. Our next option would have been a rookie if we didn't have Salmon and I don't know if that is the right option. So we are very fortunate.""

The team will leave for Perth tomorrow afternoon in preparation for the match. Essendon take on Fremantle at Subiaco on Saturday evening in what basically amounts to a glorified practice match. Essendon is unable to make the finals of the pre-season competition after losing the first two matches against Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs. The coaching panel will continue to play a number of youngsters and a few big names will be given the week off. ""This time of year, February - it's a game where we are going to play our best young players and the players that need a game. Lloyd will be out - he won't play. He has got a slight twinge and we don't want it to go any further,"" Sheedy said.