The Bombers victory over Sydney last Friday night was undoubtedly its best for the season but selectors will be forced to make changes this week despite the win. Matthew Lloyd (suspension) and Justin Blumfield (virus) are both certain to return while Gary Moorcroft (suspension) and Danny Jacobs (virus) are also available and will be pushing hard to regain their place in the senior side. It is an enviable position for the Bombers to be in just two days prior to the club's big Anzac day clash with Collingwood.
Blumfield and Jacobs were both late withdrawals from the Bomber side which took to the SCG on Friday night. Both were withdrawn due to viruses. ""They were both feeling a bit flat during the week so we got them to have a blood test. It showed they had a viral infection so we went the safe way and left them out - they have both recovered now and are available for selection,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said.
The changes to last Friday night's team made way for first-gamers Damien Peverill and Rob Forster-Knight and both played very good football. ""They did very well considering it was their first game of senior football,"" Drain said. ""They have certainly made it interesting for the selectors this week.""
In other injury news, Dean Rioli (hamstring) will miss another week but is expected to be fit for the Bombers clash with West Coast at Colonial Satadium on Sunday week. Chris Heffernan is two weeks away from making his return to football following a knee injury while Joe Misiti is still seven weeks off making his return.
