Jobe Watson will play his first senior game this season against the Western Bulldogs at The Dome on Sunday afternoon. Watson hasn't been seen since Essendon's semi-final loss to Geelong last season. But Watson is now injury free and in form and he comes into the 25-man squad along with James Hird who has recovered from a hamstring injury.

The Essendon team is:

Backs: Welsh Fletcher Zantuck
Half Backs: Bradley Lucas Hird
Centres: M. Johnson J. Johnson Stanton
Half Forwards: Murphy Laycock McPhee
Forwards: Solomon Lloyd Lovett
Rucks: Hille Peverill McVeigh
Bench: Lovett-Murray Watson Alvey Winderlich Cupido Thomas Henneman

In: Thomas, Watson, Hird, Henneman
Out: Rioli (Calf)

Tasmania v Bendigo Bombers
Friday 27th May
Aurora Stadium at 6.30pm

The Bendigo Bombers team is:

Backs: Thomas Richards Hunt
Half Backs: Rosa Reynolds Haynes
Centres: Nash Doering Slattery
Half Forwards: Dyson Cartledge Monfries
Forwards: Blumfield Beasy Carter
Rucks: Henneman Bullen Wilson
Bench: Bain Cupido Jolley Watson McGlynn Robins Connaughton Johns Steel Lovett-Murray