If you were at Windy Hill this morning you might have questioned why the team was training on the morning of a match. No your eyes weren't deceiving you, it was an Essendon squad training. Mark Mercuri, Aaron Henneman, Ted Richards, Robert Forster-Knight, Jordan Bannister, James Davies and others were in the thick of the action at the skills session. However, it wasn't the senior squad training - they were all at home resting up for the big game against Geelong tonight at the Dome - it was the Bendigo Bombers squad training in preparation for its Round 12 clash tomorrow.

It is an all-star Bendigo Bombers line-up that will face the Cats at Skilled Stadium. 12 of the starting 18 players have all played senior footy for the Bombers. The Bendigo Bombers team has suffered the affects of the injury depleted Essendon list this season and has been without experienced players for the majority of the season. With the injury list virtually free at Essendon the VFL side has received an injection of quality players for its match against Geelong. In comes Mercuri and Alessio, who bring with them over 360 games of experience.

Aaron Henneman also comes into the side after being sidelined all season with a groin injury. The 22-year-old has played only a handful of games over the past 18 months due to injury. He has put the continued injury setbacks behind him and is itching to get out there and play tomorrow. ""My outlook for the next 10 weeks is to come in fresh and to prove that I can play AFL standard and contribute for Essendon. I have sat back watching all year and I don't think anyone is as excited about the coming 10 weeks that I hope I can make a difference,"" Henneman said.

Rookie Ben Haynes also returns to the side after dislocating his shoulder in a pre-season practice match. Haynes had surgery earlier in the season and has undergone an extensive rehabilitation program. He has been training extremely hard in a bid to return after the bye weekend.

Bendigo Bombers team:

B: Hall, Hunt, T. McGrath
HB: Mercuri, Bannister, Henneman
C: Davies, Forster-Knight, Winderlich
HF: C. McGrath, Laycock, Howard
F: Alessio, Richards, Walsh
R: O'Keefe, Haynes, Carter
Interchange from: Hawkins, Cartledge, Wilson, Cail, Rosa, Lovett-Murray, Bowen

If you can’t get along and support the Bendigo Bombers tomorrow at Skilled Stadium, Geelong, the match is live on ABC television at 1pm.