The lightening-paced leg speed of Essendon’s new-look midfield will have an opportunity to really show the damage they can inflict when they take to the wide expanses of Subiaco oval this Friday night.

 

Having been knocked out of the NAB Cup last week, Essendon are set to take on West Coast on their home turf and face the extra test of the long flight to Perth. However, judging from the Bombers’ past three performances, it is clear they are not shy of a challenge and will receive a major confidence boost if they can secure victory on this occasion.

 

Essendon’s contingency of youth has been a talking point throughout the NAB Cup, proving exciting times are ahead for the Bombers. They have taken it upon themselves to stand up in the absence of some of the team’s key senior players but, with an almost full strength side set to play this week, there will be added pressure as players vie for Round 1 selection.

 
Matthew Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher are two key additions to the Bombers’ line-up this week for their first appearance in the pre-season competition. Lloyd was in exceptional condition this pre-season before a minor setback due to a hamstring complaint and Friday night's test could prove a good gauge to see how he compares with the competition.

 

Fletcher will be welcomed by the Essendon backline with his experience likely to be a key ingredient to the young mix of Jay Nash, Courtenay Dempsey and Patrick Ryder. Nash has been in impressive form in the veteran’s absence with his accuracy by hand and foot a real positive, but having one of the competition’s best full-backs on side will only further aid his game.

 
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The Bombers’ tackling pressure is likely to be a focal point of this week’s match after Matthew Knights highlighted it as a key area left wanting in last week’s clash with St Kilda. He has called on his midfield to lift in this area and wants to ensure the defensive pressure is on song across the ground.

 

Mark McVeigh, who was bitterly disappointed in last week's three point loss, is sure to lead by example in this regard but he will need the support of his less experienced teammates in order to make any inroads into shutting down a star-studded West Coast midfield.

 

Ricky Dyson will be keen to pick-up where he left off in the NAB Cup when he returns to the side this week and Angus Monfries will want to put last week’s performance behind him as he is given another opportunity to test himself in the Essendon midfield.

 

These two players are among a number of future stars looking to cement themselves as regulars in the centre in 2008 and, with only a handful of positions available, the selection pressure is only going to add to the Bombers’ influence on the field this season.

 
Essendon’s squad is:

Backs: Slattery Fletcher Nash

Half-backs: Lovett-Murray Ryder Dempsey

Centres: Monfries Dyson McVeigh

Half-forwards: Jetta Lucas Houli

Forwards: Johns Lloyd Davey

Rucks: Hille Stanton Watson

Bench: Peverill Ramanauskas Bellchambers Laycock Pears Lonergan Johnson