Essendon selectors have some tough choices to make ahead of this week’s Clash for Cancer match against Melbourne following a resounding victory over Collingwood on the weekend.
Andrew Lovett is available for selection having served his two-week suspension for missing a training session and a number of emerging young players got through their return games with Bendigo.
Matthew Knights has expressed his disappointment at not being able to play some of his promising list due to injury and will be excited by the return of some of his best young talent.
Young midfielders Courtenay Dempsey and Heath Hocking will be thrown into the selection mix after putting in solid performances for Bendigo.
Bendigo coach, Adrian Hickmott, said despite their impressive performances, both players may be given another run with Bendigo due to their extended period on the sidelines through injury.
""Dempsey was very good actually. He came back from a long stint out and performed exceptionally well,"" Hickmott said.
""He can play the game and is a very smooth mover and he is disciplined in our set-ups and showed our other guys how to play wet weather footy by staying low with the footy.
“Hocking has also spent a lot of time out so, for him to come back and put in a solid performance, was exceptional. He got tired towards the end of the game but he was very good.""
Tom Hislop and Darcy Daniher also made it through their return VFL game unscathed after missing a number of weeks with a hip and back complaint.
""Tom and Darcy both played well, they just need to get a bit more football under their belts,"" Hickmott said.
""They worked extremely hard and I look forward to seeing them play next week because having another game under their belts is going to be good for them.""
Essendon’s injury list looks vastly better this week and is set to improve further in coming weeks.
David Myers (foot), Andrew Lee (shoulder) and Jason Johnson (calf) are only one week away, while Scott Gumbleton (collarbone) and Mark McVeigh (knee) are expected to be available in the next 2-3 weeks.Tayte Pears' hip injury is still being assessed.
Bachar Houli will have surgery on his groin in Sydney on Wednesday while Jason Winderlich, Courtney Johns, Alwyn Davey and Jay Neagle will miss the rest of the season.
| Kicks | Handballs | Goals | Behinds | Total Disposals | |
| Andreson, Daniel | 10 | 2 | 12 | ||
| Bellchambers, Thomas | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Bowe, Josh | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Bristow, James | 4 | 1 | 5 | ||
| Carmeri, Stewart | 7 | 6 | 1 | 13 | |
| Chartres, Danny | 6 | 1 | 7 | ||
| Coghlan, Jon | 4 | 1 | 5 | ||
| Daniher, Darcy | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| Dempsey, Courtenay | 9 | 2 | 11 | ||
| Dick, Dean | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| Flathery, James | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Hartigan, Brent | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Hislop, Tom | 8 | 0 | 1 | 8 | |
| Hocking, Heath | 5 | 2 | 7 | ||
| Homes, Blair | 10 | 4 | 14 | ||
| Hooker, Cale | 7 | 1 | 8 | ||
| Lovett, Andrew | 28 | 6 | 1 | 34 | |
| Magin, Rhys | 8 | 7 | 1 | 15 | |
| Skipworth, Hayden | 24 | 2 | 26 | ||
| Weekes, Grant | 14 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 16 |
| Williams, John | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| Young, Shaun | 1 | 1 | 2 |
