Star Bomber Adam Ramanauskas has been named in the Essendon side to take on the Kangaroos at The Dome tomorrow night. After a solid start to the season, Ramanauskas’ season was turned on its head after Round 3 when he underwent major surgery to remove a benign tumour from his upper body. It has taken him nine weeks but his rehabilitation is now complete and he has been named on the wing for tomorrow night’s match.

Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey said Ramanauskas was a very important “in” for the Bombers. “He has trained very well for the past three weeks and we think he can do a job for us tomorrow night,” Harvey said. “I also think his return will be good for the team as well. He is a 70 or 80 game player now and he is also the type of player we have been missing.”

“It really is great to have him back in the team and it will give the boys a real lift for what is an important game. He is a high quality player. I think he is also pleased to be back for Jason Johnson’s 100th game – that would never really count for much when you weigh up whether he plays or not but it is a nice bonus. They are good friends.”

In other team changes, Essendon welcomes back champion full back Dustin Fletcher for the first time since the club’s Round 6 loss to Fremantle. Fletcher has been struggling to overcome an ankle injury but is now fully fit. And big man Tseven Alessio also returns for the bombers after being dropped for last weekend’s match against the Kangaroos. The three inclusions have come at the expense of Ted Richards, Joel Reynolds and Rob Forster-Knight.

Backs: Welsh, Fletcher, Wellman
Half Backs: McVeigh, Bolton, Solomon
Centres: M. Johnson, Misiti, Ramanauskas
Half Forwards: Lucas, Jacobs, Mercuri
Forwards: Barnard, Lloyd, Rioli
Rucks: Hille, McPhee, J. Johnson
Bench: Alessio, Cupido, Peverill, Bullen
Emergencies: Richards, C. McGrath, Bannister