""Kepler has been a bit bruised and battered in recent weeks,"" Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey said. ""He had the eye problem and before that copped a heavy knock to the ribs. He has also been asked to do some pretty big jobs - it is about player management and we just felt it was time to ease him back.""
Ty Zantuck will play for Bendigo again.
The Essendon side to play the Kangaroos is:
Backs: Welsh Fletcher McVeigh
Half Backs: Hird Lucas Lovett-Murray
Centres: Stanton J. Johnson Solomon
Half Forwards: Rioli McPhee Murphy
Forwards: Lovett Lloyd Laycock
Rucks: Hille M. Johnson Peverill
Bench: Cupido Monfries Slattery Bolton
Emergencies: Watson Dyson Bradley
Port Melbourne v Bendigo Bombers
Sunday 3rd July
TEAC Oval at 2:00pm
The Bendigo team is:
Backs: Connaughton Hunt Wilson
Half Backs: Dyson Doering Richards
Centres: Winderlich Rosa Haynes
Half Forwards: Robins Watson Alvey
Forwards: Johns Beasy Thomas
Rucks: Cartledge Bullen Blumfield
Bench: Maddern Childs Pendlebury Bradley Zantuck Bain Nash Jolley