Essendon youngster Rob Forster-Knight will make make his senior debut for the Bombers against Sydney tomorrow night. The 18-year-old from the Murray Bushrangers was one of three forced changes made to the Bombers side for tomorrow night's game. Mark Bolton gets another chance at senior level while dual premiership player Dean Wallis makes his return.

The players missing from last weekend's match are Matthew Lloyd and Gary Moorcroft (suspension) and Joe Misiti (knee injury). Damien Peverill has been named as an emergency after being elevated to the senior list from the rookie list.

The Essendon side for the match is:
Backs: Hardwick Fletcher Wellman;
Half Backs: Solomon, Wallis, M. Johnson;
Centres: Caracella, Blumfield, Ramanauskas;
Half Forwards: Mercuri, Lucas, Hird;
Forwards: Alessio, Barnard, Long.
Rucks: Barnes, J. Johnson, McVeigh.
Bench: Henneman, Jacobs, Bolton, Forster-Knight.
Emergencies: McAlister, Peverill, McGrath.

The VFL side for this Saturday's match against Port Melbourne is:

Backs: Hunt, Clarke, Peverill;
Half Backs: D. Johnson, Robran, McAlister;
Centres: McGrath, Bullen Bannister;
Half Forwards: Davies, Richards, Mahoney;
Forwards: Cranage, Podisadly, Denham;
Rucks: Hille, Davis, Switala;
Bench: Hall, Sheppard, Goldsworthy, Goddard, Murphy, Dukes, Green