Kevin Sheedy has pulled some surprises at the selection table during his time as coach of the Bombers. And in the build-up to this weekend's Preliminary Final with Hawthorn the question being asked is: Will Sheeds pull a surprise at selection this week? If he does, the wildcard could come in the form of Dean Wallis. The Bombers will have to make at least one change this week due to Matthew Lloyd's suspension. Given the height of the Hawthorn forward line, a tall defender might be needed and Dean Wallis fits the bill. Wallis trained strongly late last week, completing two tough running sessions.

""Dean has done a fair bit of training away from the club recently just to freshen him up a little,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""It has been a tough year for him in terms of injury so we just thought we would take him away from the daily grind and get him to work one-on-one with John Quinn. He moved the best he has all season late last week and will be considered by the match committee.""

Sheedy is a huge Dean Wallis fan and he pulled a surprise by naming him in the 1993 Essendon premiership side. Wallis' hardness at the football and the man with the football was an important part of the Bombers' successful finals campaign last season. ""He is a very important player. A fit Dean Wallis would be very useful,"" Drain said.

So keep your eye out for another of Sheedy's September Surprises.