Essendon Coach James Hird is backing Jake Carlisle to compete strongly in the ruck against West Coast this weekend.

Regular ruckman Tom Bellchambers was left out of the side while former Giant Jonathan Giles was overlooked, leaving Carlisle and Joe Daniher to lead the charge. 

“We just didn’t think that we had a ruckman who was in good enough form,” Hird said.

“Jonathan Giles has been ok in the reserves but he needs to play a bit better. 

“Tom hasn’t been great for the last three or four weeks and needs to go back and get some form in the VFL and hopefully come back in." 

Despite making an impressive debut for the club against North Melbourne and playing several strong games for the VFL side, Shaun McKernan was ineligible for selection this week.

The former Crow returned to the rookie-list after Jason Winderlich was elevated from the long-term injury list.

Hird suggested McKernan would have been a very good chance of playing this week had he still been on the senior list. 

“Shaun’s been in excellent form in the reserves,” he said.

“He really has taken his game to another level so we would have liked to have had him but just the way the rules are, we won’t get him until probably next week.”

McKernan is averaging 21 disposals, 17 hit outs and a goal in his six games in the VFL this year. 

When Carlisle or Daniher take their position in the middle of the ground on Saturday, they’ll be standing opposite Nic Naitanui. 

West Coast is one of the best centre clearance sides in the competition and the athletic big man has played a significant part.

“We’ve got a plan that probably won’t stop Nic Naitanui because no one seems to stop him, but hopefully will negate some of his influence,” Hird said.

“We’ve got a strategy and obviously we’ll find out at the end of the game whether that has worked or not.”

The Bombers touch down in Perth tonight ahead of the match against the Eagles tomorrow afternoon.