Essendon could have up to three debutants take on Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
As expected with the tight turnaround into the match after the club’s loss to Collingwood on Wednesday, the Bombers have made a number of changes to its extended squad.
There will be at least five changes to the side that took on the Magpies, with Tom Bellchambers, Josh Green, Josh Begley, David Myers and Michael Hartley all withdrawn.
Scans confirmed the worst news for Begley on Sunday, revealing that the young forward had torn his ACL, while Green (hamstring) also comes out due to injury.
Nine Bombers have been added to the squad including tall defender Jordan Ridley, athletic midfielder Kobe Mutch and tough on-baller Dylan Clarke who could all be in line for their first senior game.
Ruckman Matthew Leuenberger has taken Bellchambers’ position on the field and Jayden Laverde has also been listed in the side on the wing.
Patrick Ambrose may return to the side after overcoming a broken wrist, while small defender Ben McNiece and key tall Shaun McKernan round out the inclusions.
The squad will be trimmed and the final side will be confirmed on Friday.
EXTENDED SQUAD:
B – Goddard, Hurley, Saad
HB – J. Merrett, Hooker, Heppell
C – Laverde, Z. Merrett, Parish
HF – Guelfi, Stewart, McDonald-Tipungwuti
F – Stringer, Daniher, Zaharakis
R – Leuenberger, Smith, McGrath
I/C – Ambrose, Baguley, Langford, Mutch, Ridley, McNiece, Clarke, McKernan
IN: Langford, Ridley, Mutch, Leuenberger, Ambrose, Laverde, Clarke, McNiece, McKernan
OUT: Bellchambers, Green, Begley, Myers, Hartley
