ESSENDON will welcome back a pair of key players from long-term injuries for its tough clash against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Talented Bomber midfielder Dylan Clarke has been named to play his first game of the season on his way back from a serious ankle injury suffered in January, while experienced co-captain Danny Younan will return from a shoulder problem suffered in the round three loss to Carlton.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher also comes in for the Bombers after being left out of the AFL team, but the three important inclusions have been offset by three similarly big outs, with Tom Cutler promoted to the AFL and ruckman Andrew Phillips and key forward Patrick Ambrose both injured.
Geelong also suffered a series of blows at the selection table, with ruckman Rhys Stanley, midfielder Quinton Narkle and forward Gryan Miers all called into the AFL team, while Jordan Clark will miss several weeks with a shoulder injury.
The Cats have recalled star full forward Josh Jenkins and fellow big men Nathan Kreuger and Esava Ratugolea for the game and will be hoping for a clear afternoon to take advantage of their extra height.
GEELONG v ESSENDON
Friday, July 2, 4.10pm @ GMHBA Stadium (Kayo)
GEELONG
B: 43. S. Okunbor, 48. A. Black, 21. N. Stevens
HB: 16. S. De Koning, 39. Z. Guthrie, 15. N. Kreuger
C: 9. M. Holmes, 20. O. Brownless, 66. J. Thurlow
HF: 31. F. Evans, 10. B. Jarvis, 55. L. Smith
F: 52. J. McLachlan, 11. J. Jenkins, 33. S. Neale
R: 28. D. Fort, 18. C. Constable, 58. D. Lang
Inter: 57. J. Chalcraft, 74. J. Gow, 17. E. Ratugolea, 41. C Taheny
Emerg: 59. N. Harris, 71. J. Johnston, 54. O. Tate, 78. I. Wareham
*AFL emergencies underlined
In: Jenkins, Kreuger, Ratugolea, Taheny
Out: J. Clark (shoulder), Miers, Narkle, Stanley (AFL)
ESSENDON
B: 31. Z. Reid, 30. B. Zerk-Thatcher, 75. M. Simpson
HB: 8. M. Gleeson, 32. J. Eyre, 52. J. Hickman
C: 53. S. Conforti, 60. J. Atley, 42. S. Durham
HF: 49. T. Hird, 54. D. Thompson, 36. L. Johnson
F: 28. N. Cahill, 41. C. McBride, 55. D. Younan
R: 24. N. Bryan, 63. N. O'Kearney, 11. D. Zaharakis
Inter: 37. D. Clarke, 77. K. Dunkley, 61. S. Graham, 78. J. Smithson
Emerg: 67. K. Brown, 58. J. Hobbs
*AFL emergencies underlined
In: Clarke, Conforti, Graham, Hickman, Younan, Zerk-Thatcher
Out: T. Cutler (AFL), A. Phillips (hamstring), P. Ambrose (injured), B. Morgan, Brown, Hobbs (omit)
Prediction: Geelong by 25
Brendan Rhodes’ winners: Last Week: 7. Season: 56.
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
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