SPEEDSTER Orazio Fantasia headlines a trio of returning Bombers in Essendon's near full-strength line-up to face Geelong on Thursday night.
After missing last week's JLT Community Series loss to Carlton, Fantasia will join ruckman Tom Bellchambers and David Myers for their first game of the pre-season.
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The Bombers opted to throw youngster Dylan Clarke into the VFL curtain-raiser after he was initially named among eight interchange players on Wednesday night.
All other emergencies James Stewart, Jayden Laverde, Shaun McKernan and Jake Long took part against the Cats' VFL side.
Cats champion Gary Ablett will be unveiled for his first game of the summer after he was rested for last Friday's trip to play West Coast.
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He'll be joined in attack by spearhead Tom Hawkins who was a late omission in the clash with the Eagles, while Jake Kolodjashnij will be managed from last week's team of 25.
The Cats will field 26 in this week's final pre-season hit-out.
Thursday, March 7
Geelong v Essendon at GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm AEDT
GEELONG
B: J.Clark 6, M.Blicavs 46, M.O'Connor 42
HB: J.Henry 38, H.Taylor 7, T.Stewart 44
C: G.Miers 32, P.Dangerfield 35, M.Duncan 22
HF: Q.Narkle 19, G.Rohan 23, T.Atkins 30
F: G.Ablett 4, E.Ratugolea 17, L.Dahlhaus 40
FOLL: R.Stanley 1, J.Selwood 14, T.Kelly 11
I/C: L.Henderson 25, B.Parfitt 3, C.Constable 18, C.Guthrie 29, S.Menegola 27, D.Fort 28, Z.Guthrie 39, T.Hawkins 26
Emerg: J.Cunico 31, W.Buzza 12, J.Parsons 34, J.Jones 41
ESSENDON
B: P.Ambrose 29, M.Brown 28, A.Saad 42
HB: A.Francis 10, M.Hurley 18, A.McGrath 1
C: D.Heppell 21, J.Stringer 25, M.Guelfi 35
HF: D.Smith 5, D.Myers 23, D.Zaharakis 11
F: M.Baguley 12, J.Daniher 6, A.McDonald-Tipungwuti 43
FOLL: T.Bellchambers 2, D.Shiel 9, J.Ridley 14
I/C: C.McKenna 45, D.Parish 3, B.Ham 33, S.Draper 38, K.Langford 4, Z.Merrett 7, O.Fantasia 13
Emerg: J.Stewart 17, J.Laverde 15, S.McKernan 44, J.Long 34
