WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday March 9, 6.10pm
LAST TIME: Essendon 15.10 (100) d Sydney Swans 14.15 (99), round 20, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
THE FOUR POINTS
Essendon
1. Will the Wangaratta no-show have any effect on the Bombers this week? The players should be fresh after missing out on playing the Saints in the wet, but the club's conditioning staff would have preferred they had a solid hit-out as they prepare for round one.
2. Essendon stars Jobe Watson, Michael Hurley, Brent Stanton, Dustin Fletcher and Dyson Heppell were all set to play their first games of the pre-season last week and will likely see more game time against the Swans as they attempt to make up for
lost time.
3. The question of playing three ruckmen in the same team will likely be revisited at Etihad Stadium after Paddy Ryder, Tom Bellchambers and David Hille were all named last week. Will we learn anything new? With three talented big men to choose from it will be interesting to see if James Hird has come up with something different over summer.
4. The Dons looked off the pace in the NAB Cup opener against West Coast and Fremantle and Hird will be looking for a more determined effort against the Swans. A disjointed display in the heat at Subiaco is one thing, but there will be some cause for concern if a much stronger squad doesn't give a considerably better account of itself.
Sydney Swans
1. Adam Goodes will return after serving a one-match suspension for a studs-up slide into Geelong's Taylor Hunt. The co-skipper's reappearance will be a huge boost for a side still in contention for a NAB Cup Grand Final berth.
2. Will Sam Reid play? The rising star suffered a knock to a knee that kept him out of the 17-point win against North Melbourne last week and concerned Swans fans will be keen to see him back in action as soon as possible.
3. Ryan O'Keefe (knee), Matt Spangher (hamstring), Tony Armstrong (quad) and Tom Mitchell (hamstring) will definitely be nowhere to be seen, but young gun Dan Hannebery is a chance to play his first game since undergoing off-season shoulder and knee surgeries.
4. Will Gary Rohan be given more to time to add to his highlights reel? The exciting youngster was subbed into his first game of the pre-season midway through the second quarter last weekend and kicked a nice goal. The sixth overall pick at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft has truckloads of talent and could be set for a big year.
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