ST KILDA has confirmed young gun Ben Long as an inclusion for Friday night's clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium.
Long, 20, returned through the VFL a fortnight ago after an extended stint on the sidelines with a fractured metatarsal in his right foot.
He played 80 minutes in that game, and after Sandringham had a bye last week, the round five NAB AFL Rising Star nominee has returned to the senior side.
Also into the side came ruckman Lewis Pierce for his first match in more than two years, debutant Ben Paton, defender Bailey Rice and forward Rowan Marshall.
Tough nut Luke Dunstan was axed along with Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield, while Tom Hickey (left hamstring) and Josh Battle (concussion) are out.
The Bombers made no change to the side that lost to Hawthorn last Saturday by four points.
They sit two wins and 7.3 per cent out of the top eight.
FOLLOW IT LIVE Bombers v Saints
Essendon v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
FINAL INTERCHANGES
Essendon: Kyle Langford, Aaron Francis, Mark Baguley, Dyson Heppell
St Kilda: Blake Acres, Nathan Freeman, David Armitage, Ben Paton
