RELIABLE defender Matt Dea has been left out of Essendon's team to play Gold Coast in Mackay on Sunday.
Dea, who played 21 games as one of the Bombers' 'top-ups' in 2016, was left out of the 29-man squad along with Jackson Merrett and draftee Kobe Mutch.
The 25-year-old played against Collingwood in the opening match of the JLT Community Series last week and finished with 17 disposals and eight marks.
Gold Coast left out midfielder Mitch Hallahan, small defender Mackenzie Willis and forward Ryan Davis.
Follow it LIVE: Suns v Bombers
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Gold Coast v Essendon, Harrup Park Country Club, 3.40pm AEST
GOLD COAST
Out: Mitch Hallahan, Mackenzie Willis, Ryan Davis
ESSENDON
Out: Jackson Merrett, Kobe Mutch, Matt Dea
GOLD COAST
1. Pearce Hanley, 2. Jarrad Grant, 4. Jack Martin, 6. Alex Sexton, 7. Jesse Lonergan, 8. Brayden Fiorini, 10. Kade Kolodjashnij, 11. Touk Miller, 13. Callum Ah Chee, 15. Dan Currie, 16. Rory Thompson, 17. Steven May, 20. Michael Barlow, 21. Jack Leslie, 23. Sean Lemmens, 24. David Swallow, 26. Matthew Shaw, 27. Ben Ainsworth, 30. Peter Wright, 31. Keegan Brooksby, 32. Brandon Matera, 36. Josh Schoenfeld, 38. Jesse Joyce, 41. Will Brodie, 42. Adam Saad, 44. Darcy Macpherson
Notable absentees: Gary Ablett, Jarrod Harbrow, Tom Lynch, Jarrod Witts, Aaron Hall, Matt Rosa, Jack Bowes
ESSENDON
1. Andrew McGrath, 3. Darcy Parish, 4. Jobe Watson, 5. Brent Stanton, 6. Joe Daniher, 8. Martin Gleeson, 9. Brendon Goddard, 14. Jordan Ridley, 15. Josh Green, 16. Joshua Begley, 17. James Stewart, 18. Michael Hurley, 22. Matthew Leuenberger, 27. Mason Redman, 28. Mitch Brown, 30. Kyle Langford, 32. Travis Colyer, 33. Jayden Laverde, 34. Jake Long, 36. Michael Hartley, 37. Dylan Clarke, 39. Heath Hocking, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna
Notable absentees: Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis, Mark Baguley, Orazio Fantasia, Dyson Heppell, David Myers, Patrick Ambrose, James Kelly
