ESSENDON fans will get their first look at No.1 draft pick Andy McGrath after the speedy defender was named in the Bombers' final squad for their JLT Community Series clash with Collingwood.
Both the Magpies and Bombers trimmed their original 29-man lists to 26 players ahead of Thursday night's opening pre-season contest, with McGrath making the final list.
Six of the Bombers who were suspended last year for anti-doping breaches have been selected to run out at Etihad Stadium, including Jobe Watson, Michael Hurley and newly appointed skipper Dyson Heppell.
But Heath Hocking, who also missed all of last year as part of the WADA-imposed suspensions, will not play, alongside other late outs Jayden Laverde and Jake Long.
The Pies will welcome back exciting forward Jamie Elliott and top draft pick Matt Scharenberg as well as Lachie Keefe, who has served his anti-doping suspension.
Father-son recruit Josh Daicos will run out for the black and white for the first time, but Adam Oxley and first-year pair Liam Mackie and Max Lynch did not make the final squad.
Collingwood v Essendon
Etihad Stadium, Thursday February 16 at 7.40pm AEDT
COLLINGWOOD
Out: Adam Oxley, Liam Mackie, Max Lynch
ESSENDON
Out: Jayden Laverde, Heath Hocking, Jake Long
COLLINGWOOD
1. Alex Fasolo, 2. Jordan De Goey, 5. Jamie Elliott, 6. Tyson Goldsack, 9. Jesse White, 11. Jarryd Blair, 12. Matthew Scharenberg, 14. James Aish, 15. Lynden Dunn, 16. Chris Mayne, 18. Travis Varcoe, 19. Levi Greenwood, 21. Tom Phillips, 22. Steele Sidebottom, 23. Lachlan Keeffe, 25. Jack Crisp, 26. Josh Daicos, 28. Ben Sinclair, 30. Darcy Moore, 31. Jackson Ramsay, 32. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 37. Brayden Maynard, 38. Jeremy Howe, 40. Josh Smith, 41. Henry Schade, 46. Mason Cox
ESSENDON
1. Andrew McGrath, 3. Darcy Parish, 4. Jobe Watson, 7. Zach Merrett, 8. Martin Gleeson, 9. Brendon Goddard, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Mark Baguley, 13. Orazio Fantasia, 15. Josh Green, 17. James Stewart, 18. Michael Hurley, 20. Jackson Merrett, 21. Dyson Heppell, 22. Matthew Leuenberger, 23. David Myers, 24. Craig Bird, 28. Mitch Brown, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 30. Kyle Langford, 32. Travis Colyer, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 47. James Kelly, 49. Matt Dea
