ESSENDON will take a much stronger line-up into its NAB Challenge game against Greater Western Sydney on Friday, with key midfielder David Zaharakis an inclusion.
Zaharakis is set to become the fifth player from the club's 2012 list to feature in the pre-season competition, after the Bombers had previously planned for all players from that year to sit out the series.
Zaharakis is returning from a minor knee injury, and may get some much-needed match practice ahead of the home and away season.
The 25-year-old, who recently returned to the club's leadership group, was not involved in the controversial supplements program at Essendon in 2012.
Jackson Merrett, Nick O'Brien, Elliott Kavanagh and Lauchlan Dalgleish were the four 2012 list players who appeared last week against St Kilda, confirming that they were not part of the supplements program and facing ASADA doping bans.
Brendon Goddard, Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett and Patrick Ambrose have also been selected in Essendon's 29-man squad, along with new recruits Adam Cooney and James Gwilt.
The club had planned to use those six players in its match simulation training session last Friday against Williamstown's VFL team, but was refused permission by the AFL.
The Bombers have picked 11 top-up players to face the Giants at Spotless Stadium, alongside youngsters Kyle Langford, Marty Gleeson and Jason Ashby.
Fill-ins Aaron Heppell and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will not play after making their Essendon debuts last week.
The Giants may unveil their first pick from last year's draft, Jarrod Pickett, against the Bombers after he was picked in their 29-man squad.
The speedy and talented No. 4 pick has shown encouraging glimpses of his skill during the Giants' pre-season, and is an exciting prospect.
The inclusion of defender Heath Shaw and midfielders Adam Treloar and Devon Smith will strengthen Leon Cameron's line-up.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY v ESSENDON
Spotless Stadium, Friday March 13, 7.10PM AEDT
Greater Western Sydney
1. Phil Davis, 2. Curtly Hampton, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 4. Toby Greene, 5. Lachie Whitfield, 7. Rhys Palmer, 10. Devon Smith, 11. Jed Lamb, 14. Tom Bugg, 15. Tim Golds, 16. Nathan Wilson, 17. Adam Treloar, 18. Jeremy Cameron, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matt Buntine, 23. Heath Shaw, 25. Cam McCarthy, 26. Jarrod Pickett, 27. Andrew Phillips, 29. Zac Williams, 33. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 35. Aidan Corr, 36. James Stewart, 37. Rory Lobb, 38. Jack Steele, 40. Adam Kennedy, 41. Shane Mumford, 43. Jake Barrett, 44. Tom Downie
Essendon
6. Joe Daniher, 7. Zach Merrett, 9. Brendon Goddard, 10 Nick O’Brien, 11. David Zaharakis, 13. Adam Cooney, 14 Jason Ashby, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Jackson Merrett, 27. Jon Giles, 28. Elliott Kavanagh, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 30. Kyle Langford, 35. Marty Gleeson, 36 Lauchlan Dalgleish, 42 James Gwilt, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 46. Orazio Fantasia, 47. Marcus Marigliani, 50. James Polkinghorne, 54. Josh Freezer, 56. Jordan Schroder, 74. Mitch Clisby, 76. James Magner, 77. Sam Michael, 73. Mitch Brown, 72. Clinton Jones, 75. Jared Petrenko
