It will be his first game since 2013, but Robert Shaw expects Nick Kommer to play a crucial role for the Bombers in their clash against Melbourne. 

The former Senior Coach and premiership winning Assistant identified Essendon’s inability to lock the ball in its forward line as one the key shortcomings in last week’s loss to Gold Coast.

Shaw said Kommer’s inclusion is about addressing that area.

“We know the effort he puts into his game, the defensive pressure,” Shaw said.

“The main weakness of the Essendon game last week was the ability to keep the ball in the forward line.

“Not only did they miss targets going into the forward line, it came out too quickly.

“That leads to the back half of the ground not having the time to set up.  You’ve got to allow your backline and your team defence time to set up. 

“If it comes in and goes straight out, you’ve got no hope.

“He’s going to play a very important role with his toughness and his aggression and keeping the ball in the forward line.”

Kommer comes into the Essendon line-up alongside debutant Michael Hartley and Orazio Fantasia.

Shaun McKernan, Craig Bird and Jonathan Simpkin are the ones to miss out.

“It is a pretty savage reaction,” Shaw said.

“McKernan I think is very important to the Essendon structure overall but he played a poor game last week.

“It just shows to me that John Worsfold and his coaching group are not accepting average standards.”

Shaw said Hartley’s inclusion gives the side greater flexibility. 

He expects Patrick Ambrose to play on Jack Watts and either Hartley or Mitch Brown to take on Jesse Hogan.