Michael Hurley has been ruled out of Essendon’s match against Sydney on Saturday afternoon with an ankle injury and has been replaced by Scott Gumbleton.

Hurley trained on Thursday morning but coach James Hird said they did not want to take any chances with the key forward.

“Unfortunately Michael Hurley hasn’t come up. He got through training today but we just considered his ankle to big a risk so he won’t play,” Hird said.

Gumbleton was best on ground in Essendon’s VFL loss to Collingwood last weekend taking 12 marks and booting a goal playing both in the ruck and up forward.

Jackson Merrett, Will Hams and Kyle Hardingham were named emergencies for Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Swans.

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