Essendon will field a new look defence when it runs onto the field against Gold Coast on Sunday.
Patrick Ambrose, James Kelly and Mark Baguley won’t play against the Suns while Michael Hartley, Conor McKenna and Jordan Ridley have been added to the 29-man squad.
“We’re still having a look at what our back six is going to look like, we’re still experimenting with a number of positions down there,” Performance Coach Mark Harvey said.
“Hartley will come into the side… [Michael] Hurley will probably move up to three quarters [game time], we’ll have a look at [Brent] Stanton as a high defender.
“We’ll keep progressing with [Andrew] McGrath, we thought he showed good composure there last week.
“Young Ridley has done a really good job over the pre-season … we might try him back there and possibly [Mitch] Brown – he played the first half against Collingwood forward, but we might push him back.
“McKenna will play as well and we’re just looking at what he has to offer from a defensive point of view.”
Ridley was the Bombers second pick in last November’s National Draft.
“He’s still evolving in his body. In the old terms he’s probably six foot two, six foot three … he’s got a good temperament, he’s got a good read on the game, he bounds across the ground,” Harvey said.
“Where he finishes up I’m not totally sure but at the moment he’s been training as a defender and we’ll see what he’s got to offer.
“It’s probably going to be difficult conditions up there in Mackay. Even if it’s not raining, the humidity and the sweat on the ball will be there so it’s going to test their skill level.”
Harvey said the team’s ability to transition the ball smoothly out of defence would be an area the side would look to improve on.
“Last week against Collingwood we just needed to tidy up a few areas, more so when we got the ball,” he said.
"I thought we defended quite well but we just gave them second opportunities through things like fumbles, but that happens in your first couple of games.
“All these guys have been training together as defenders so from a defensive fundamental point of view they’ve been working together.
“The chemistry, the communication and the way they support each other is the work in progress and that’s what we’ll look for in this game.”
