Essendon welcome back Jobe Watson and Jayden Laverde for the match against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
The Kangaroos made five changes to their side including the omissions of Todd Goldstein and Lindsay Thomas, while Jack Ziebell was rested.
Jarrad Waite is among the inclusions.
Read Robert Shaw's match preview here.
The History
R8, 2016, North Melbourne 10.14 (74) d Essendon 8.12 (60) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2015, North Melbourne 14.9 (93) d Essendon 9.14 (68) at Etihad Stadium
R7, 2015, North Melbourne 13.15 (93) d Essendon 12.10 (82) at Etihad Stadium
2EF, 2014, North Melbourne 14.9 (93) d Essendon 12.9 (81) at Etihad Stadium
R1, 2014, Essendon 15.9 (99) d North Melbourne 9.6 (60) at Etihad Stadium
Key note
Essendon will celebrate the career of premiership player Adam Ramanauskas ahead of the match against the Kangaroos.
Ramanauskas was the youngest player in the Dons Grand Final win in 2000 and finished third in the best and fairest as a 20 year old in 2001.
But just as he appeared set to enter the best years of his career, he was struck down with cancer.
You can read about Ramanauskas' story here.
As part of the 'Clash for Cancer' the Bombers will wear a splash of yellow on their jumper and fans are encouraged to do the same.
A group of kids from children's cancer charity Challenge will also enter the field alongside the players before the opening bounce.
The Teams
Essendon
In: Jobe Watson, Jayden Laverde
Out: Josh Green (hamstring), Craig Bird
B: Andrew McGrath, Michael Hartley, Martin Gleeson
HB: Conor McKenna, Michael Hurley, James Kelly
C: Zach Merrett, Dyson Heppell, Brendon Goddard
HF: Orazio Fantasia, Cale Hooker, Travis Colyer
F: James Stewart, Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
R: Tom Bellchambers, Jobe Watson, Darcy Parish
I: David Zaharakis, Mark Baguley, David Myers, Jayden Laverde
E: Josh Begley, Kyle Langford, Matt Dea
North Melbourne
In: Trent Dumont, Jarrad Waite, Ryan Clarke, Sam Durdin, Nick Larkey
Out: Jack Ziebell (Managed), Corey Wagner (Ankle), Mitchell Hibberd (Shoulder), Todd Goldstein, Lindsay Thomas
B: Shaun Atley, Robbie Tarrant, Daniel Nielson
HB: Declan Mountford, Scott D. Thompson, Aaron Mullett
C: Sam Gibson, Trent Dumont, Andrew Swallow
HF: Luke McDonald, Jarrad Waite, Taylor Garner
F: Jy Simpkin, Ben Brown, Nathan Hrovat
R: Majak Daw, Shaun Higgins, Ben Cunnington
I: Ryan Clarke, Sam Durdin, Nick Larkey, Cameron Zurhaar
E: Jed Anderson, Lachlan Hansen, Josh Williams
Match notes
- Essendon hasn't beaten North Melbourne since round one 2014. On that night the Bombers, under Mark Thompson, won by 39 points with Zach Merrett, Martin Gleeson and Patrick Ambrose making their AFL debuts. Joe Daniher was playing his sixth game and Paul Chapman represented the Club for the first time.
- Trent Dumont has performed run-with roles for the Kangaroos in the past and could get the job on Zach Merrett.
- In the last five weeks Essendon is averaging just 62 points 'against'.
- Jayden Laverde will make his first senior appearance of the season against the Kangaroos. He returns on the back of a six goal game in the VFL and 14 shots at goal in the last fortnight.
