Essendon has confirmed the 24 players who will don the red and black for the 2018 VFL season.
From an initial list of 45 hopefuls the Bombers have finalised a list with 13 members of the 2017 team retaining their positions including vice-captain Aaron Heppell, deputy vice-captains Nick Hind and Danny Younan and leadership group members Sam Hooper and James Ferry.
Former AFL Bomber and 2018 VFL captain Heath Hocking headlines the 11 new signatures penned to the squad.
Essendon will announce the five players making up the development squad round one. These players will train, but will only be elevated to the VFL list or available for selection in the event of a long-term injury, illness or unavailability.
Guernsey numbers, heights and weights will be confirmed in the coming days.
VFL SQUAD
Heath Hocking (Captain – Olinda FC, Inside Midfielder)
Aaron Heppell (Vice-Captain, Leongatha FC, Inside Mid/Defender)
Nick Hind (DVC, Keilor FC, Midfielder)
Danny Younan (DVC, Bundoora FC, Small Forward)
James Ferry (Gisborne FC, Key Defender)
Alex Boyse (Doutta Stars FC, Forward)
Nick Dixon (Collegians FC, Inside Mid)
Ben Fennell (Montmorency FC, Midfielder)
Sam Hooper (Keilor FC, Key Back/Forward)
Kieran Strachan (South Bendigo FC, Ruck)
Matt Darby (Avondale Heights, Key Back)
Alex Marklew (Wangaratta FC, Utility)
Trent Crosbie (Gisborne FC, Midfielder/Wing)
Luke Collins (Montmorency FC, Forward/Wing)
Jake McQueen (East Point FC, Small Forward/Wing)
James Peters (Aberfeldie FC, Small Forward)
Wilson Berry (Aberfeldie FC, Half Back/Wing)
Joel Ottavi (East Point FC, Key Forward)
Edyn Sibbald (St Bernard’s FC, Key Forward)
Jamieson Sheahan (Strathfieldsaye FC, Half Back/Wing)
Joe Harrison (Monash FC, Midfielder)
Kalan Huntly (Castlemaine FC, Midfielder)
Nino Lazzaro (Fitzroy FC, Forward/Wing)
Joel Grace (Bundoora FC, Ruck)
Development Train-On Group
Tom Simpson (Hurstbridge FC, Midfielder)
Jacob Brown (East Point FC, Midfield/Forward)
Bruno Laguda (Doutta Stars FC, Half Back/Wing)
Ben Huggard (St Bernard’s FC, Half Back/Wing)
Tyson Old (Northcote Park FC, Half Back/Wing)
