Essendon has released a strong extended squad for it’s first VFL match of the season against Frankston on Saturday.
Senior VFL coach Dan Jordan said his players were itching to finally reach the home and away season and were well prepared after a strong pre-season.
“I think they’re ready to go. They’ve obviously been training for a fair while and the AFL started two weeks ago, so they’re chomping at the bit to get into it and play for some premiership points,” Jordan said.
“It’s been a long and fruitful pre-season and I think we’ve got them to where we want them to be and we’re looking forward to cracking in on Saturday and getting the season off hopefully to a positive result.”
Jordan said he doesn’t underestimate the challenge of facing Frankston on their home turf despite the Dolphins failing to field a team in the league last year.
“They obviously had a season out of the competition last year…all credit to them to get back in the competition this year.
“We certainly won’t be taking the trip down there lightly, they’ll be fired up first game back and (we’re) anticipating a pretty healthy crowd and good conditions.
“They’ll be keen to make a statement. They’ve got some speed, they like to move the ball pretty quickly and they’re never an easy challenge down on their home patch.”
The team will be finalised ahead of the match.
EXTENDED SQUAD:
B – Baguley, Hartley, Redman
HB – Guelfi, Ridley, Mutch
C – Long, Hocking, J. Merrett
HF – Laverde, Draper, Langford
F – Fantasia, Leuenberger, Begley
R – McKernan, Myers, Clarke
I/C – Boyse, Houlahan, Darby, Hind, Younan, Mynott, A. Heppell, Zerk-Thatcher, Strachan, Marklew, Dixon
23P – Sheahan
UPDATED TEAM - FRIDAY 6th April:
Out
Long
Hartley
In
Darby
Dixon
