Essendon will be boosted by the return of captain Jobe Watson ahead of this Friday night’s NAB Cup semi-final against St Kilda.

Watson, 25, returns to the side after being rested last week against Melbourne, along with Heath Hocking, David Zaharakis, Kyle Reimers and Sam Lonergan.

They replace Dustin Fletcher, Alex Browne, Alwyn Davey, Travis Colyer and Jay Neagle from last week’s side.

The Essendon squad is:

Ricky DYSON
Jobe WATSON (C)
Brent STANTON
Angus MONFRIES
Leroy JETTA
Jason WINDERLICH
Brent PRISMALL
Mark McVEIGH
David ZAHARAKIS
Sam LONERGAN
Courtenay DEMPSEY
Jake MELKSHAM
Michael HURLEY
Henry SLATTERY
Dyson HEPPELL
Jake CARLISLE
David MYERS                                                
Cale HOOKER             
Luke DAVIS 
Patrick RYDER
Mark WILLIAMS
Kyle HARDINGHAM
Kyle REIMERS
Heath HOCKING
Ben HOWLETT

Michael HIBBERD

Tom BELLCHAMBERS

Stewart CRAMERI

Josh JENKINS