The man that so many Essendon supporters feel should be a permanent fixture in the senior side - Cory McGrath - has earned a senior recall following some good performances for the Bendigo Bombers. With Joe Misiti out with a foot injury, the Essendon selectors could no longer ignore McGrath's form and named him for tomorrow night's crucial match with Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. Jobe Watson also comes into the side while Steven Alessio has been omitted.

McGrath collected 19 possessions for the VFL side last weekend and has been a key player in that side's surge towards the final eight. McGrath has played in the back half and midfield for much of his career but he showed against Port Adelaide that he was a capable goal kicker at senior level. McGrath kicked three goals (it could have been four) in the third quarter of that match. He will add some firepower to the Bombers line up tomorrow night.

Watson returns after spending just one week in the VFL team. His debut against Geelong was quiet but the match committee is keen to get him back into the senior side and they haven't waited long.

Joe Misiti is expected to miss just one week with a mid-foot sprain.

The Essendon team is:

Backs: McVeigh Fletcher Wellman
Half Backs: McPhee Jacobs Welsh
Centres: Solomon J. Johnson Ramanauskas
Half Forwards: Lucas Bolton Richards
Forwards: Cupido Lloyd McGrath
Rucks: Hille M. Johnson Hird
Bench: Watson Bullen Peverill Reynolds
Emergencies: Alessio, Barnard Forster-Knight