The 25-year-old, who will miss the match due to a fractured hand, says the game has a lot of meaning for the playing group following the cancer battle of former team-mate Adam Ramanauskas and they will look to do him proud on the big stage on Friday.
""The Call to Arms game has a lot of meaning for us as players after seeing what Rama went through,"" Winderlich said.
""Everyone gets touched at some stage in their life by someone – whether it be a family member or friend -who is affected by cancer.
""The players are really looking forward to representing Adam and the football club proudly.
Winderlich said Ramanauskas still has a strong involvement in Club life since his retirement in 2008, and expects the current playing group will use his battle as a source of inspiration this Friday night.
""Adam is one of our runners and he is involved with the club week-in, week-out,"" Winderlich said.
""As a player I've known him for the last seven and a half years and whenever you feel like you're battling out on the field and then you see him come out and deliver a message, you just think 'I'm not doing too bad after all after what he's been through'.
""I think everyone him in the change rooms week-in week-out sees and sees what he does for the football club and it's inspirational.""
The Essendon players trained in yellow armbands today ahead of the Call to Arms clash.
A yellow armband will be incorporated into Essendon's guernseys during the Round 18 match against St Kilda which will be auctioned at essendonfc.com.au following the game.
A number of Essendon players will wear yellow Call to Arms adidas boots, while Essendon runner Adam Ramanauskas will also wear yellow adidas runners which will be signed and auctioned for the campaign.
