Damien Peverill will return to the Bomber's rookie list but not until next week. Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said today that Peverill's return would be delayed a week as a precautionary measure. ""We fully expect Joe Misiti to return to the senior list and play against Fremantle but we won't put Damien back onto the rookie list or Joe onto the senior list until the last moment,"" Drain said. ""It just leaves us with options in case anything unforeseen happens with Joe.""

Unfortunately the Bombers no-risk approach will mean Peverill will not be eligible to represent the VFL combined side this weekend. Senior listed players aren't eligible to play in the VFL side but rookie listed players are, meaning Peverill would have been available had he been returned to the rookie list this week.

Meanwhile, Mark Mercuri, Damien Hardwick and Blake Caracella are all certain starters against Fremantle in round 13. Misiti is also expected to play while Steven Alessio will face a fitness test at training next week. Should all five players come up, only Dean Wallis, Michael Long and Justin Blumfield will remain on the injured list.