Essendon VFL is set to make several changes to its line-up for Sunday’s Country Game curtain raiser at the MCG.

One of those is a forced change, with Jayden Laverde to miss up to three weeks after suffering a hamstring strain in the round four win over Collingwood.

Matt Dea will return after missing last week, while Darcy Parish, Sam Draper, Josh Begley, Ben McNiece, Kyle Langford, Ben McNiece and Aaron Francis have all been named in the VFL squad, but also feature in an extended AFL squad that will be finalised at 5pm on Friday.

VFL recruits Dale Marshall, Liam Read, Daniel Guccione and Josh Tynan could make their Essendon debuts against the Cats after being included on an extended bench.

Dylan Landt will be the 23^rd player for a second consecutive week.

The team will be finalised closer to the first bounce at 11:50am on Sunday, with live match updates available through the Essendon VFL twitter account.

The match will also be broadcast on Channel 7.

Pre-game, the Powercor Country Festival Farmers’ Market will be held in the Yarra Park precinct.

Open from 11am, the free festival will include country music performances from award-winning musicians Kasey Chambers and John Williamson, along with the best regional Victorian produce on offer from up to 50 specialty stores.

After the VFL match, the senior sides will go head-to-head for the fourth annual Country Game from 3:20pm.

ESSENDON VFL SQUAD - ROUND FIVE

BOLD = AFL-listed player

Brooke Varney is in the final year of her Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree at RMIT University. As part of their strategic partnership, Essendon Football Club and RMIT University are committed to providing opportunities for students, staff, players and the wider community.