Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said tonight it was great to see Richmond back among the finals action this season. That said, the Bombers aren't about to throw out the welcome mat at the MCG on Friday night. Sheedy said Essendon want to maintain the momentum they have built over the past two weeks and victory over Richmond will ensure that is the case. Richmond has been in excellent form winning five of its past six matches with match-winning big men Brad Ottens and Matthew Richardson playing key roles. Sheedy said they will be keys to the outcome of Friday night's match.

""Matthew Richardson and Brad Ottens are both very powerful men and very athletic. They are in great touch - Ottens is going to be a superstar - he nearly is now. Gee, I would have loved to have had first pick that year in the draft - he wouldn't be playing anywhere other than Essendon,"" Sheedy said.

""I think Richmond have been terrific this season. And of course being a life member there I think it is great to see them back in the finals and it is great for their supporters. They have had a pretty rough 20 years and it is great to see them back.""

As is Sheedy's way, he was quick to turn the negatives of two suspensions this week into a positive. ""It is disappointing when players are reported and outed for indiscretions but it gives us an opportunity to play someone else. It is our VFL side that will suffer and that is unfortunate. I don't think this means it is going to be any harder for Gary (Moorcroft) to get back in the side. There are a few blokes in the same boat. The positive out of this negative is that he is going to be able to get over some of the niggling injuries he has been carrying and to have a look at a Robran, a Bolton or a Wallis.""

Sheedy said Bomber veteran Dean Wallis was still only a rough chance to resume in the seniors this weekend. ""Dean Wallis will have to train well tonight. He played well on the weekend but we have some other players who have been doing a good job. With Justin - I could really have taken him to Perth but we had a fair chance of making the finals in the VFL and I think a couple of the other boys probably deserved a chance to prove themselves.I also wanted to take a few of the Western Australia boys home - Paul Barnard, Cory McGrath and Dean Rioli. It was actually Dean's first match in Perth since he left to come to Victoria.""