Laycock, who stands in excess of 200cm, was the obvious replacement for Matthew Allan who injured his knee in last weekend’s match against Port Adelaide. James Hird and Scott Lucas return to the side as expected. Dean Rioli will also miss (hamstring) while Ted Richards was the unlucky player being omitted from last weekend’s winning team.
But it was the inclusion of Laycock that has Windy Hill buzzing. The youngster has been given time to mature and strengthen up since being drafted and the Bomber’s match committee felt the time was right.
""He's coming along slowly but he has got his opportunity with Matthew Allan being injured and he put his hand up with a good performance in the VFL side last weekend,"" Sheedy said. ""He and Kepler Bradley will be the sort of players we will be looking to support David Hille in the absence of Allan. We have to play these young players.""
The Essendon team to play Carlton at the MCG this Saturday is:
Backs: Welsh Fletcher McVeigh
Half Backs: Solomon Bolton Mark Johnson
Centres: Ramanauskas Jason Johnson Murphy
Half Forwards: Lovett-Murray Lucas Hird
Forwards: Stanton Lloyd Cupido
Rucks: Hille Peverill McPhee
Bench: Laycock Misiti Alvey Haynes
Emergencies: Richards Bullen Dyson
IN - Lucas, Hird, Laycock (Bendigo / TAS U18)
Out - Allan (knee), Rioli (hamstring), Richards (omitted)
