ESSENDON teenager Heath Hocking has withdrawn from Saturday night's match against Adelaide at Telstra Dome with a leg injury.

He will be replaced in the selected side by Rhys Magin, a 19-year-old Queenslander who was promoted off the rookie list and made his debut against West Coast last Sunday.

Magin was originally dropped to make way for veteran Damien Peverill but Hocking's injury gives him another chance at senior level.

Coach Matthew Knights announced the change at Mal Michael's retirement press conference at Windy Hill on Friday morning.

The Bombers are still a mathematical chance to make the finals but it is highly unlikely given they are two games and a significant percentage behind eighth-placed St Kilda.

"We are planning to win our final three games and see what occurs from that, first and foremost starting with Adelaide," Knights said.

"We will look to play aggressive football for the next three weeks."

Knights said gun midfielder Mark McVeigh was possibly only a week from resuming from a knee injury.

Essendon faces the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda in its final two matches.