As expected, Essendon selectors today recalled five premiership players plus Dean Rioli into the squad of 28 that will take on Richmond in Lavington at 7.30pm this Friday night. Mark Johnson, Mark Mercuri, Matthew Lloyd, Joe Misiti and Dean Solomon all return for this weekend's game. Selectors have named Adam Ramanauskas in the VFL side after overcoming an ankle injury where he will join Michael Long.

Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said that Ramanauskas would play a half for the VFL side this weekend. ""He has missed a few weeks and we just wanted to ease him back in. Playing in the VFL side also gives him an extra day so we thought that was the right way to go,"" Drain said. Michael Long will play in the VFL side for the second week running. The reserves match against Springvale will be played at Whitten Oval.

""It's obviously pleasing that the injury list is starting to shorten. Apart from Chris Heffernan we expect to have everyone available for round one against the Kangaroos,"" Drain said.

The full squad for the Richmond match is: M. Johnson, Mercuri, Henneman, Hardiwck, Solomon, Barnard, Rioli, Wellman, Bolton, McVeigh, McAlister, Robran, Bullen, J. Johnson, Forster-Knight, Davies, Lloyd, Barnes, Richards, Misiti, Lucas, Alessio, Moorcroft, Fletcher, Blumfield, Caracella, Jacobs and Hille.