Eleven players from the Essendon side that defeated Hawthorn last weekend will line-up in the Bombers’ VFL side this weekend. The group includes vice-captain Mark Mercuri and experienced campaigners Steven Alessio and Justin Blumfield. The Essendon side will take on the Box Hill Hawks with every one of the 18 players named to start having played senior football. The full side is attached.

The Essendon side is:

Backs: Andrew Welsh, Mark Bolton, James Davies
Half Backs: Dean Rioli, Aaron Henneman, Mark Mercuri
Centres: Jordan Bannister, Mark McVeigh, Ken Hall
Half forwards: Justin Blumfield, Ted Richards, Cory McGrath
Forwards: Daniel McAlister, Steven Alessio, Shane Harvey
Rucks: David Hille, Rob Forster-Knight, Gary Moorcroft
Bench: (from) Marc Bullen, Sam Hunt, Simon O’Keefe, Josh Mahoney, Scott Howard

Of the 18 named on the ground, Andrew Welsh, Mark Bolton, Aaron Henneman, Mercuri, Mark McVeigh, Ken Hall, Blumfield, Daniel McAlister, Alessio, David Hille and Rob Forster-Knight played against Hawthorn. Gary Moorcroft was a late withdrawal from that side and Dean Rioli has missed the past three matches through suspension.

The VFL had the bye last weekend and desperately need to beat the top-of-the–table Box Hill if it is to remain in touch with the top eight. Essendon has a 4-6, win-loss record after the first 10 rounds of the season and will need to reverse that result in the second half of the season to be any chance of finishing in the top eight.