Why change a winning formula? That is exactly what the Essendon match committee has been thinking this week. They were forced to make one change with James Hird unavailable due to injury and that is the solitary omission. Ben Haynes is the player that gets an opportunity in Hird’s absence.

Essendon team:
B: Welsh, Fletcher, Wellman
HB: Ramanauskas, Lucas, McVeigh
C: Solomon, J.Johnson, Murphy
HF: Rioli, Bolton, McPhee
F: Cupido, Lloyd, Hille
R: Allan, M.Johnson, Peverill
Inter: Misiti, Bullen, Lovett-Murray, Haynes
Emer: Alvey, Dyson, Bradley

In: Haynes
Out: Hird