Leroy Jetta has been promoted from the Bendigo Bombers into the Essendon team this week for Dreamtime at the 'G.
In all, six of the club's seven Indigenous players will take part in the game but, speaking on Best 22, assistant coach Gary O’Donnell insisted Jetta had earned his spot.
“In the make-up of the team we thought we needed another small forward who can run around the midfield at times,” he said.
O’Donnell said the coaching department has been happy with Jetta's recent performances with Bendigo (he kicked four goals last weekend and was lively) and says he is needed this week to provide speed.
""Young Angus Monfries and Alwyn Davey have been doing a power of work but we just thought we could bring another one in that can help them out in that area and put on some forward line pressure,"" O'Donnell said.
""He kicked some goals and laid eight or nine tackles so that gets him him a game.""
David Myers will play for Bendigo this week, alongside Mark McVeigh, Kyle Reimers, Hayden Skipworth and Jason Laycock we are returning from injury.
“Four or five players are coming back through the VFL and are going to bolster Bendigo’s form,” O'Donnell said.
O'Donnell said Reimers had been pestering the coaches to play and was excited about his reutrn.
""He wanted to go straight back into the AFL!"" he said.
