Up to six Essendon players could make their first senior appearance for the club in 2001 after they were named in a squad of 28 to take on Sydney in Canberra this Saturday. Rob Forster-Knight, Dustin Fletcher, John Barnes, Judd Lalich, Ted Richards and Adam Switala have all been included by Essendon selectors. Damien Hardwick returns after being a late withdrawal from the Geelong game because of an ankle injury as does James Davies. Missing from last weekend's side is Mark Mercuri (rested), Joe Misiti (corked hip), David Hille (ankle) and Adam Ramanuaskas (ankle).
The full squad is: Mark Johnson (1), Aaron Henneman (3), Daniel McAlister (4), Sean Wellman (6), Dean Solomon (7), Mark McVeigh (10), Damien Hardwick (11), Jason Johnson (14), Rob Forster-Knight (15), Paul Barnard (16), Matthew Lloyd (18), Mark Bolton (23), Scott Lucas (25), Steven Alessio (27), Cory McGrath (28), Gary Moorcroft (29), Justin Blumfield (32), Blake Caracella (33), James Davies (35),Danny Jacobs (42), Dean Rioli (43), Damien Peverill (45), Jonathon Robran (12), Dustin Fletcher (31), John Barnes (22), Judd Lalich (17), Ted Richards (20),Adam Switala (47). Four players will be cut from the squad prior to Saturday's match.
""Obviously we can't reach the finals of the Ansett cup so it is a good time to give these youngsters a chance,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""We had three players injured last weekend so we were forced to leave them out. Mark Mercuri is in pretty good form so we have decided to give him a break in the lead up to the home and away season.""
