The Bendigo Bombers have been bolstered by some big name inclusions ahead of their Round 2 clash with Port Melbourne this Sunday.

Bendigo Bombers coach, Shannon Grant, said a player of McVeigh’s calibre will provide some valuable leadership experience to the team’s younger players.

“Mark has had a tough couple of weeks but he’s coming good now and he’ll really give us some strength,” Grant said.

“We expect him to lead from the front and help the younger players around him.”

Bendigo will be without the talents of emerging key position player Michael Hurley who returns to Essendon to face West Coast at Subiaco tonight after booting four goals and earning a best-on-ground performance in Bendigo’s 45-point loss to the Northern Bullants last Saturday.

Grant said while Hurley would be missed, he was confident Bendigo still had a number of options in attack.

“We’ve got other forwards who are developing and kicking goals,” Grant said.