""Mark McVeigh will probably go up to Newcastle and so will Fletcher. Other than that we will take an under-24 side. Fletcher will be the oldest player we take away,"" Sheedy said. Along with McVeigh and Cupido, Joel Reynolds is likely to make his return to senior football this weekend. Reynolds has not played senior football since Round 15 last season. ""Joel just needs game time. He needs to play this week and next week.""
This weekend’s practice match is Essendon’s last official hit-out until round 1. Sheedy said the club would be approaching the AFL to ask permission for the likes of McVeigh, Cupido and possibly Ben Haynes to play for the VFL side in the ""gap week.""
""These players need to get every bit of match practice they can. The rules should not restrain players because they have been injured. If this happens it could be very difficult for the player to get their best form up and playing confidently. The rules are there in place, but hopefully they can be a bit flexible,"" Sheedy said.
Essendon played an exhibition match in Sydney on February 14th, which is a part of a marketing arrangement with the Swans. Despite the AFL not fixturing the exhibiton game, Sheedy was still surprised that the team has been sent to NSW again. ""I would have thought that seeing we had been to Warrnambool, Darwin and we have Bendigo to go to yet, I think it is probably a penalty game a little bit because it is another trip past Sydney and some clubs haven’t been further than Canberra.""
