Jordon Bannister will become the Bombers sixth debutant this season when he plays his first senior game against Adelaide at Colonial Stadium tomorrow night. Bannister will join Cory McGrath, Marc Bullen, Rob Forster-Knight, Damien Peverill and David Hille as Bombers to make their senior debut this season. Bannister, a 187cm mid-fielder has been in excellent form in the reserves over the past month to earn his promotion. Premiership players Dustin Fletcher, Gary Moorcroft and John Barnes have also been included in the side. Selectors decided to give Mark Mercuri another week on the sidelines to ensure he has fully recovered from a knee injury.

""Jordon deserved his place in the side,"" Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said. ""He has played excellent football in the past few weeks. He is an athletic mid-fielder who can play a number of positions.""Bannister was the Bombers fourth pick (47th overall) in the 2000 National Draft. He captained the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup competition.

Only four players on the Essendon senior list haven't played senior football this season. Those players are Ted Richards, Michael Davis, James Davies and Sam Hunt.

Mercuri is certain to be available for the Bombers match against Fremantle in two weeks time and he will be joined by Blake Caracella and Joe Misiti. Michael Long, Dean Wallis and Steven Alessio will also be considered for the Fremantle match while Justin Blumfield is probably a further week away from playing.

Omitted from the Essendon line-up this week were Judd Lalich, Rob Forster-Knight and Marc Bullen. Jonathon Robran could not be considered because of a heel injury. Lalich, Mark Bolton and Forster-Knight have been named as emergencies.