Essendon has included midfielder Matt Guelfi and forward David Zaharakis for its clash with Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Guelfi, who impressed as the medical sub during last week's loss to the Giants, and veteran David Zaharakis will replace duo Jake Stringer (hamstring) and Nik Cox (managed).
Senior coach Ben Rutten said Cox will be managed after playing eight consecutive games while coming off a year of no football in 2020.
"We're just going to manage him as a young first year player having not played much footy last year," Rutten said.
"He'll come out of the team and Matt Guelfi will come in."
Guelfi's promotion into the best 22 comes at a great time for the 23-year-old, who'll play his 50th AFL game.
The Claremont product taken with pick No.76 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft has earned a reputation as a versatile player over his first half century of games.
The match will be broadcast live via Foxtel and Kayo, while Western Australian residents can also watch it on Channel 7.
ESSENDON'S ROUND NINE LINE-UP:
Backs: Jayden Laverde, James Stewart, Aaron Francis
Half-backs: Dyson Heppell (C), Jordan Ridley, David Zaharakis
Centre: Andrew McGrath, Zach Merrett, Kyle Langford
Half-forwards: Devon Smith, Harrison Jones, Will Snelling
Forwards: Cale Hooker, Peter Wright, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
Followers: Andrew Phillips, Darcy Parish, Brayden Ham
Interchange: Mason Redman, Matt Guelfi, Nick Hind, Archie Perkins
Emergencies: Ned Cahill, Nik Cox, Patrick Ambrose, Alec Waterman
In: Guelfi, Zaharakis
Out: Stringer (hamstring), Cox (managed)
Last week's sub: Guelfi (used)
Milestone: Guelfi - 50 AFL games
