Former Crow Shaun McKernan is among three omissions from Essendon’s squad ahead of Sunday’s clash with Adelaide.
McKernan (illness) is joined by premiership player James Kelly (rested) and Mitch Brown (groin) as the confirmed outs from the side that lost to Brisbane last round.
James Polkinghorne, Craig Bird, Sam Grimley, Sam Michael, Jackson Merrett and Mason Redman have all been named on the extended bench, with Essendon’s final team to be confirmed on Friday.
Bird looms as a likely addition after recovering from a minor quad injury.
South Australian Aaron Francis, who made his AFL debut last weekend, has been retained in the team.
Essendon’s squad is:
B: M. Dea, M. Hartley, A. McDonald-Tipungwuti
HB: M. Gleeson, S. Michael, A. Francis
C: Z. Merrett, D. Zaharakis, W. Hams
HF: A. Cooney. P. Ambrose, O. Fantasia
F: J. Laverde, J. Daniher, D. Parish
FOL: M. Leuenberger, C. Bird, B. Goddard
IC (FROM): C. Dempsey, J. Merrett, M. Redman, K. Langford, C. McKenna, J. Polkinghorne, S. Grimley
IN: J.Polkinghorne, C.Bird, S. Grimley, S.Michael, J.Merrett, M.Redman
OUT: J.Kelly (Rested), S. McKernan (illness), M. Brown (Groin)
