The Bombers are gone again, the Lion on top back, the Holy Exciting inside

ESSENDON reacted strongly to its shock loss to St Kilda last week, dropping three players including key forward Peter Wright and former captain Dyson Heppell for Sunday’s clash with Fremantle.

St Kilda welcomes back strong second-year forward Matthew Phillipou for his match against Brisbane, which brings co-captain Harris Andrews from contusion to strengthen the defense.

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And Hawthorn have recalled the veteran forward Jack Gunston to face Greater Western Sydney.

But the big news is at the Bombers, where coach Brad Scott has dropped Heppell, Wright and the midfielder Archie Perkins for the clash with the Dockers. Injured defender Jordan Ridley makes four total outs.

Middle of the first year Archie Roberts will make his debut at the MCG, while Jake Kelly, Nick Bryan and Alwyn Davey jnr also enter to the side.

The Dockers have made the selection, replacing the suspended veteran Nat Fyfe with the middle young man Neil Erasmus.

In Sunday’s first game, the Giants recalled the shortstop Max Gruzewski to cover for Jake Riccardi (finger) who will miss the rest of the home and away season after undergoing surgery.

And in the twilight clash, Saints added Phillipou and the midfielder Paddy Dow instead of the wounded Hunter Clark (calf) and Hugo Garcia (omitted), while the Lions fell Conor McKenna for Andrews.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4

Greater Western Sydney v Hawthorn at Manuka Oval, 1.10pm AEST

GREAT WESTERN SYDNEY

In the: M. Gruzewski
Output: J.Riccardi (finger)

Last week’s sub: Joe Fonti

HAWTHORN

In the: J. Gunston
Output: F.Maginity (omitted)

Last week’s sub: Finn Maginness

Essendon v Fremantle at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST

ESSENDON

In the: J.Kelly, N.Bryan, A.Davey jnr, A.Roberts
Output: J.Ridley (omitted), A.Perkins (omitted), D.Heppell (omitted), P.Wright (omitted)

Last week’s sub: Archie Perkins

FREMANTLE

In the: N.Erasmus
Output: N.Fyfe (suspension)

Last week’s sub: James Aish

St Kilda v Brisbane at Marvel Stadium, 4.40pm AEST

ST KILDA

In the: M. Phillipou, P. Dow
Output: H.Clark (calf), H.Garcia (out)

Last week’s sub: Hugo Garcia

BRISBANE

In the: H. Andrews
Output: C. McKenna (omitted)

Last week’s sub: Conor McKenna