Essendon pondering midfield makeover
ESSENDON could make a handful of changes for Anzac Day with two key midfielders available for selection.
Devon Smith is ready to go after missing the win over North Melbourne as he managed a knee complaint, while coach John Worsfold said 2009 Anzac Day hero David Zaharakis “should” be available after a leg infection left him hospitalised last week.
Essendon has lost four of its last five Anzac Day clashes with Collingwood, with this Thursday’s edition arguably the closest the two sides have been in standing since 2012.
“I’ve had three years in charge of this team – the first two years were quite unique,” Worsfold said.
“We’re slowly putting everything together for where the club wants to get to. That doesn’t happen overnight – that takes a lot of commitment to the program and belief in the system that you’re putting in place.
“The players are buying in really strongly to it, the coaches are really committed to where we want to take this team.
“We’ve still got a way to go to say that consistently and over a long period of time that we’re playing our best footy. That’s what we’re working towards, and playing Collingwood in the form they’re in is just another great opportunity for us to test ourselves out.”
Tall Zac Clarke walked with a limp at training yesterday, with visible bruising on his calf after suffering what Worsfold said was a secondary bleed on a corkie.
The club is facing a potentially hefty fine from the AFL after the late inclusion of Joe Daniher into its team on Good Friday.