Essendon forward Josh Begley will make his long-awaited return to the senior line-up against Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Saturday as one of five changes for the Bombers.

It will be Begley’s first AFL match since Anzac Day last year when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury.

Fellow goalkickers Joe Daniher and Mark Baguley have been recalled after resting last week, while athletic defender Ben McNiece will play his first senior game of the year and young midfielder Kyle Langford will also return.

Orazio Fantasia (quad) and Devon Smith (knee) are out with injury, with experienced onballer David Myers, ruck Zac Clarke and young Bomber Brayden Ham all omitted.

The first bounce is set for 7:25pm.

FINAL TEAM

B – Mark Baguley, Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley

HB – Mason Redman, Patrick Ambrose, Adam Saad

C – Conor McKenna, Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis

HF – Darcy Parish, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Josh Begley

F – Dylan Shiel, Jake Stringer, Matt Guelfi

R – Tom Bellchambers, Andrew McGrath, Dyson Heppell

Interchange – Aaron Francis, Kyle Langford, Joe Daniher, Ben McNiece

Emergencies – Zac Clarke, Jayden Laverde, Jordan Ridley, Dylan Clarke

IN – Langford, Baguley, McNiece, Daniher, Begley

OUT – Fantasia, Smith, Z. Clarke, Ham, Myers