Essendon has made three key inclusions for Saturday’s blockbuster against Carlton at the MCG with Dyson Heppell, Tom Bellchambers and Marty Gleeson coming into the side.

Jake Carlisle (hamstring), Ariel Steinberg (omitted) and Orazio Fantasia (omitted) are out of the side that defeated the Gold Coast last weekend.

Heppell has been named in the side after proving his fitness on the training track this week in his recovery from a fracture in his hand.

Bellchambers is set to play his first game in the last month with Gleeson to line up in his first match at AFL level since Round 8 against Brisbane.

Coach Mark Thompson welcomed the inclusion of the key trio for the match against the Blues.

“Bellchambers comes in for his first game for the while, he has played the last few weeks in the VFL and last week was his best game.”

“He deserves to be in the side and if we can give Paddy some relief by having a second ruck man in there then it will be good.”

"Heppell comes back in after a hand operation and Gleeson comes back in after three games in the VFL where he has also been very good."

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