Essendon has made six changes to its line-up ahead of Saturday’s Embracing India game against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.

Captain Dyson Heppell and fellow leader David Myers – in his first senior game since round eight – will add grunt and experience to the midfield, while important tall Shaun McKernan is back after overcoming the illness that saw him withdrawn before last week’s loss to Port Adelaide.

Defender Ben McNiece has been added to fill the void left behind by injured backman Adam Saad, and Josh Begley and Mark Baguley will join the forward line as the Bombers look to respond against the Dogs.

Emerging youngsters Darcy Parish (concussion) and Aaron Francis (whiplash) have failed to prove their fitness in time and will be joining Saad on the sidelines alongside Matt Guelfi (knee).

Impressive recruit Will Snelling has also been ruled out due to foot soreness, while key defender Michael Hartley has been omitted after being McKernan’s late replacement against the Power.

FINAL TEAM

B – Mason Redman, Cale Hooker, Martin Gleeson

HB – Conor McKenna, Patrick Ambrose, Ben McNiece

C – Andrew McGrath, Zach Merrett, Orazio Fantasia

HF – Dylan Shiel, Shaun McKernan, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

F – David Zaharakis, Mitch Brown, Jake Stringer

R – Zac Clarke, Mark Baguley, Dyson Heppell

Interchange – Dylan Clarke, David Myers, Kyle Langford, Josh Begley

Emergencies – Michael Hartley, Tom Jok, Jake Long, Jayden Laverde

IN – Heppell, Begley, McKernan, McNiece, Myers, Baguley

OUT – Saad (injured), Guelfi (injured), Snelling (injured), Francis (injured), Parish (concussion), Hartley (omitted)

You can listen to the Embracing India game live in Hindi on 3ZZZ (92.3FM) or via the AFL App and website.