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AFL: Essendon captain Brendan Goddard has arrived in Perth ahead of his sides’ clash with the West Coast Eagles

Matt Dea replaces Patrick Ambrose in the Bombers’ line-up. Picture: Getty Images

ESSENDON has made one change for its daunting trip to Perth to take on West Coast, which named defender Mitch Brown for his first senior game in almost 18 months.

The Bombers, which are coming off a bye, brought back Matt Dea to replace Patrick Ambrose who is battling back soreness.

West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett has paid his penance and has been recalled to the senior team.

Lycett was dropped from the Eagles’ Round 13 team after a late-night drinking session but responded with a best-on-ground performance in the WAFL.

The Eagles, which also had last weekend off, also included Patrick McGinnity for his first game in 2016 and Jackson Nelson.

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They lost Josh Hill with tonsillitis and dropped Jack Redden, Jonathan Giles and Fraser McInnes.

Defender Eric Mackenzie wasn’t considered with coach Adam Simpson saying the 2014 best-and-fairest still needed to find confidence and form in the WAFL.

Matt Dea replaces Patrick Ambrose in the Bombers’ line-up. Picture: Michael KleinSource:News Corp Australia

But it was the inclusion of Brown that came as a big surprise.

Brown hasn’t been sighted at AFL level after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Round 1 last year before a finger tendon injury during the NAB Challenge delayed his return.

“He’s so tenacious. We’ve missed him, we really have,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson told Fox Footy’s AFL360 on Wednesday night.

“This is his first game back since Round 1, 2015 and I think expectations… just compete as hard as you can, that’s about it for him.

“It’s still a long road back, knee reconstructions are hard particularly if you’re a key position player.

“It’s good to have him back in the side, he’s really good around the club and really professional for us. He’s earned his spot.”

Eagles ruckman Scott Lycett has served his club-imposed suspension. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

Worsfold said several players were performing strongly in the VFL, including Aaron Francis, Shaun McKernan, Sam Michael, Jake Long, Jayden Laverde, Kyle Langford and Conor McKenna.

The bookies are giving Essendon no chance of landing an upset with West Coast the shortest possible price of $1.01. The Bombers are $19.

WEST COAST EAGLES v ESSENDON

Thursday, June 30 at Subiaco Oval, 8:10pm

EAGLES

B: M.Brown, W.Schofield, B.Sheppard

HB: S.Butler, T.Barrass, S.Hurn

C: E.Yeo, M.Priddis, A.Gaff

HF: C.Masten, J.Darling, M.LeCras

F: J.Cripps, J.Kennedy, J.McGovern

R: S.Lycett, M.Hutchings, L.Shuey

I/C: S.Wellingham, L.Jetta, J.Nelson, P.McGinnity

EMG: L.Duggan, E.Mackenzie, X.Ellis

IN: M.Brown, P.McGinnity, S.Lycett, J.Nelson

OUT: J.Hill (illness), J.Giles, J.Redden, F.McInnes

BOMBERS

B: J.Gwilt, M.Hartley, J.Ashby

HB: B.Goddard, M.Dea, J.Kelly

C: C.Dempsey, D.Zaharakis, M.Gleeson

HF: A.Cooney, J.Daniher, O.Fantasia

F: M.Stokes, M.Brown, A.McDonald-Tipungwuti

R: M.Leuenberger, C.Bird, Z.Merrett

I/C: W.Hams, J.Merrett, D.Parish, M.Jamar

EMG: S.McKernan, J.Polkinghorne, S.Michael

IN: M.Dea

OUT: P.Ambrose (back)