Essendon favourite, David Zaharakis will hit the pitch tonight to head an Essendon team still struggling through an ASADA drugs scandal and its preseason.
The club will 11 top up players and a number of older players to supplement their team that wont use any of the players from the 2012 team list.
An AFL tribunal is currently considering the fate of around 17 Essendon players who have been issued with infraction notices by ASADA.
Zaharakis avoided the cull because he did not partake in the controversial drug supplement program because he had a dislike of needles.
Four younger 2012-listed Bombers successfully argued to play in last week’s match against St Kilda, confirming they are not the subject of the ASADA investigation.
He will return to play the NAB Cup match against Greater Western Sydney on Friday after recovering from a minor knee injury.
Essendon’s final pre-season game is against Melbourne on March 20.
The tribunal’s ruling on players issued with infraction notices is expected before the AFL season commences in April.
Source: The Age, AAP