Bombers give Jake Stringer a reprieve

Essendon have given struggling recruit Jake Stringer a reprieve as they seek to find a forward combination capable of upsetting Geelong.

Essendon recruit Jake Stringer at training this week

Essendon have given struggling recruit Jake Stringer a reprieve as they seek to find a forward combination capable of upsetting Geelong at the MCG tomorrow.

The Bombers coaching committee was expected to make a drastic statement at selection after a shock loss to Carlton sparked a week of upheaval at Tullamarine, culminating in the redundancy of strategy coach Mark Neeld.

Darcy Parish, the No 5 pick in the 2015 national draft who has shown significant promise over the past two years, is the highest profile Bomber dropped among five changes.

All Australian defender Michael Hurley could not be considered due to injury, while strong-bodied midfielder David Myers is also injured.

The Bombers opted to rest second-year footballer Kobe Mutch, while Ben McNiece was omitted alongside Parish.

Parish earned a Rising Star nomination in 2016. The 20-year-old is averaging 19 disposals per match this year, only slightly down on his career average. He is tackling more and has booted two goals for the year.

But the drive he provides the Bombers has dipped, particularly over the past fortnight. Parish gathered a season-low 13 touches against Carlton last week after managing only 15 disposals against the Hawks a week prior.

Stringer, a premiership player with the Bulldogs in 2016, has earned a reprieve courtesy of the injury-enforced absence of star goalkicker Joe Daniher.

The All Australian has kicked 10 goals from his eight matches for Essendon and while he is not proving to be the force the Bombers hoped he would become when recruiting him from the Bulldogs, his performance matches his efforts at Whitten Oval over the past two years when he found himself on the fringe of senior selection.

The Bombers have turned to youth, perhaps in light of their situation, which sees them sitting in 15th position, three wins outside the eight.

Jordan Ridley and Dylan Clarke will debut as expected following their endorsement from senior coach John Worsfold on Wednesday, while Matt Dea, Kyle Langford and Matt Guelfi return.

In a season where Essendon were expected to contend, the selection of Clarke and Ridley was a nod to the future.

The duo hail from the 2016 draft and have watched fellow recruits Josh Begley, Mutch and sidelined Rising Star winner Andrew McGrath feature over the past 15 months.