Six previously banned Essendon players will make their comebacks against a Hawthorn side led by the returning Jarryd Roughead in round one of the AFL season.
Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell headline the inclusions for the Bombers against the Hawks at the MCG on Saturday night.
Travis Colyer, Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley and Brent Stanton have also been named, along with No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath.
But in a sign coach John Worsfold intends to keep his sights set on the future, there was no room for Ben Howlett, Heath Hocking or Tom Bellchambers, while David Myers (finger) was unavailable.
Of the 34 past and present Bombers banned for all of last year over the club’s 2012 supplements program, 16 remain in the AFL system.
Former Bombers Jake Carlisle and Jake Melksham will debut for St Kilda and Melbourne respectively, while Port Adelaide’s Paddy Ryder and Western Bulldogs forward Stewart Crameri are also slated to return.
Melbourne’s Michael Hibberd (achilles) and Port’s Angus Monfries were not considered for selection.
In other selection news, Hawthorn skipper Roughead will play his first regular season game since being declared cancer-free, alongside star recruits Jaeger O’Meara, Tom Mitchell and Ty Vickery.
Western Bulldogs spearhead Travis Cloke, West Coast’s Sam Mitchell and Drew Petrie and Melbourne’s Jordan Lewis will all play in their new colours for the first time.
The reigning premier Bulldogs will welcome back skipper Bob Murphy and Matt Suckling against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.
Former Greater Western Sydney forward Will Hoskin-Elliott will debut for the Magpies but Fremantle recruit Chris Mayne was left out.
Sydney will blood debutant Oliver Florent against Port Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday, while Sam Powell-Pepper, Brett Eddy and Dan Houston will all debut for the Power.
Melbourne forward Jack Watts has been spared the axe for the Demons’ clash with St Kilda and will line up alongside debutants Joel Smith and Mitch Hannan.
Recruits Nathan Brown and Jack Steele will line up for the Saints at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Adelaide stars Rory Sloane (fractured eye socket) and Taylor Walker (hamstring) have been named in an extended squad for Sunday’s clash against GWS at Adelaide Oval.
North Melbourne have included six new faces, including four debutants, to face West Coast at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, while Fremantle will welcome back 2015 Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe for their clash with Geelong at Domain Stadium.
