Former North Ballarat Rebels Nick Hausler and Shannon Beks come into the side along with the injury-riddled Ben Lusby, who will play his first game this season, while experienced defender Oliver Tate returns after suffering from hamstring tightness.

Greater Western Victorian Rebel Callan Wellings makes his VFL debut as the 23^rd player after an impressive first half of the TAC Cup season.

AFL recruiters will get the chance to look at Wellings, who has already done a preseason with the Roosters, against an AFL-aligned team in Essendon.

Ben Cox, Billy Jones, James Lukich and Coby Perry have all been omitted. 

Roosters coach Marc Greig said the midfield would be a critical area against Essendon, with Beks coming in to help ruckman Nick Nott.

“Shannon Beks gets a recall because Toby Thoolen, who is one of our other ruckman, found out he has a stress fracture in the navicular, which is a pretty serious foot injury so he might miss the season,” Greig said.

“Ollie Tate was in some reasonable form and he did a job on (St Kilda forward) Paddy McCartin a few weeks ago, so he comes back in being a leader and a senior player,” Greig said.

Greig said the club wanted to give Lusby a game, after only playing a handful last season due to injury. 

“He has been training pretty well so while we have been going okay in the last few games, we still want to keep giving blokes opportunity and trying to get the right mix,” Greig said.

After three weeks of being listed as the 23^rd player, Wheelahan has impressed coaches on the wing and made the squad of 22.

“He has got some good speed, he is a left footer, and he is definitely a draft-able player, so we see a lot of upside,” Greig said.

“He has held a spot now so hopefully he can put some consistent games together.”