Zaharakis still in Round 1 frame

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David Zaharakis will play VFL on Friday for Essendon. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

ESSENDON is seeking permission from the AFL to play several underdone players in its VFL team in a practice match on Friday night.

Midfielders David Zaharakis and Jake Melksham head the list the Bombers want to get urgent match fitness before the AFL opening round.

Under AFL and Players' Association rules, a club must get approval to trial players the weekend before its first home-and-away game.

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Zaharakis (strained thigh) and Melksham (broken hand) have missed the NAB Cup and are short of match conditioning for the first game against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday week.

"We've applied for eight to 10 players who have had missed or interrupted preparations to play in this VFL match,'' Bombers football operations manager Danny Corcoran said.

"With the extended interchange bench, some players have played only half games. So, we'll just wait for the approval to come through. The AFL will declare who's available.''

Zaharakis, sidelined for almost the entire second half of last season with a severe quad muscle injury, is ready to go again following a minor recurrence of the same ailment at training in late January.

Melksham managed only one NAB Cup appearance after being accidentally kicked in the hand during an intraclub game.

Injury-prone forward Scott Gumbledon, who played three quarters with the VFL team last weekend, is another the Bombers want to play against Bendigo Gold at Windy Hill on Friday.

Essendon's senior list will train normally this week and have the weekend off.

Forward Michael Hurley will appreciate the break to rest the sprained ankle from the last NAB Cup game against the GWS Giants in Canberra. "He'll be fine. They just put him in the (moon) boot to slow him down,'' Corcoran said.

Meanwhile, Collingwood and North Melbourne are both set to be weakened for their Round 1 clash.

The Roos will be without suspended defender Scott McMahon, while Dale Thomas and Luke Ball look set to miss through injury.

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