Essendon have announced a near-full strength squad for Friday night's AFL NAB Cup games.

David Hille, Andrew Welsh, Tayte Pears and Kyle Reimers are the major names missing from the group of 36 they named for the round robin games against Brisbane and St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

Former Hawthorn forward Mark Williams is set to play after he managed only four games last season in his first year at Essendon.

Leroy Jetta was named after suffering a cut ankle during last Thursday's intraclub game.

It will be the first chance for Bombers fans to look at how the team plays under new coach James Hird.

By contrast, the Lions and Saints named depleted squads.

St Kilda will be without Nick Riewoldt, Sam Gilbert, Justin Koschitzke, Michael Gardiner and the four players suspended after the New Zealand pre-season trip - Zac Dawson, Jack Steven, Rhys Stanley and Paul Cahill.

Now vice-captain Lenny Hayes, Clint Jones and Adam Schneider were also not named in their squad of 32.

Saints newcomers Sam Crocker and Jamie Cripps will play after impressing coach Ross Lyon through the pre-season.

Brisbane will travel without a host of big names - captain Jonathan Brown, Simon Black, Luke Power, Jamie Charman, Xavier Clarke, Jed Adcock, Josh Drummond and Brendan Fevola.

The Lions' squad of 29 players features five of their newcomers - Jared Polec, Patrick Karnezis, Ryan Lester, Josh Green and Rohan Bewick.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP