ST KILDA defender Hugh Goddard will make his first appearance for the club after being picked to face Essendon on Saturday.

The 18-year-old, who was selected at pick 21 at last year's NAB AFL Draft, made the Saints' final team of 26 players for the game at Morwell, beginning at 4.40pm AEDT.

The 196cm key defender was on the field before the game getting some final pre-match tips from Saints backline coach Danny Frawley after missing the final cut for last week's match against the Brisbane Lions.

Tom Hickey and Jack Sinclair will be the Saints' substitutes for the game, the club opting to go in with a younger squad after leaving out defender Sam Fisher and forward Tom Lee.

Essendon has stuck with its 26-man team named during the week, with top-ups Aaron Heppell and Mitch Clisby named as the starting substitutes.

All 13 of the club's new recruits on short-term contracts will feature in the clash under returning coach James Hird.

ESSENDON v ST KILDA
Morwell Recreation Reserve, Saturday, March 7, 4.40pm AEDT

Essendon (as selected)
Substitutes: Aaron Heppell, Mitch Clisby

St Kilda
Out: Tom Lee, Sam Fisher, Tom Curren
Substitutes: Tom Hickey, Jack Sinclair

ESSENDON
3. Paul Chapman, 10. Nick O’Brien, 14. Jason Ashby, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Jackson Merrett, 28. Jonathon Giles, 28. Elliott Kavanagh, 30. Kyle Langford, 34. Jake Long, 35. Marty Gleeson, 36. Lauchlan Dalgleish, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 47. Marcus Marigliani, 50. James Polkinghorne, 51. Aaron Heppell, 54. Josh Freezer, 55. Anthony Tipungwuti, 56. Jordan Schroder, 58. Sam Tagliabue, 72. Clint Jones, 73. Mitch Brown, 74. Mitch Clisby, 75. Jared Petrenko, 76. James Magner, 77. Sam Michael

ST KILDA
1. Tom Hickey, 3. Jack Steven, 4. Eli Templeton, 6. Seb Ross, 7. Luke Dunstan, 8. Blake Acres, 11. Leigh Montagna, 14. Jarryn Geary, 16. Jack Newnes,18. Billy Longer, 20. David Armitage, 21. Luke Delaney, 24. Sean Dempster, 27. Josh Bruce, 28. Tim Membrey, 32. Paddy McCartin, 33. Hugh Goddard, 34. Nathan Wright, 35. Josh Saunders, 37. Jack Lonie, 38. Ahmed Saad, 39. Cameron Shenton, 40. Jack Sinclair, 41. Darren Minchington, 44. Maverick Weller, 45. Jason Holmes.