Bombers coach James Hird said Hurley had trained on Thursday, but he didn't want to risk playing the key forward.
“Michael Hurley hasn’t come up. He got through training today but we just considered his ankle to big a risk so he won’t play,” Hird told essendonfc.com.au.
Jackson Merrett, Will Hams and Kyle Hardingham have been named as Essendon's emergencies.
Essendon's side
B M.Baguley, D.Fletcher, J.Carlisle
HB D.Myers, C.Hooker, D.Heppell
C B.Stanton, J.Watson, C.Dempsey
HF B.Goddard, S.Crameri, N.Kommer
F J.Winderlich, P.Ryder, L.Jetta
Foll T.Bellchambers, B.Howlett, D.Zaharakis
I/C S.Gumbleton, J.Melksham, M.Hibberd, H.Hocking
Emg J.Merrett, W.Hams, K.Hardingham
In: Gumbleton
Out: Hurley (ankle)
