Marty Gleeson ready to go if AFL finalist Essendon needs, says

That's the belief of the man who gave a raw but talented 16-year-old Gleeson his first senior game at Hampden league level in 2011.

Koroit coach Chris McLaren said Gleeson, now 26, knew the Bombers' game plan and would embrace the finals pressure if he was picked for Sunday's match in Tasmania.

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Gleeson, who has 94 matches to his credit, has been restricted to three appearances for Essendon in 2021 - rounds two, 17 and 21.

He was also the unused medi-sub against Gold Coast in round 22.

"They have a back six and he's probably number seven or eight on the list," McLaren said.

"They have recruited (Nick) Hind, pushed (Dyson) Heppell back, pushed (James) Stewart back, pushed (Jayden) Laverde back.

"It's a new-look back line and he's been pushed down the order a little bit by the look of things."

McLaren, an Essendon fan, said Gleeson was fit and ready to play if called on.

"He also knows every time there's an opportunity through injury he's straight in and he does pretty well," he said.

"He'll need a little bit of luck but he's right on the edge of it."

McLaren said the VFL's disjointed season due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions made it difficult for players to press a claim for AFL selection.