Even without Daniher and Hooker etc, you'd think that Essendon would be more likely to go with McKernan and Stringer and then a combination of mid talks like Laverde.
I suspect even if Jones plays you might struggle to get any growth out of him, as there's a fair chance that by week 2 or 3 Essendon would be playing 2 rucks, or Hooker or Stewart is available.