Essendon coach James Hird expects to see young midfielder Will Hams pushing for plenty of AFL football in season 2015 after recommitting to the club for the upcoming season.

Hams recently signed a new one-year deal with the club after suffering a number of injury setbacks throughout the 2014 season.

The 20-year-old was recruited in the 2012 rookie draft and went on to play two games during the 2013 season showcasing his tenacity and fearless attitude for the contest.

Over all of his injury concerns following surgery Hams is expected to play a significant role in the club’s 2015 campaign.

“Will is an excellent young man and disappointingly injuries prevented him from playing any football at all this year,” Hird said.

“It was disappointing for the club because we were very excited after his first year.

“We picked him up as a rookie just before the start of the 2013 season and we have loved the way he has gone about his football but we actually just love the way he goes about everything he does.

“We are very excited that he has re-signed and he should play a lot of football for us next year and plenty of AFL football I think.

“Looking to the future he will be a terrific player for us.”

Not only does Hams have a ferocious attack on the football but has the poise and precision to use the ball on the outside of the pack.

The coach is also expecting hard nut Ben Howlett to play an important role in the upcoming season after he put pen to paper on a new deal.

Howlett turned his back on a number of offers from rival clubs to sign a new two year deal that will see him remain in the red and black until the end of the 2016 season.

“Coming back into the club a few weeks ago I had a good chat to Ben about what he wanted to do,” Hird said.

“There is no doubt Ben had some opportunities to leave to his home state as well as a couple of opportunities here in Mebourne so it was a terrific show of loyalty to the club by Ben.

“It shows the quality of the person that Ben is.

“Ben is an in and under hard working player that has had a grasp of AFL football for a while now.

“He is very loyal to Essendon and it is great that he has re-signed with us.”