Essendon coach James Hird has welcomed new recruits Kyle Langford and Jayden Laverde to the club following the 2014 National Draft.

Hird said he was excited to be able to add two quality players to the club’s senior list.

“To get the players we got in Langford and Laverde, we are very excited by it,” Hird said.

“We were after midfiedlers and we got midfielders and forwards so they are both guys that can kick goals and have good speed.

“They are good on the outside, good on the inside and also have good endurance so we are very happy.

“We probably didn’t think we were going to get both players so we are very thankful like everyone else that we got the players we wanted.”

Langford was taken with the club’s first pick, selection 17, after excelling at both ends of the ground during the season for the Northern Knights.

“His ability to win his own football is the most exciting thing but he also gets in and out of trouble very well,” Hird said.

“The ball normally ends up with a teammate in a better position when he has the ball and he has some unique skills.”

“He feels to us like a leader round the club in times to come which is very important for us.”

Langford said he was over the moon to be joining the Bombers.

“I couldn’t believe when my name actually did get called out,” Langford said.

“It has been a long time waiting and Essendon is such a terrific club so I am stoked to be a part of it.”

Laverde was taken with the club’s second pick, selection 20, after a strong season with the Western Jets as a smooth moving midfielder.

“He is a big bodied player who can play a number of positions but has obviously been picked as a midfielder,” Hird said.

“He has some good speed which we like and uses the ball well and also if you need to play him inside you can.”

“We are very excited about the two players we got and didn’t think they would be there at those picks.”

Patrick Ambrose was also officially upgraded to the club’s senior list.