Essendon Line Coach Guy McKenna expects the exposure the Club’s young players are getting at AFL level this season to fast track their development.

The Bombers fielded 14 players with less than 50 games experience last week against St Kilda.

Only three senior listed players (Yestin Eades, Alex Morgan and Aaron Francis) are yet to get a taste at AFL level.

McKenna said the unique circumstances surrounding this season have led to more young players playing more often and performing key roles.

“It’s three or four years before the players really understand what the game is all about and understand how to prepare, to train, to play,” he said.

“It’s (this season) about finding out the tough way and I reckon by doing that it might not take three or four years.

“They’ve been thrown in the deep end, they’ve had to learn to swim a lot earlier than they should in some cases so that’s only going to help us go forward very quickly.”

The Essendon playing list wasn’t finalised until the eve of the NAB Challenge.

McKenna said the way this new group was able to quickly come together has helped them get through the challenges presented throughout the course of the season.

“There is certainly no divisions – that’s one thing I’ve noticed with this group,” he said.

“You’ve got the younger generation with their thoughts and you’ve got the older more experienced heads who have lived through premiership success.

“Woosha and the rest of the coaches have done a really good job of enhancing that forum for those boys to speak up and be heard.

“It has been a unique experience for the players and clearly the coaching.

“My background of what I’ve been through has certainly helped me cut to the chase pretty quickly and certainly help coach these boys through what they’re going through at the moment.”

McKenna expects the second half of the season to provide more challenges but equally more opportunities.

Leadership group members Joe Daniher (22 years old) and Zach Merrett (20) are prime examples of the benefits on offer this season.

Daniher was Essendon’s most experienced forward last weekend with just 63 games under his belt, while Merrett has spent more time in the heart of the midfield this season where he’s averaged 28 possessions per game.

“They’re in the leadership group – if we weren’t in this situation they wouldn’t be,” McKenna said.

“That experience alone is so rewarding, not only to grow them as footballers, but to grow them as people as well.

“Junior Merrett has come in from half forward/wing (last season), now he’s come in to an inside mid and he just keeps growing, he just keeps expanding his game.

“The second half of the season is going to be harder, it’s like a marathon.

“We’re at the half way stage and this is when the gorilla jumps on your back. 

“It’s just about finding those little bits of gold.”