Essendon coach James Hird says his club isn't concerned by the injury history of its first pick in Thursday's NAB AFL Draft, Elliott Kavanagh.
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The Western Jets midfielder missed half of 2011 with a serious hamstring injury, and couldn't rediscover his stunning 2010 form when he returned.
But Hird said the club wasn't deterred by the injury and believed it had found another quality player to add to its exciting young list.
""Elliott was probably one of the best 16-year-olds in the country and we think we've got a very good player.
""We've just got to iron out that hamstring injury and work it out, but we're pretty sure it's OK.""
Hird made it clear after Essendon's elimination final loss to Carlton that the Bombers needed to add depth to their midfield, and he said Kavanagh will be the perfect inclusion.
""Elliott's definitely an inside and outside midfielder and a good combination of both,"" Hird said.
""We have no doubt that he can win his own ball but actually use it really well too. He does everything at speed so we couldn't be happier with Elliott.""
With pick 31 Essendon selected Geelong Falcons midfielder Jackson Merrett and Nick O'Brien, a leading half-forward, from North Ballarat Rebels with selection 59.
Essendon has made known its focus on bringing strong people into the club in the past year and Hird said each draftee would do the same.
""We think we've got three really good characters into the club. They're all from Victoria and all reasonably close to Essendon,"" Hird said.
The Bomber coach signalled his intentions pre-draft to pick another ruckman, and said the club would use the NAB AFL Rookie Draft to find another big man.
""If there's a ruckman available in that rookie draft that's where we'll go for a ruckman,"" Hird said.
""We'll definitely try for one there.""
