Matthew Knights has praised the strong contribution of the younger players on Essendon’s list after his team pulled off a thrilling 54-point win over the Western Bulldogs at the Dome tonight.

Knights highlighted the performance of Bachar Houli, Ricky Dyson and Leroy Jetta, admitting that the run they provided was a key ingredient in the Bombers’ victorious display.

“It is great to see that it was the younger guys who were really contributing tonight,” Knights said.

“I think by playing the young players we have generated a fair bit of enthusiasm over the past two weeks because for some of them it is their first opportunity to play. The guys are very excited to play and I think that is flowing through in the way that they are playing. They are playing with dare and they are playing with a lot of enthusiasm.

“From a futuristic point of view there has been a concern about the younger players at Essendon and whether there is any talent at Essendon. I guess what we are trying to do is develop our players so that they are not only really competitive this year but we want to build for the future in order to sustain success.

“It is going to take a lot of hard work but we have to keep pushing these young players and giving them the opportunity to play. That is probably going to be the most important thing throughout the preseason – just how much game time we can get into these younger players.”

Kyle Reimers was one of Essendon’s young guns who really impressed tonight. He was the first to add his name to the scoreboard, setting the Bombers off to a perfect start following a classy snap around the body. He, along with Andrew Welsh, David Hille and Mark McVeigh proved key players for the Bombers throughout the first term to see Essendon into the second quarter with a 21-point lead.

Alwyn Davey had the fans licking their lips as he put on a show with his silky skills and pacey stride throughout the defensive fifty when the Bombers returned for the second term. Meanwhile, the Dogs were run ragged as Essendon linked up well by hand, using their leg speed to launch an assault on the opposition’s midfield.

Ricky Dyson found plenty of the footy and had 17 possessions to his name by half-time, while Nathan Lovett-Murray was also impressive, driving the Bombers into attack with spearing kicks, as Essendon stretched their lead to 39 points heading into the long break.

The Bulldogs stirred a little in the third quarter, and the intensity of the match grew, but costly errors from both sides made it difficult to convert opportunities. For Scott Lucas however, it was an entirely different story. His sharp shooting brought his goal tally to four goals after the first three quarters – two of which were from beyond the 50metre mark – and helped grow the Bombers’ lead to 48 points heading into the final term.

Essendon’s tackling pressure was red hot and their hunger for the footy intensified as they sent the Bulldogs in search of answers in the final quarter. But despite continued efforts, the Dogs could do little to prevent an inspired Essendon outfit from adding more goals courtesy of Lucas, Welsh and Reimers to finish the match clear victors.

As Essendon prepare to take on the winner of the Geelong/St Kilda match, Knights hopes to capitalise on the run the Bombers showed tonight and build it into their game plan.

“We are really keen to generate some more run out of our midfield and out of our defence,” Knights said.

“I know it sounds a lot easier than actually implementing it. So what we have to do is get game time and personnel into that area that can actually implement it. In the past, too few of the guys have really carried the load in the midfield so seeing the guys tonight all contributing was a really pleasing aspect.”

Knights believes another winning element of the Bombers’ match was their tackling pressure and hopes to build on it with his players throughout the week.

“A pleasing aspect of tonight’s match was our ability to put pressure on the opposition,” Knights said.

“I thought each player contributed in that area rather than leaving it to guys like Alwyn who did a lot of work last year. There has to be a lot of people sharing that load and I think the guys showed they could do that tonight.

“That referred pressure is important and if you can stamp that early in the game then it is going to set the scene. I think our players have really embraced that element of the game and the defensive aspects of the game. I know it is only early but we have been able to do it throughout the past two weeks of the NAB cup. I know the AFL series is a journey but it is going to be a challenge to do that over a period and we are keen to develop our side in that area.”

Bomber fans can catch the full Essendon team at Queen’s Park in Moonee Ponds on Sunday 24th February from 10am - 12pm as they celebrate their Community Day.