Despite not being a member of the official leadership group at Essendon, recently retired player Paul Barnard had a hands on role with the development of some of the younger players at Windy Hill. Barnard thoroughly enjoyed the mentor role and said there is some exciting young talent on the Bombers' list. ""I probably didn't get that guidance from older players in my earlier playing days because everyone was so busy doing their own thing. I just thought if there was some sort of role that I could play that if they needed a mate to talk to they could come around for dinner and have a talk. I have always enjoyed that role because I like talking to the young kids and get along with them pretty well,"" Barnard said.

With Ted Richards and Marc Bullen both receiving National Rising Star nominations this season, and David Hille greatly improved, the future is looking bright for Essendon. There is a great deal of young talent on the list, but three young players have stood out to Barnard this season have been Marc Bullen, Andrew Welsh and Adam McPhee. ""I spoke to Marc last year when we lost to Port Adelaide and he was an emergency. I said to him at that stage that we really need him and we need him to have a big preseason because we were lacking midfield pace. I said to Marc, it is time for you and the time is now.”

Marc really put in over the preseason and was rewarded with 16 senior games. He will be one of the core group of young kids that will move into the new core group, which is the Johnsons, the Jacobs and the Solomons,"" Barnard said.

Welsh is another player that has come along in leaps and bounds this season. In only his second year of football he has stamped his authority on the back pocket role. At only 20-years old he has played 37 games and shown signs that he has the capabilities to become one of the leadership group in the years to come. ""Andrew Welsh has shown great maturity for his age. He has only been playing for two years, yet you think he would have been playing for five. I think Adam McPhee is a dedicated young fellow and I would like to see him go on and be part of the leadership group, he has those sort of qualities,"" Barnard said.

Another young player that has impressed Barnard this season is 18-year-old Courtney Johns. Essendon took a punt on Johns late last year after being advised that he was unlikely to play football again due a hip injury. The Bombers' still drafted him onto the rookie list and fitness staff underwent an intensive rehabilitation program with him. He was able to string a few games together in the VFL and is likely to be elevated onto the senior list at the end of the season. ""Courtney Johns is dedicated and a lot of people don't realise what he has overcome just to get here. He has had a problem with a hip and he was told he would probably never play again. He has really trained himself hard and has got the respect of some of the senior guys.""