Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis says he is proud to see the Bombers’ new crop of stars receive their deserved reward for effort this year.

As the club’s most experienced player, with Friday’s impressive 19-point defeat of Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium his 198th senior game, Zaharakis has taken on much of the responsibility of helping elevate the club’s young onballers to the next level.

Much of that has come to fruition in recent weeks, with Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford and Dylan Clarke among the side’s best players, and that was the case once again against the Hawks.

Parish (21 disposals, six inside 50s, five tackles and a goal) was one of the key catalysts behind the Bombers’ second-half blitz, while Langford (21 disposals, 12 contested possessions, six clearances and two goals) was also outstanding showing a mix of grunt on the inside and class on the outside.

Meanwhile, Clarke – fresh off a memorable second senior game a fortnight ago when he successfully quashed the influence of star Blue Patrick Cripps – played a strong role on Hawk Jaeger O’Meara as he gathered 23 disposals, 12 contested possessions and five clearances himself.

Dylan Clarke continued his fine form on Friday at Marvel Stadium. (Image: AFL Photos)

“Just to see those guys really putting in the work over the last 18 months to two years with me and just putting in their own work (is great),” Zaharakis said after the victory.

“I took Kyle to (high-altitude training in) Colorado last year and it is great just to see the fruits of his labour coming through, and Darcy just puts in work every week. Those guys are just getting the reward for the actual effort they’re putting in to try to improve.

Kyle Langford celebrates one of his two goals against the Hawks. (Image: AFL Photos)

“Dylan Clarke is another one, he’s come a long way this year and he just does his role for the side.

“I think it’s great that they’re improving and they’re putting in good performances, but it’s got to be consistent from week to week.

“I’m preaching that with them at the moment, ‘Don’t be happy that you might play one or two good games in a row, you’ve got to keep backing it up week after week.’”

With no natural defender replacing omitted backman Ben McNiece, the Bombers were forced to alter their structure on Friday and Zaharakis was the man given the task to drop back from his regular position in the midfield.

It was a role the 29-year-old played brilliantly as he gathered 19 disposals (at 89.5 per cent efficiency) and seven marks sweeping across half-back.

“In the last two years I’ve played a couple of games here and there like that and I don’t mind it, it’s a good role to play.

“We didn’t really know what the Hawks were going to do with their stoppages tonight, whether they would send an extra guy up there (on the ball) – which meant we would have a spare backman – or whether they would play six forwards.

“We played with one less backman this week, so my role was just to go back there and fill that void in the backline.

“Against Carlton I played a bit more forward, in the majority (of games) I’ve played wing and today I played back. Wherever the team or coaches want me to play, I’ll play.”

It would be hard not to enjoy playing in the Bombers’ backline on Friday, with speedsters Conor McKenna (25 disposals, 10 intercept possessions, nine rebound 50s, seven running bounces and 622 metres gained) and Adam Saad (20 disposals, 12 intercept possessions and five inside 50s) playing blinders across half-back.

Zaharakis said it was a thrill to play alongside them and he praised Saad for booting his first senior goal in the red and black in sensational style.

“When they get up and running and get that overlap handball receive and go – that’s when they’re exciting.

“They can both take off and really hurt sides. When they do it at the right time with the right opportunity when they come through the middle it’s always exciting for us and everyone gets up and about.

“Adam finally gets his reward and kicks his first goal for the footy club, it’s only taken him almost two years, so it was good.”

Essendon will now head to Perth to take on reigning premier West Coast on Thursday and Zaharakis is hopeful the side can emulate its scintillating 28-point victory over the Eagles at Optus Stadium last year.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it. We had a great win over there last year and if we can do that again it will be awesome.”