Jaxon Artemis operates one way – full speed ahead.

The 182cm defender who just last night found out he’d become an Essendon player with the first pick in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft had enjoyed a terrific start to the VFL campaign to further push him into calculations as the top available talent in the pool, with the Bombers ensuring they pounced.

At 19, Artemis has rebounded from the frustration of multiple missed drafts – even in spite of winning WA’s MVP at the 2024 National Championships – and clearly already boasts the confidence and self-belief to take the next step.

"I think I could slot in straight away,” Artemis told afl.com.au on draft night.

“I'm quite a good footballer so I'd be ready for any opportunity I reckon.”

Artemis’ most recent outing with an upstart Tassie Devils outfit – one shaping as a finals fancy - proved the recent hype among recruiters, racking up 27 touches and a goal off half back.

He’s drawn comparisons to Nick Blakey from his Devils Senior Coach Jeromey Webberley, with his willingness to kick into gear and drive the footy forward at pace being a standout trait from well back through his junior career.

Entering his draft year, Artemis was seventh overall in the combine with a 2.96-second time at the 20-metre sprint and loves to utilise those traits on ground.

It wasn’t just his athleticism standing out, with RookieMe Central’s original draft profile drawing particular notice to his precision with ball in hand and picking off dangerous targets from defence. From his 19 disposals per game this year, he’s averaged an impressive five score involvements and has gone at 76 per cent efficiency.

The WA-born defender’s VFL experience has been complemented by a 2025 campaign spent with South Fremantle in the WAFL, where he was a key piece of their flag-winning lineup.

Adding to Essendon’s list of mid-season talents such as Archie May and Sam Durham, the Club were rapt to acquire Artemis on Tuesday night.

“We’ve tracked Jaxon for a number of years now, he’s really deserved his opportunity this year and elevated his game,” Essendon’s National Recruiting Manager Rob Forster-Knight said.

“He brings an exciting mix of speed, agility, kicking and ground coverage – it’s a pretty rare mix, we think he’s got a pretty high ceiling.”

Artemis joins a bunch of Western Australian ‘hidden gems’ to find their way to a Dons list, with Tom Edwards, Nic Martin and Lachie Blakiston all taken away from the National Draft.

Still very much growing as a player, Artemis said the opportunities against senior bodies has helped set him up to take his talents to the big time.

"It's been a hectic couple of days but it's been fine and I've kept a steady head," Artemis said. 

"I'm extremely grateful to Tassie for giving me the opportunity to head over there and it's been amazing for me. I've matured quite quickly and it's been such a good opportunity."