Bombers defender Jordan Ridley says fellow young backman Brandon Zerk-Thatcher can be a “super player” for many years to come following Essendon’s gritty victory over Geelong on Monday.

Zerk-Thatcher was brilliant against the Cats in Colac, gaining the upper hand in his mid-game battle with powerful forward Tom Hawkins between important stints on athletic goalkicker Esava Ratugolea.

The 21-year-old was confident and composed both in the air and on the ground, reading the play with class to close out the match with 18 disposals, 12 intercept possessions, nine contested possessions, seven marks and five rebound 50s.

Zerk-Thatcher made his senior debut against Fremantle in round 22 last year and with Essendon’s round one clash with the Dockers less than a fortnight away, he has now well and truly put his hand up for an AFL recall in the absence of injured defenders Cale Hooker and Patrick Ambrose

“I thought he was super; he had a really tough match-up today with Hawkins,” Ridley said after the four-point win.

“I thought he really backed himself in and he played the way that we know he can, so he is going to be a super player for a lot of years to come hopefully for Essendon.”

Ridley was equally impressive on Monday as he fights for his own return the senior line-up after being unable to break back into the team past round seven in 2019.

The athletic backman was at his courageous and skilful best against the Cats, gathering 20 disposals at a sensational 95 per cent efficiency alongside seven rebound 50s, seven intercept possessions and six marks.

He was also among the side’s best performers in the first Marsh Community Series game against West Coast, claiming 21 disposals, eight intercept possessions, six one percenters, five tackles and four score involvements, and he said it has been satisfying to see his hard pre-season work come to fruition.

“It certainly gives you some confidence. It’s good to see all of the hard work over summer come out and working in the game.

“At the end of the day, it’s about building connection with the other backs and really building connection as a team to make sure we’re in a good place as a team and we know how we want to play going into round one.

“For me, (the pre-season work) has been a lot about the contest and tackling, I’ve really been focusing on them.

“I have also tried to focus on things I thought I was already quite good at as well, but mostly the contest, tackling and a little bit off strength work as well in the gym.”

Leading the way for the inexperienced pair in the back half was star Bomber Michael Hurley, who was an outstanding general throughout the clash as he repeatedly cut off Geelong’s entries.

Hurley racked up possessions at will to finish with 32 disposals, 13 intercept possessions, nine marks and seven rebound 50s, and Ridley was full of praise for the stand-in skipper,

“‘Hurls’ is an exceptional player and a two-time All Australian, so it makes you walk a lot taller running out there with him.

“You saw the way he read the play and picked off Geelong’s kicks time and time again. He really helps you out down there.”

Senior assistant coach Ben Rutten addressed the Dons following the victory and Ridley said the message is clear as the team enters the final phase of the pre-season.

“(The focus is) just to keep building, I think we’ve shown some really good things that have come out in our game in the last two weeks.

“Just keep building on that and we still have a few things we can work on, so we’ll try to implement them and hopefully be in a really good place for round one.”