ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights says the Bombers might deviate from their youth policy in next week’s NAB Pre-season Draft and take a punt on a mature-aged player.

More than 40 players delisted at the end of the 2008 season put their hand up for the NAB AFL National Draft but only four – Leigh Brown, Colm Begley, Jason Davenport and Tom Hislop – found new homes.

The Bombers have pick No. 3 in next Tuesday’s pre-season draft and Knights said he had an open mind about which player to add to the four youngsters the Bombers grabbed in the NAB AFL National Draft.

“It depends on what is around because we have added a lot of younger people to our list in the last two years and had a lot of experience go out,” Knights said.

“I am open-minded about maybe looking at fairly mature player for the pre-season draft pick if the right guy is there.”

Knights also forecast that the club would be looking to recruit “18 and 19 year olds” in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft which will also be held on Tuesday.

"Predominantly, our rookies will be younger players, like these guys here [this year's draftees]," Knights said.

"We had good success with Jarrod Atkinson last year. We took him as our last rookie selection and he ended up playing on Alan Didak at the MCG in front of 75,000 people later in the year.

"Tom Bellchambers was really late as well and played some football, so we really think it's important for our club to get this rookie draft right."

Those hoping for another chance in the pre-season draft include West Coast premiership player Steven Armstrong, Adelaide’s Luke Jericho, Brisbane’s Matthew Moody and Melbourne’s Nathan Carroll.

Port Adelaide has already committed to picking up Josh Carr from Fremantle with its No. 2 selection while Carlton has pledged to grab former Demon Chris Johnson at No. 4.

That leaves just four “live” picks to Melbourne (1), Essendon (3), Brisbane Lions (5) and Richmond (6).