All six players picked up by Essendon at the recent National Draft could play in the clubs upcoming practice match against the Sydney Swans on February 10th. Other youngsters also set to get an early chance are young ruckman David Hille and half-back Rob Forster-Knight - both were selected in the 1999 draft and have only played VFL football with the Bombers.

Ted Richards, Sam Hunt, James Davies, Jordan Bannister, Marc Bullen and Michael Davis have impressed during the pre-season and are set to be included in a squad of about 22 or 23 that will head to Sydney for the match. "Kevin has indicated that he is keen to take some, if not all of them, to Sydney so as long as they maintain their form on the track I can't see why he would change his mind," Essendon football manager Matthew Drain said.

Drain said the Essendon coaching staff had been pleased with what they had seen on the track to this stage of the pre-season. "They are all very fit and have filled out physically in the short time they have been with us. Why not throw them in and see how they cope?," Drain said. "We were pretty happy with what we walked away with at the draft and none of them have given us any reason to change that thinking."

Ruckman David Hille and half-back Rob Forster-Knight have both earned their chance after finishing the 2000 VFL season in good form. Hille's ruckwork improved dramatically as the season wore on and he has had a solid pre-season. Forster-Knight suffered from stress fractures mid-way through last season but returned to show he was a player of great promise. He reads the play well and has good skills. Both will relish the chance to play against AFL opposition. "Like a number of players they have been forced into being very patient given the senior side's performance last season. But they just kept working and games such as these are a small reward for players who didn't get the opportunities last year," Drain said.