Essendon’s emerging players dominated today’s intra-club match at Whitten Oval, the club’s final competitive hit-out ahead of the NAB Cup.
Assistant Coach Sean Wellman said a number of first, second and third year players impressed.
“I certainly think guys like Jake Carlisle, Jake Melksham and David Zaharakis all played well and have improved sharply,” Wellman said.
Key position player Michael Hurley played the majority of the game up forward.
“He’s certainly proven in his short career he can play key back and he’s been really impressive as a key forward,"" Wellman said.
""He’s probably got more to learn up forward because he hasn’t played there as much but he’s got a real presence out on the ground and the more we can play him up there the better we think he’ll be and we’ll be.”
Young gun Dyson Heppell was also a standout, the Bombers first pick in last year’s national draft.
“It’s really exciting for the club to have someone with Dyson’s ability and I certainly think he’ll press claims early in the year.”
“We’ve been really impressed with the way he prepares and presents himself and he works hard at training so he’s been terrific.”
Captain Jobe Watson, Travis Colyer, Heath Hocking, Andrew Welsh and Mark McVeigh were also among the best players.
Match highlights coming shortly on Bomber TV.
