Essendon fielded one of its least experienced sides in recent years, but it still got the job done against Melbourne at the MCG.

With a host of experienced players on the injury list, the Bombers young brigade took on a number of crucial roles.

Shaun Edwards was one of those young players.

He was only brought in to the side on Friday when Jake Melksham and Heath Hocking puled out of the squad.

“It’s always good to get an opportunity as a young bloke,” he said.

“I’m just trying to take my opportunities and stamp myself in the side.

“I want to be consistent in the way I go about training and on match day as well.”

Edwards kicked two goals and was a constant threat in the forward line.

He and the likes of Nick O’Brien, Ariel Steinberg, Jason Ashby and Jayden Laverde have displayed excellent VFL form taking the side into that competition’s top four.

“We know what we’re going to get from each other and the next step is bringing that up to AFL level,” he said. 

Edwards said this emerging crop of talented young players continues to learn from their more experienced counterparts as the side tries to force its way up the ladder. 

“We spoke about driving the next couple of years as a young group and really setting standards,” he said.