Nick O’Brien was one of a number of young Essendon players who helped the side record a memorable win over Melbourne. 

With Jake Melksham hurting his hamstring at training on Thursday, O’Brien was given the job of running with Demons Captain Nathan Jones.

“He’s a fantastic contested player and certainly early in the game I noticed that,” O’Brien said.

“But it was great to have a lot of support from the boys.”

O’Brien was drafted in 2011.

The match against Melbourne was the 22 year old’s eighth at AFL level.

He forced his way into the senior side by weight of numbers.

In the fortnight before his call-up against Hawthorn, he had more than 70 possessions in the VFL. 

“There is a few of us who have been made to play a long time in the VFL and earn out spot which has been good,” he said. 

“You can feel a lot more like you’re at home at AFL level because you haven’t just been thrown in, you’ve actually earned your spot.”

The Bombers kicked six goals to one in the third quarter to break open what had been a tight contest.

Melbourne rallied in the last quarter, but Joe Daniher’s fifth goal sealed victory for the Dons. 

“It’s just such a great feeling in six days to go from losing by more than 100 points to winning like that,” O’Brien said.