Entering the mid-season bye gives us the chance to reflect on the season to date, so there is no better time to look back on the performances of our four senior debutants.

MATT GUELFI – Round four vs Port Adelaide
- 17 disposals
- Nine contested possessions
- Six inside-50s

Essendon would have been extremely happy that it swooped with pick 76 to select Matt Guelfi in last year’s draft, because he immediately impressed in his first match.

Perhaps more prepared for AFL football than many of the league’s draftees following plenty of WAFL experience, Guelfi slotted comfortably into the side as the Bombers defeated the Power in great fashion.

The 20-year-old worked through the middle of the ground with grunt and class, gathering 17 disposals and throwing himself into every contest with gusto.

From 74 per-cent time on the ground Guelfi had the equal most inside-50s of the match (six) and was equal second for contested possessions (nine) for the Bombers.

The West Australian has subsequently followed up his strong debut with a number of great performances and cemented a spot in the senior side, and certainly looks well set for a terrific back half of the year.

Guelfi said: “I was a bit nervous to start, but once I was out there and the game got rolling it was really exciting and I felt comfortable out there. I think senior footy has really helped me feel a bit more comfortable with the bigger bodies. My whole family is really proud of me, they know how hard I’ve worked to get here, it’s taken a bit longer but I’m here now and it’s awesome.”

Stay tuned to look back on the rest of our debutants in the coming days.