Young key forward Kaine Baldwin is set to make his AFL debut after being named for selection against Geelong in Tuesday's team meeting.
Baldwin has earned his selection after two impressive performances in Essendon’s practice match against the Western Bulldogs and the AAMI Community Series game against St Kilda.
The 19-year-old was selected in the 2021 pre-season supplemental selection period and has impressed after making dual recoveries from two separate ACL injuries in his short career.
A former under-16 captain of the South Australia’s 2018 championship-winning side, the 194cm goalkicker was touted as a high first-round draft pick in 2020 before his second severe knee injury cruelled him.
After averaging 21.8 disposals, 9.6 marks and 2.8 goals in a dominant under-16s campaign in 2018, South Australia’s under-18 state academy program manager Tony Bamford suggested Baldwin was “the best key forward in his age group”.
Baldwin will become the 1,181st player to don the sash.
