Nineteen-year-old Shane Harvey has started his career with the Bombers with a bang - kicking five goals in the intra-club match on the weekend at Whitten oval. The former Northern Knights mid-fielder played up forward in the first half where he was shadowed by fellow rookie Joel Reynolds. He was then picked up by rising star Damien Peverill for the remainder of the game. ""It was great to get out there and play a game after all the training. It turned out alright but it was only an intra-club practice match - I wouldn't read too much into it,"" a modest Harvey said.

The red-head hopes to continue his form during this Sunday's clash against the Sydney Swans at North Sydney Oval. The team heads to Sydney on Saturday morning to play their first practice match for season 2002. ""I am looking forward to playing the Swans. Hopefully I can play well and back up my form from last weekend,"" the determined Harvey said. It is shaping up to be a big match on the weekend - Essendon travel to Sydney with their full squad and Tony Lockett will return for the Swans. Essendon's comeback kid Paul Salmon is unlikely to play. He has recovered from a hamstring injury but the club will not want to risk him this early in the season.

Harvey has been spending a lot of time with the other draftees - Simon O'Keefe, Andrew Welsh and Joel Reynolds. ""It is good to have the other young blokes to hang-out with at training. We don't know quite what to expect in our first season at Essendon,"" Harvey said. Harvey has been enjoying pre-season training particularly the skill sessions, however he admits it has been pretty tough going. ""Training has been full-on. I have been enjoying it but it is very hard. The conditioning sessions at Fitzroy Gardens take a lot out of you - the first one I ever did was the toughest,"" the 19-year-old said.

Harvey comes to Essendon with high expectations. His brother Brent is a star mid-fielder for the Kangaroos. He is 175cm tall, he has good ball sense and skills and lacks nothing in the courage department. If his debut match for the Bombers is anything to go by - Essendon supporters should keep an eye out for the Gary Moorcroft look-a-like and hope for big things in the future.