Young Essendon midfielder Matt Guelfi will make his debut against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The 20-year-old impressed throughout the pre-season and staked his selection claims with a strong VFL debut last weekend.
Bombers coach John Worsfold confirmed the exciting news on Thursday, praising the West Australian’s start to his AFL career.
“He’s been impressive all the way through since he arrived at the club,” Worsfold said.
“He’s obviously a little bit more mature and he’s played a couple of years of senior football in WA and his performances both on the training track and in the VFL practice games and round one last week have been really strong performances.
“We’re really confident he’s ready for the opportunity.”
Worsfold said Guelfi’s reaction was professional and the rest of playing group are thrilled to have him in the side.
“Matt was very matter of fact, like ‘thanks very much, that’s awesome’.
“He’s excited and the players are all rapt, they are really impressed with how he’s gone about it and rapt to see him get his chance.”
Worsfold said Guelfi is a versatile player who will play multiple roles for the Bombers this weekend.
“I know through the WAFL they used him where they needed him at various times and he always fulfilled that role really capably.
“He’s a flexible player who will give us the ability to really consider what we need at any given time.
“We’ll see him on the wing a bit and maybe at half-back or half-forward at various times as well.”
Guelfi could be one of a number of changes for Essendon this week, with four other Bombers also included in the side’s extended squad.
Young forward Josh Begley has held his spot after being a late inclusion for Matt Dea ahead of the team’s loss to the Western Bulldogs last week.
Midfielder Kyle Langford returns to the squad after a strong performance in the VFL side’s dominant win over Frankston, and Worsfold said he was impressed by the 21-year-old’s response after being excluded from the senior team against the Dogs.
“He didn’t get too disappointed – obviously everyone is always disappointed if they’re not in the senior team.
“But his immediate response was ‘well I’ve got to work on parts of my game that are going to help me become a better AFL midfielder’.
“He really went back and displayed that, was a really good team player, playing his role, doing his inside-mid work and pushing forward at times.”
Jackson Merrett and Shaun McKernan are in the mix to return to the senior line-up after also impressing in the VFL with five and three goals respectively, while key defender Michael Hartley rounds out the inclusions.
Worsfold said he was encouraged by the pressure the inclusions have placed on the senior side after a tough fortnight for the Bombers.
“Those guys have been in wonderful form and their performances against Frankston last weekend were outstanding,” he said.
“That form last week plus continued form throughout the summer means those guys are really putting pressure on the guys in the senior team.
“We were poor the previous week, so we certainly have to consider the possibility of other changes to that line-up.”
After just three rounds Port Adelaide sits a game clear at the top of the ladder, but Worsfold said Essendon would enter the game knowing it is a winning chance.
“We know that Port have started the season very well and have a very good squad, so the challenge is definitely there.
“We’re not in the sort of form we’d like to be in, but that’s off one or two games, so the challenge is to get back playing our best footy and let’s see what the result is from that.”
Dashing defender Conor McKenna is the lone withdrawal from the squad so far after receiving a three-week suspension.
The extended squad will be trimmed down to the final team on Friday.
EXTENDED SQUAD:
B – Baguley, Hurley, Saad
HB – Z. Merrett, Brown, Zaharakis
C – Fantasia, Stringer, McGrath
HF – Guelfi, Daniher, Smith
F – Heppell, Hooker, Stewart
R – Bellchambers, Goddard, McDonald-Tipungwuti
I/C – Hartley, Green, Langford, Parish, Begley, McKernan, Myers, J. Merrett
