Essendon will celebrate its James Hird Academy in the lead up to Saturday night’s game against Port Adelaide.

The junior development program aims to identify, attract and nurture young players from father-son draft avenues, non-traditional AFL regions and international zones.

The JHA assists the development of all players regardless of where their football journey may eventually take them and it plays a crucial role in ensuring the Club’s past remains connected with its future.

Joe Daniher and Jake Long, both currently on the Essendon list, were part of the James Hird Academy in their junior years.

Members of the current intake of the JHA will form a guard of honour as the team runs onto the field to take on the Power on Saturday night.

Famous Essendon names including Barnard, Ramanauskas, Bewick, Daniher, Johnson, Peverill, Lloyd and Dempsey will be among those in attendance.

Premiership player and two-time Brownlow Medal winner Greg Williams was named Coach of the James Hird Academy earlier this year.

The JHA is made up of three groups: The Acceleration Group (16-18 years old), The Flight Squad (11-15 years of age) and the Baby Bombers (up to ten years old).

Regular events skills clinics are held throughout the year.