Ruckman Matthew Allan has agreed to a new one-year deal on the back of a solid first season in the red and black. Allan played 20 games last season for Essendon – his first since crossing from Carlton. His best performance for the year came in the Elimination Final against Melbourne when he quelled the influence of star Demon ruckman Jeff White.

Allan, whose career games tally now stands at 160, took 65 marks for the Bombers last season and averaged just over 10 possessions per game. But his influence was far greater than statistics would reveal – his size and experience was invaluable in the centre-square and at around-the-ground stoppages.

""It is good to hang on to a player of his experience, particularly so given the players that retired at the end of last season,"" Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey said. ""I think the Grand Final again showed us how important it is to have two quality ruckman up and running in big games.""

""He really added a lot to the side last season and it was a pretty fair effort when you think how much football he had missed in his final two seasons at Carlton. I would think that would hold him in good stead for next year – if we can get a good pre-season into him we will see him have an even greater impact.""