Essendon may have unearthed a key component of its forward line of the future on the weekend.

Shaun Edwards made a sparkling debut for the Dons. 

The former Giant arrived at Essendon at the end of 2013.

“It’s obviously been a year and a half that I’ve been at the club.  I had a few things in my game that I needed to work on,” Edwards said.

“The coaches were really honest with that and then I just worked hard and tried to build some trust with the players and coaches.”

The hard work is paying off with Edwards a consistent performer for the Bombers VFL side in the first half of the season.

He was brought into the senior line-up for the match against West Coast after a four goal performance in the VFL.

“When ‘Hirdy’ gave me the call and said I was in it was a huge honour and I was really excited.  I’m just spewing we couldn’t get the win,” he said.

Edwards’ father and grandmother travelled from Darwin to Perth to watch the 21 year old’s first match for the Bombers last Saturday.

Jobe Watson presented the dynamic forward with his Essendon jumper and as he did so he told Edwards “there is a big difference between getting games and earning games… and you’ve earned this”.

Edwards didn’t let any of his teammates down in the match against the Eagles.

He was a constant threat as he gathered 17 possessions and kicked two goals.

“It was a good honour to put on the sash and play for the Bombers – growing up in Darwin where Micky Long’s from and coming from the same club.  It’s a big Bombers community up there so to play in a big team like the Bombers is good.”

Essendon’s all time leading goal kicker Matthew Lloyd said Edwards brings something different to the Bombers forward set up.

“Joey is going to be a player, Carlisle is a work in progress, Ambrose is a work horse but the Bombers lack that ‘x-factor’.

“I think that’s what Shaun Edwards is,” Lloyd said.

Having now had his first taste of life in the Bombers senior team, Edwards is focusing on maintaining his training standards to ensure he can remain a key component in the Essendon forward line.

“The coaches have been happy with my work ethic so I’ve just got to keep that up and carry it through the year.”