Continuity will help fast track the development of some promising youngsters according to former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd. 

This week’s Bomber line up contains six players with 16 games or less AFL experience. 

“Once you’ve played 10-20 games you start to really believe,” Lloyd said. 

Nick O’Brien, Shaun Edwards and Ariel Steinberg have become regulars since the bye. 

While Zach Merrett, Martin Gleeson, Patrick Ambrose and Jackson Merrett have been mainstays of the team throughout the last two seasons.

“I think you’ve got to give a long stretch of games to have someone believe in themselves at AFL level,” Lloyd said.

Essendon will field a side with ten players aged 22 or younger this Saturday night against Port Adelaide. 

“Towards the last seven games, you’ll see one of them get a best on ground performance,” Lloyd said.

“That’s what you’d be looking for - like Zach Merrett, he’s getting in the best three consistently because he believes. 

“Hopefully now these other guys that have come in the team, we’ll see have a real affect on games come the end of the year.”

Coach James Hird said the exposure the players are getting playing at senior level would be of great benefit to their development.

“Just getting used to AFL football and getting used to the speed and backing up week in, week out.

“They fluctuate a little bit and we do have to expect a bit of fluctuation.

“But I thought our effort over the last couple of weeks has been good with the younger team.”