16. Tayte Pears:

Tayte Pears returned to full training at the start of the season after injury kept the defender sidelined for the majority of 2014. Pears was been a solid contributor for Essendon VFL. where coaches experimented with switching him from his usual defensive role to a forward line target. Pears displayed potential up forward kicking six goals in the opening few rounds before returning to his usual position. The 25-year-old worked hard to earn the opportunity for a senior call up and was rewarded in round 20 against Adelaide. Pears was a handy addition to the back line collecting 18 disposals and five marks in his first game in since 2013. He would play only one more game for the senior side in 2015, but was an integral part in Essendon VFL’s finals success.

17. Jake Melksham:

Jake Melksham matured as a midfielder this year, stepping up in the absence of key senior figures. The 24-year old made a bright start to 2015 playing a run-with role against key opposition players.  He kicked off round one with 20 touches, nine tackles and a goal in the narrow defeat against Sydney. Melksham would go on to play in a variety of roles, showcasing his importance to the side.

18. Michael Hurley:

There’s not much more we can say about Michael Hurley’s season. The forward turned backman finally discovered his niche and was an outstanding performer down back this season. Hurley faced some of the competition’s best forwards, one on one, managing to nullify their impact consistently. On three occasions Hurley took 10 marks or more and in 17 games averaged 21 disposals. Hurley gained the recognition from the wider AFL community that he truly deserved when he was named as the All Australian centre halfback.

20. Jackson Merrett:

Jackson Merrett continued his progression in 2015, with the lightly built forward providing spark in his 14 games this season. His strong presence on the ground saw him play in nine consecutive games, as the 23-year-old edged towards his 50^th game. On four occasions the half forward laid five tackles or more with his best performance coming in round 20 with 21 touches, 10 kicks and nine marks. The additional time spent in both the Essendon VFL side and the senior team helped Merrett develop immensely as fans began to see what the youngster is truly capable of.