Essendon VFL coach Hayden Skipworth the impact playing in a final next week will have on the development of the club’s younger players can not be underestimated.

The Bombers needed to win their final round match against North Ballarat to make the final eight and did so with a convincing 39-point victory.

Skipworth said it was pleasing to see the team rise to the occasion against the Roosters.

“The boys really stepped up today,” Skipworth said post match.

“I thought the first quarter was a bit of a shootout but after that we defended the ground really well and got the result we were after.

“For our young guys playing in a VFL final is the closest thing they will get to playing AFL.

“For Jason Ashby, Will Hams and some of our other younger kids that haven’t experienced much AFL yet it is going to be a great challenge and good development process for them.”

Skipworth praised the development of Nick O’Brien as a defensive midfielder for the red and black after he was dropped back to VFL level this week.

Also dropped back to the VFL was big man Tom Bellchambers who ended with ten disposals, five marks and two goals.

“We thought Tom was really good, he got his hands to the ball and created a contest for us,” he said.

“He didn’t get out marked all day, his ruck work when he went into the centre bounces was excellent and we thought he competed really hard.”

Two VFL listed Bombers also impressed the coach heading into next week’s final with the form of Zac O’Brien and Matthew Bate continuing to improve.

“Zac is getting better and better every week.”

“I think he was invited to the draft combine during the week which is a great reward for his effort this year and he is only going to get better over the next three or four years.

“Matty came back in last week and kicked four then kicked another three this week.

“He is competing really hard and we are liking his defensive pressure at the moment as he is getting up the ground and he is putting a lot of tackles on.”

The Bombers are likely to play Werribee in next week’s elimination final with the fixture still to be confirmed.