If AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan is any judge, the Bombers' have picked up a very handy player in Andrew Welsh. Welsh, 18, was taken with the Bombers' fourth pick (47 overall) at last Sunday's National Draft. And Sheehan says Welsh is very much in the mould of one of Essendon's budding young stars. ""He a Dean Solomon-type player. He is very hard at the football and very competitive. He is more like Solomon than any other of the players Essendon in the back half at the moment,"" Sheehan said.

Sheehan said Welsh is the complete package. ""As any athlete you can't fault him anywhere. He did a 2.97 seconds for 20 metres at the draft camp and that is quick enough - that is way below the average so his speed is excellent. He was in the top bracket in his 3km time trial as well - he did that in 10 minutes and 55 seconds which put him in the top 20%. So speed and endurance wise he measures up very well,"" Sheehan said.

""His leadership record is also very good. He was vice-captain of the Vic. Metro team that won the Australian championships and he captained the Calder Cannons to a premiership on the MCG so he certainly knows that winning feeling. He was very solid and dependable in the national championships playing down back and players capable of that aren't always easy to find,"" Sheehan said.

""He is tough, he attacks the football, negates well and is never beaten. He can play on-ball and deep in defence, has good skills both side of the body and is well balanced. He has a good physique on him already and is quite capable of stepping up.""