Essendon will look to its rookie list as it tries to come to terms with the devastating knee injury that has finished Dean Solomon's season before it started. Solomon ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a VFL practice match against Williamstown at Victoria Park yesterday. He will have a knee reconstruction early next week. With Solomon now going onto the long-term injury list the Bombers are likely to promote one of their rookie list players.

The Bombers have four players on the rookie list - Marcus Kenny, Ken Hall, Scott Howard and Adam Winter. Kenny or Hall would seem the likely choice with the latter pair only in their first season with the club. Kenny would seem favorite at this stage. A key position forward / ruckman he could help support Paul Salmon, David Hille and Steven Alessio. He could also play up forward to release other players into defence.

While the Bombers look to get over losing Solomon - the player himself is now looking to next season. His teammates rallied around him as soon as it became apparent he had a serious. Essendon captain James Hird acoompanied him to the hospital last night while Mark McVeigh and other teammates visited him at home.