Essendon coach Matthew Knights promised youth in season 2008 and that is what he will deliver this weekend when the Bombers take on Port Adelaide at the Telstra Dome this Sunday.
 
Knights today announced that David Myers and Jarrod Atkinson will also make their senior debuts along with Darcy Daniher on the weekend.

""It is a pretty proud day for me as a coach given I have had a fair bit to do with the development of these guys,"" Knights said.

""From a big picture point of view, this week is about giving opportunities to three young men to provide a vision of where this club is heading.

""We believe these guys are going to be a big part of our future and it is all about developing a side which will lead us to our next period of sustained success and our next Premiership.""
 

David Myers was the Bombers’ number one draft pick in 2007 and he might have made his debut earlier had injury not interrupted his pre-season. Myers has been solid for Bendigo in his past two games and the match committee felt the time was right to introduce him to senior football.

""David has had a few interruptions along the journey since he arrived but has got some really good match conditioning under his belt over the past couple of weeks,"" Knights said.

""We are really pleased that he is able to play this week because he has great flexibility when it comes to his football.

""He is able to play a number of areas on the ground and he is going to be a fantastic player and leader for this club in the future.""

Essendon fans got a glimpse of Jarrod Atkinson in the pre-season competition where the strongly built 23-year-old impressed with his run. Atkinson, who hails from Shepparton and the Rumbalara Football Club, has been among Bendigo’s best players recently and the decision was made to elevate him off the rookie list.

""Jarrod is a wonderful story of resilience and persistence and to bring him in to play his first game is something that I am really pleased about,"" Knights said.
 
Knights also confirmed that Dustin Fletcher, Jason Winderlich, Kyle Reimers and Adam Ramanauskas would miss the game through sickness or injury.