Essendon coach Brad Scott hasn't ruled out one of this week's Mid-Season Draft additions to suit up for an AFL debut next week as the Bombers continue to battle with an injury-hit list.
Long-term setbacks for key position players Sam Draper, Nick Bryan, Tom Edwards and Lewis Hayes gave the Bombers the ability to add four players to their list via this week's intake, with the Dons addressing their hit tall stocks with the recruitment of two key forwards and a ruckman.
Essendon secured Subiaco attacker Archer May and Carlton VFL gun Liam McMahon to help as forward targets, with East Fremantle ruck Lachie Blakiston a chance to support Todd Goldstein this year after the loss of Draper and Bryan to season-ending injuries. The Bombers also promoted Oskar Smartt to their AFL list out of their VFL program.
McMahon, who was once listed with Collingwood, could be the first of the new recruits to get a game under Scott, with the 198cm forward set to play for Essendon's VFL side on Friday alongside Smartt.
Given both May and Blakiston are flying from Western Australia, they could be required in the VFL next week before being utilised at senior level.
Speaking after Thursday's loss to Brisbane, where the Bombers named one key defender in Jayden Laverde and required second-year attacker Nate Caddy to spearhead their attack for large periods, Scott said the club's newest recruits could be in the mix in a matter of weeks.
"In terms of the boys who will come in, two will play (on Friday). Oskar Smartt is already in our program, so he'll play. McMahon will play.
"The two boys that are coming from Perth, one relocating from Perth and one coming home from Perth, will play at some level next week for us, whether that's in the AFL or VFL.
"We were really pleased to be able to bring in some reinforcements - three talls and a player in Oskar Smartt that we've had our eye on for a long time.
"I've said it quite a bit.. you can't control when you get your opportunity, but you can take it when it arrives. I suspect the opportunity will arrive for those four boys."
The 'shuffling of the magnets' to aid his rearguard saw Scott name captain Zach Merrett at half-back, calling on his skipper's clean ball work in defence and handing the keys to the midfield to Jye Caldwell, who starred.
Scott said the move was out of necessity due to their undermanned defensive stocks.
"I can give you a really fancy answer here; we ran out of defenders," he said.
"We only had five and had to get one somewhere. We did it last week a little bit against Richmond and we think he's a class act wherever he is.
"It certainly wasn't to stabilise the game, it was just a matter of shuffling the magnets a little bit to try and get some balance in our team. We love him off half-back, but we'd love three or four players in different positions all at once.
"Maybe you rob Peter to pay Paul a litlte bit. But the silver lining for us is we get some flexibility in our team and we learn a bit. We learnt a bit tonight, and most of it was positive.
Caddy's performance, which resulted in two goals from five marks and 10 disposals, was heralded by Scott as the young forward's best game in the red and black.
The Essendon coach said it's a performance that has added to the built excitement surrounding the Yarrambat product.
"He's going to learn that he's capable of challenging the best key defenders in the competition," Scott said of the former Pick 10 selection. "That's the best game I've seen him play.
"He's just a really impressive athlete, and he can do things that others can't. There's not many 19-year-olds who, when Peter Wright's in the ruck and Todd Goldstein's having a well-earned rest, is holding up a forward line.
"I can't recall too many 19-year-olds doing that. He's been terrific for us, and we still think there's so much upside, so clearly we're excited."
Essendon have now dropped to a record of six wins and five defeats ahead of their match against Carlton next Sunday.
