Essendon has made further updates to their playing roster announcing that mid-year recruit Jye Menzie has inked a one-year contract and that rising star Sam Durham had been elevated onto the club's senior list.
Since joining the Tullamarine team with the 18th selection of the 2022 Mid-Season Draft, Menzie has made waves at Bomberland, earning a senior debut during Essendon's Round 20 victory over North Melbourne.
The Tasmanian will remain a live option to add to his two AFL appearances when the team reconvenes under new head coach Brad Scott.
Speaking to Essendon's media department, the recent recruit claimed that his role was to "repay the faith" the Dons' recruiters had shown in him.
“I'm so grateful to Essendon for the opportunity to live out my dream of playing AFL football and now I want to repay the faith they've shown in me,” Menzie said.
“I'm eager to work with Brad, the coaching group and my fellow teammates to continue my development and become the best player I can.”
“I look forward to a demanding pre-season with high standards to set us up for this new and exciting chapter of the Essendon Football Club.”
Having played 20 games and proving a reliable option for the Dons down back, Durham's persistence and determination were rewarded on Thursday with a welcome promotion.
While the 22-year-old had inked a two-year agreement with the club in April, Essendon has shown further faith in the mature-aged draftee by adding his name to Scott's senior squad.
Essendon also expressed via an official statement that they are continuing "to have positive and productive discussions with forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti about a return to football."
The 29-year-old has been linked with a return to action at Tullamarine since the trade period, with recent reports suggesting that the forward has regained both his fitness and fervour for the game.
