MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 18: Sam Durham of the Bombers in action during an Essendon Bombers AFL training session at The Hangar on June 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Essendon are set to unveil Mid-Season draftee Sam Durham for this weekend's clash against North Melbourne.
As first reported by AFL.com's Cal Twomey, Durham will be the seventh Bomber to make his debut this season.
Durham joined the Bombers last month via the ninth overall selection at the Mid-Season Draft.
The 20-year-old is a Murray Bushrangers product who was drafted from Richmond's VFL side after a number of impressive outings for the Tigers.
An exciting midfielder, Durham is set to make his debut for Ben Rutten’s Round 18 side, with skipper Dyson Heppell making his return from a thumb injury.
After being named on the extended interchange, Durham will land a place on the bench, with fellow onballer Kyle Langford the only confirmed omission from last week's win over Adelaide.
Brayden Ham, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Nick Bryan were also named as inclusions for Rutten's squad, with the trio having joined Durham on the extended interchange.
The Bombers will confirm their 23-man squad for this weekend at 5pm on Friday.
Essendon have travelled to Queensland to face the Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium on Sunday following the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.