Signs are pointing to Essendon naming uncapped defender Lewis Hayes for next week's matchup with Sydney, with the third-year Bomber pulled from the club's VFL side for this week in the wake of teammate Jordan Ridley's hamstring injury.
Ridley is facing another spell on the sidelines after hurting his hamstring in Thursday's win over North Melbourne, with his absence likely opening the door for Hayes to make his AFL debut in Round 9.
Hayes was due to play for the Bombers' reserves on Friday afternoon at Windy Hill against North Melbourne's VFL team, however has since been managed for the match.
The late selection switch would be a precautionary measure by Essendon to avoid Hayes suffering any potential setback and being made unavailable for selection.
Hayes has continued to knock on the door for a maiden AFL match over the past 12 months in the VFL, finishing runner-up for the best and fairest title in 2024.
Hayes has averaged 22.3 disposals and 11.3 marks per game from his four appearances at the state league level this year.
The athletic 199cm defender is a clean user of the ball and strong interceptor, looming as the best replacement for the injured Ridley.
The Bombers have been without veteran backman Jayden Laverde due to a two-game suspension, giving him little match fitness ahead of next week's meeting with the Swans.
Senior coach Brad Scott has found some consistency among his backline at selection, with former top 10 pick Zach Reid having a breakout year after a luckless start to his career.
The young Bombers tall has flourished alongside Ben McKay and Ridley to start 2025, with the latter missing just one game this year due to a concussion sustained in Round 1, while off-season recruit Jaxon Prior has played all seven games.
Ridley could be facing close to three weeks on the sidelines if he has suffered a moderate hamstring strain, giving Hayes a likely run against Sydney, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond should he be selected and hold his spot.
The Swans and Tigers have struggled in attack as they look to experiment with their tall options this year, while the Dogs have managed to remain a high-scoring side despite the loss of Sam Darcy to a knee injury.
