Knights: We won't be intimidated

Essendon coach Matthew Knights has vowed his young and exciting Bombers outfit won't be intimidated at the prospect of taking on reigning premiers Geelong in front of what is likely to be a full house at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

The Bombers have been the early revelations of 2008, carrying their strong pre-season form into the opening round when they came from 27 points down to beat last year's preliminary finalists North Melbourne by 55 points.

However Knights, the only one of the AFL's four new coaches to make a winning debut in round one, is under no illusions as to the size of the task confronting his side this week.

"We have an understanding of what we are up against but what these young guys won't be is intimidated," Knights said.

"We will go out and play our game and play hard and see what flows from that."

While many predicted a season of doom and gloom for the Bombers this year; following the retirement of James Hird and the end of Kevin Sheedy's record 27 years in charge - Knights has the Bombers' already playing exciting footy.

And he has vowed to continue to let his youngsters take risks even against the league's benchmark team on Sunday with the Cats' beginning 2008 in ominous form last week by beating last year's runners-up Port Adelaide in Adelaide despite being without injured trio Brad Ottens, Max Rooke and David Wojcinski.

"We just want to take the game on, play hard and give my players the license to be creative and make things happen," Knights said.

While many of the Bombers' young brigade such as Courtenay Dempsey, Alwyn Davey and Bachar Houli starred in the win over the Kangaroos; it was the sight of veteran Adam Ramanauskas being back to his best across half-back that most pleased Knights out of the first round win.

Ramanauskas, the youngest member of Essendon's last premiership team back in 2000, has not only bravely battled back from cancer but also a serious knee injury as well as groin and hamstring injuries which have combined to limit him to just eight games in the three seasons prior to this year.

But against the Kangaroos; Ramanauskas picked up 24 disposals - his most in a game since round 20, 2004.

"Adam spiritually is enormous (for the club)," Knights said.

"It's an amazing story and he is an amazing person so spiritually he is huge for our club."