Essendon coach Matthew Knights has high hopes for his club's three prospective first-gamers, each of whom came to Windy Hill by very different paths.
Darcy Daniher, the son of former Essendon and Sydney defender Anthony Daniher, David Myers, a first round draft pick from Perth, and Jarrod Atkinson, a journeyman rookie, have been selected to make their AFL debuts against Port Adelaide on Sunday.
With impeccable bloodlines and the benefit of being available under the father-son rule, Daniher, a key forward, was earmarked for an AFL career from his early teens.
He said his phone had been running hot with congratulations from friends and the many members of the Daniher clan, including his very proud father.
"At the moment the nerves haven't kicked-in, but I'm sure I'll lose a bit of sleep over the next couple of nights," Daniher said.
"Getting selected is one thing but there's still a game to be played."
Knights said of Daniher: "We're keen to play Darcy because there might be another five or 10 Danihers floating around somewhere that we can hopefully get to Essendon."
"He plays with the Daniher spirit that's encompassed about the way the Danihers have played their football at Essendon and Darcy has certainly got that as part of his nature."
Both Myers, a defender/midfielder and the Bombers' top pick at No.6 in last year's National Draft, and 23-year-old Atkinson, who hails from WA originally but who came to the club's notice playing for Rumbalara in the Murray Football League, said they were pleased for the opportunity.
Knights said Atkinson's promotion from the rookie list in place of Alwyn Davey who will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, was a credit to his persistence and resilience, while Knights nominated Myers as a future leader of the club.
All three first-gamers, he stressed, had a job to do against Port on Sunday.
"The game doesn’t know how old you are, so whether you're 17 or 33 or 34 it's irrelevant," said Knights.
"You go out there, you play your role and these guys sitting next to me, I expect nothing less."
"I have high standards for them and expect them to play their role and beat their opponent."