Essendon coach Brad Scott has labelled first-year forward Nate Caddy as a "big moments" player following the teenager's eye-catching outing against Collingwood on Friday night.
In just his third appearance in the red sash since being selected with Pick 10 in last November's AFL Draft, the Yarrambat product had his best performance in the top flight with his aerial dominance and forward-half craft on show.
While his clinicality might've been off a touch as he ended the right with 1.3 to his name in front of the goals, Caddy did more than enough in his return game to give Brad Scott even further headaches at selection for the remainder of the season as the Bombers continue their flag tilt.
In front of over 81,000 fans at the MCG, Caddy looked comfortable on the biggest stage as the Bombers clinched their 10th win of 2024 to return to the top three on the ladder.
His coach said the traits shown under the Friday night lights proved why the club traded up the draft order to attain the high-leaping youngster.
"It is hard not to get excited by him. We talked pre-game that he is a point of difference," Scott said after the win.
"It is very rare that you see a first-year key forward who can have an impact on a game like he can.
"We saw that through the pre-season. We thought we knew what we were drafting. He is a very, very exciting player and a really important player of what we're doing.
"You don't know what's going to happen from week to week, but now we have a bit of squad depth. It's the first time in my time here we've been able to rest Todd Goldstein and Dyson Heppell, so we've got some players who are playing some really good footy.
"[Caddy] is just one of those players who wants the moment. The bigger the stage, the better he performs. He gives great effort. The big moments, the big games against big opposition... he doesn't get overawed, he rises to the occasion.
"That is why we were so keen to draft him, because key forwards need that. It's a rare gun key forward who doesn't want the big moment or doesn't want the ball kicked to him."
Caddy wasn't the only returning Bomber who had fans in excitement after claiming the scalp of the reigning premiers, with veteran midfielder Dylan Shiel looking back to his best in his first full game at AFL level for the year.
A foot injury, coupled with the form of others, has kept the ex-GWS star from featuring in Scott's side so far this year as the club took a cautious approach with Shiel's recovery.
Their patience paid off on Friday, with Shiel recording 26 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances, seven score involvements and three tackles inside 50 to stamp his mark on the affair.
Scott said he "couldn't be happier" for the 31-year-old after a difficult past 12 months in the red and black.
"I'm not sure I've made him earn it. I've been really conservative with him to get Dylan Shiel back to his best and what we know he's capable of,"
"He's had a really nasty injury which has really impacted his ability to play the way we all know he can.
"It's taken a long time to get over that injury and get the necessary fitness base that allows him to perform like he did tonight.
"I couldn't be happier for him. It's been a really long road for him in terms of his recovery. We wanted to bring him back in when we were really confident that he could produce the sort of footy that we know he can.
"The Dylan Shiel attributes were there on show tonight. I couldn't be happier for him."
The Bombers had the luxury to rest veterans Dyson Heppell and Todd Goldstein for Round 17, with both players likely to return for next week's meeting with Melbourne.
Essendon could return to the top two if they make it successive wins while also banking on the results of others.
