A team-high 33 disposals for Essendon's VFL outfit has placed mid-season recruit Massimo D'Ambrosio right into the selection frame for Round 14.
The 19-year-old donned the sash for the first time on Saturday, lining up against Carlton's reserves in a shock nine-point upset over the Blues.
D'Ambrosio was a prolific presence out of defence, constantly offering run and movement when the Bombers flicked into an attack, earning plenty of plaudits in his club debut.
The Point Cook product isn't unknown to the standards of VFL football, having featured for Richmond's reserves on multiple occasions in 2022 prior to being taken with the third overall selection in the Mid-Season Draft.
A shoulder injury had placed some concern on the now former-Western Jets defender's prospects of an immediate impact at Tullamarine, however any concerns of the sort have now been defused.
The dashing defender has been handed Bomber-turned-Blue Adam Saad's old jumper number of 42, with Essendon hoping to see their latest recruit get close to the levels their former speedster showed during his time in red and black.
Bombers senior coach Ben Rutten is likely to assess his options across the board after collecting Essendon collected their 10th loss of the season in Friday night's 26-point defeat to Carlton.
Questions have been raised over the Bombers' ball movement out of defence, with skipper Dyson Heppell and speed machine Nick Hind at times battling at half-back this year.
Hind had been dropped at the selection table for Essendon's ANZAC Day bout with Collingwood in Round 6, before gaining a reprieve as Rutten's medical sub for the match.
An overwhelming statement would be made should Rutten cull his captain in Heppell, especially when in favour of a teenager who has been at the club for two weeks.
However, D'Ambrosio is evidently pressing his case for senior selection already, with the Bombers' match committee now turning their attention to Friday's encounter with St Kilda.
Rutten will await scan results for star midfielder Darcy Parish, who sustained a corked calf early in the loss to Carlton, while Andy McGrath is anticipated to return this week after being a late withdrawal on Friday.
The Bombers could look to recall one of forward duo James Stewart or Kaine Baldwin after the pair booted three and two goals respectively in the reserves.
Essendon's other mid-season draftee Jye Menzie was the third Bomber to boot multiple majors in the win at Windy Hill, while defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher was dominant with 25 possessions and 11 marks.
The Bombers will face St Kilda at 7:50pm (AEST) at Marvel Stadium on Friday night, while their VFL side are scheduled to clash with Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval the following day.