Essendon has delisted young forward Jayden Davey after two seasons at the club without making his AFL debut.
The 20-year-old was recruited by the Bombers under the father-son rule in 2022, following in the footsteps of his father, Alwyn Davey Sr., who played 100 games for Essendon.
However, Jayden's time at the club was hampered by a brutal injury setback; an ACL tear that ruled him out of his rookie season.
Despite showing potential in the VFL, where he played 18 games and kicked 17 goals in 2024, Jayden could not secure a senior spot on Brad Scott's team.
His best performance came in Round 16 of the VFL against Casey Demons, where he booted three goals. However, the Bombers opted not to offer the young forward a contract for the 2025 season, ruling out the possibility of playing him alongside his twin brother.
Alwyn Jr. has played 20 games for Essendon since his debut in 2023, showing promise despite his light frame in the forward line.
Essendon's AFL Talent and Operations Manager Matt Rosa acknowledged Jayden's efforts in overcoming his injury and contributing to the club.
“Jayden has worked incredibly hard over the past two years to recover from his ACL injury and get himself back to playing football,” Rosa said.
“We thank him for his commitment and contribution to the club. Jayden will always be an Essendon person, and we wish him all the best moving forward."
Davey's delisting adds to Essendon's list changes ahead of the 2024 AFL National Draft, joining a group of players including Kaine Baldwin (Delisted), Dyson Heppell (Retired), Nick Hind (Delisted), Jaiden Hunter (Delisted), Jake Kelly (Retired), Sam Weideman (Delisted), Jake Stringer (Traded - GWS) and Tex Wanganeen (Delisted).