Essendon have confirmed the debut of mature-aged pre-season recruit Tom Edwards, who will suit up in the red and black on Saturday at the MCG against Adelaide.
Edwards was plucked from WAFL outfit Swan Districts in the summer after a promising train-on stint at Tullamarine that included a four-goal haul in the Bombers' opening pre-season clash against the Western Bulldogs.
The 24-year-old was officially signed to Essendon's list via the Supplemental Selection Period in February as an athletic key forward target, with his aerial ability and sharp goalkicking standout traits.
With incumbent forward Kyle Langford sidelined with a hamstring strain, the Bombers will look to Edwards to help fill the void in their Round 2 bout with the Crows.
The Bombers confirmed Edwards' inclusion on Wednesday, with the WAFL product expressing his delight to be handed a debut.
"Pulling on the Essendon jumper for the first time is beyond a dream come true," Edwards said in a club announcement.
"A month ago, I was teaching sport science and maths to the Lesmurdie High School kids in Perth, and now I get the chance to run out onto the MCG in front of the Essendon fans. It's just unbelievable.
"Saturday is going to be huge and I'm just so excited and grateful for the opportunity.
"It's been a rapid career change over the last few weeks but it's felt really seamless thanks to the support from everyone at the Club. It's a surreal feeling but I'm just so excited to don the sash and run out with the boys.
"To do it with the Club I supported as a kid means so much to me and my family. As a kid, I lived and breathed Essendon, so it's incredibly special. I just want to soak it all in and play an important role for the team in our plan to beat Adelaide."
The Bombers will be forced into at least two changes for Saturday's match, with defender Jordan Ridley (concussion) also set to be removed from coach Brad Scott's side that fell to Hawthorn last Friday.
The club could announce a second debutant for Round 2 to replace Ridley, with third-year defender Lewis Hayes waiting in the wings. The Eastern Ranges product is a tall backman who is a clean distributor by foot, with Scott likely needing tall options in his rearguard in an attempt to quell the Crows' attacking unit.
Senior backman Jayden Laverde is currently sidelined with a hip injury, adding to the Bombers' selection woes.
Essendon will confirm their 23-man squad for Saturday's game at 6:20pm (AEDT) on Thursday.
