Isaac Kako and fellow first-round draft picks Nate Caddy and Elijah Tsatas have given Essendon a tantalising glimpse of what their AFL future might become.
Kako kicked four goals, Caddy contributed three and Tsatas racked up a game-high 10 clearances in the midfield as the Bombers beat Geelong by 21 points in Tuesday night's pre-season match.
Essendon showed much better defensive intent as well in the 17.2 (104) to 12.11 (83) win on Tuesday night at GMHBA Stadium - a key area of improvement if they are to end their finals drought.
Kako could have finished with five, joking with Sam Draper after the ruckman soccered through his shot on the goal line late in the game.
"It's good that he (Draper) kicked that, made sure of it," Kako told Fox Sports post-game.
"It's been heaps of fun to get my first pre-season out of the way. Hopefully we can take this into opening round (against Gold Coast).
"Coming in, there were some question marks about my pressure - obviously I just want to do right by my teammates and do anything I can to help."
The dreadlocked small forward was taken with the No.13 pick in last year's draft and will make his official AFL debut on Saturday week against Gold Coast.
Caddy, who made his AFL debut last season, again gave the Bombers a big marking target in attack and Tsatas, their No.5 pick in the 2022 draft, amassed 31 possessions.
Essendon kicked six goals to two in the last quarter, finally breaking clear after a see-sawing match.
Jeremy Cameron was strong throughout for Geelong and midfielder Jack Bowes also had 31 possessions, kicking a goal.
Essendon started brightly, breaking out to an early lead after two goals to Nic Martin.
Kako also had an immediate impact with his first goal and the Bombers dominated the clearances, 13-3 for the quarter.
Veteran Dylan Shiel was prolific in his new role off half-back, racking up 13 disposals in the first term as Draper made an impressive start.
The Bombers had a 15-point lead at the first change, but Geelong quickly fixed their midfield issues and had more clearances in the second term.
Mitch Knevitt and Bowes were prominent as the Cats kicked six goals to three and led by three points at halftime, as Cameron gave the Essendon backs plenty of trouble.
In an even third term, Kako kicked his second goal and Caddy contributed another two.
Just when it looked like Essendon might open up a decent break, they butchered a scoring chance and the slick Cats pounced.
First Jhye Clark brilliantly set up Tyson Stengle and then Gryan Miers quickly snapped another goal, meaning they only trailed by a point at the last change.
