Elliott Kavanagh Biography

First-round draftee Elliott Kavanagh and young defender Alex Browne are Essendon's latest delistings ahead of Friday's first list lodgement.

"Alex and Elliott are both terrific young men and were fine representatives of the Essendon Football Club," list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"Despite limited opportunities in the senior team, both worked extremely hard to ensure they got the most out of their careers.

"Alex and Elliott showed tremendous resilience and determination to work their way back into senior selection this season, Elliott on his game while Alex overcame a serious knee injury.

"From everyone at the football club, we wish Alex and Elliott all the best for the next chapter in the careers."

Four Essendon players who were on the club's list in 2012 will play against St Kilda on Saturday in the NAB Challenge after requesting permission from the coaches to participate.

Nick O'Brien, Jackson Merrett, Elliott Kavanagh and Lauchlan Dalgleish – who were all with the Bombers in 2012 when the club's contentious supplements program was underway – have been selected in Essendon's line-up to face the Saints at Morwell.

It is the first time the club has confirmed and cleared any of its players as not facing infraction notices.

The younger players approached the club's coaching group and told them they were keen to take part in the game, a request that was agreed to by James Hird and his assistants.

The move was ticked off by the Essendon leadership group, which understood and respected the players' request.

"Both the coaches and the leadership group agreed that it was appropriate for the four players to be available for selection as they were not involved in the investigation surrounding the 2012 supplements program," the club said in a statement.

"The four players who have been named in the squad to play St Kilda on Saturday are not provisionally suspended."

Young Bombers Jackson Merrett, Elliott Kavanagh and Mark Baguley sign two-year deals with the club.

"It is a big show of faith that our younger players want to remain in the red and black. Our supporters should be very excited about our future," Essendon coach James Hird said.

Elliott Kavanagh makes his AFL debut for Essendon at Docklands Stadium with 13 disposals (8 kicks and 5 handballs) and 4 marks in a 94-point loss to Hawthorn.

Essendon is taking a cautious approach with top draft pick Elliott Kavanagh, who has been sidelined with leg soreness.

"He's got very, very minor muscle soreness, so it's nothing we're overly concerned with," Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton said.

"The thing with Elliott, because of his injury history from last year, we've been really conservative with him.

"Other players you might push ahead with, but with him if there's any sign of soreness we just want to make sure he's 100 per cent right before we play him."

James Hird says the Bombers are thrilled at drafting Elliott Kavanagh, despite his history with hamstring injuries.

"We're very happy," Hird said.

"Elliott was probably one of the best 16-year-olds in the country and we think we've got a very good player. We've just got to iron out that hamstring injury and work it out, but we're pretty sure it's OK."