Essendon VFL snares former Moonee Valley juniors to boost playing stocks for 2015

A FORMER Strathmore junior and St Bernard’s midfielder will lead the charge for Essendon’s Victorian Football League team in 2015.

Round 7: Geelong v Richmond VFL game punt road oval Jordan Schroder Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

A FORMER Strathmore junior and St Bernard’s midfielder will lead the charge for Essendon’s Victorian Football League team in 2015.

The Bombers have added 2013 J.J Liston Medal winner Jordan Schroder and ex-Brisbane livewire James Polkinghorne to their list, two players with top-level experience who hailed from Moonee Valley clubs.

Essendon VFL general manager Matt Little said the pair’s connection to the region had been an important factor in their recruitment.

“(James is) a local kid and that was another part of what we were trying to do this year,” Little said.

“We were keen to get some local kids back involved in our program and James was a Strathmore junior.

“He’s come back, he’s a Calder kid and I think it was just a good fit for him to come into this club.”

Little said Schroder was a significant signing for the club after he was delisted by Geelong at the end of the 2014 AFL season.

“He’s a terrific young kid and what he’s been able to achieve so far in his short career, we’re hoping he can deliver that in our VFL program and hopefully get another opportunity at AFL level,” he said.

The duo will join Marcus Marigliani, Sam Heavyside, Liam Byrne and Kyle Hardingham on Essendon’s VFL list next year.

Hardingham has committed to the club despite being cut from its AFL list after 65 games in the red and black over the past five years.

“He’s going to take on a bit of a coaching aspect as well as his playing role and he’s going to be terrific for our younger kids,” Little said.

Essendon expects to retain at least 50 per cent of its playing stocks from 2014, with crack midfielder Dan Coghlan among the players to already re-sign.

“It was a pretty big focus for us over the off-season to get some experienced players on board and we think we’ve been able to achieve that,” Little said.

“They all bring different things to the footy club and we’re excited about having them on board.”