ESSENDON will take another step towards solving its ruck dilemma when it elevates Shaun McKernan to the senior list for next season.
The Herald Sun can reveal the former Adelaide Crow is certain to be promoted after an excellent finish to the season in red and black.
The Bombers plucked McKernan with pick No. 12 in last year’s rookie draft but his late-season purple patch has guaranteed him a senior contract at Tullamarine next season.
It will help provide some ruck coverage for Essendon’s new coach next season as injury-ravaged first-choice ruckman Tom Bellchambers recovers from another round of surgery.
Despite playing only nine games, which included being dropped after his first match of the season in Round 7, McKernan last night finished 10th in the Bombers’ best and fairest.
Shaun McKernan jumps over Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy. Picture: Getty
Jake Carlisle, who has requested a trade and is in talks with St Kilda and Carlton, finished outside the top-10. He played 17 games.
The top-10 placing was a reward for persistence for McKernan, who was delisted from Adelaide last year and overlooked for the early part of the season by ex- Essendon coach James Hird.
Hird controversially used key position player Jake Carlisle in the ruck against West Coast in Round 11, despite calls to play McKernan or Jon Giles against Nic Naitanui.
McKernan, 25, was recalled to the senior side to play his second game of the year in Round 13 and averaged 18 possessions, four marks, 23 hit-outs and almost one goal per game across the whole season.
At 196cm, McKernan is potentially better suited to play as a forward who pinch-hits in the ruck, due to the height advantage he often gives away to opponents.